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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.
An Israeli policeman stands holding a demonstrator confronting him, all mask-clad due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, during a demonstration outside the Knesset (Israeli parliament) in Jerusalem on September 29, 2020, against a possible bill restricting protests amidst new pandemic regulations. - Israeli Health Minister Yuli Edelstein said on September 29 that there was "no way" the country's second nationwide coronavirus lockdown would be lifted after three weeks as originally planned. (Photo by Mena

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.

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