Netanyahu’s government shaking over decision to ban demonstrations
The Knesset adopted this morning more restrictions on demonstrations during the coronavirus lockdown, but some Blue and White members could not bring themselves to vote with the government on that.
Protesters from the Black Flags movement surrounded the homes of Blue and White party ministers on the evening of Sept. 28, as soon as the Yom Kippur fast ended. They came to pressure these Cabinet members to prevent restrictions on future protests against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The demonstrators claim that Netanyahu is dismantling democracy and taking steps to install a dictatorship in Israel in order to avoid standing trial. They also believe that the Blue and White ministers are little more than pawns in his hands.
The Black Flags movement began their protest right after the last election, on March 2, just as the coronavirus began spreading across the country. They are now one of the leading groups dedicated to bringing down Netanyahu’s government. They and other likeminded groups are behind the demonstrations that have been taking place for weeks outside the prime minister’s official residence on Balfour Street in Jerusalem.
What distinguished Monday night’s protests were its targets: senior members of the Blue and White party. The government had decided last week to reinforce a nationwide lockdown in order to curb the rising coronavirus infection rate. The demonstration took place the day before the Knesset convened to authorize more restrictions on the demonstrations in the framework of the nationwide lockdown. The protesters demanded that the Blue and White party ministers halt the Knesset move against demonstrations.
Thus, Blue and White was left in a problematic position. As part of the emergency government created to deal with the coronavirus crisis, they understood the need for drastic measures like quarantines to block the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. On the other hand, they were under enormous pressure from protest movements identified with the left — an electorate that they claim to represent.
