Hundreds of demonstrators blocked a major road near Tel Aviv's Rabin Square Thursday night, protesting new bills advanced by Israel's right-wing coalition.
Close to a thousand protesters gathered at Rabin Square Thursday evening to protest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's "Coronavirus Law" expanding police authority and power.
Israel Police began dispersing the crowd blocking the road early Friday morning, with several protesters being taken into custody.
"After the protesters blocked Ibn Gabirol Street in Tel Aviv and disrupted public order in the area, attacking drivers and throwing bottles and paint toward vehicles, police began clearing the road and carrying out arrests of the attackers," Israel Police Spokesperson's Unit said."During the dispersal, objects were thrown toward police officers and some of the protesters so much as physically attacked law enforcement who were doing their jobs," police said. "Some twelve rioters have been taken into custody for further interrogation."The demonstrators themselves raised claims of police brutality during the dispersal of the protest, with videos circulating social media showing law enforcement using force against some of the demonstrators who blocked the road.The protesters managed to block Ibn Gabirol Street east of Rabin Square for a little over two hours before @IsraelPolice began dispersing the crowd. pic.twitter.com/g29x1SE63Y
— Leon Sverdlov (@Leon_Sverdlov) June 4, 2020
The Tel Aviv protesters shouted they "can't breathe" and that they are "being suffocated by the encroaching dictatorship," referencing the racial riots raging across the US.
Violent demonstrations have been raging across the US since the death of African-American George Floyd, who was suffocated to death by police officer Derek Chauvin in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
A video circulating social media and news showed Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck for some eight minutes while the latter was saying he could not breathe. Floyd was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
"Israel's democracy has withstood years under the rule of Netanyahu," the Tel Aviv protest's organizers shouted. "But then came the traitors, [Defense Minister Benny] Gantz, [Economy Minister Amir] Peretz and [Labor and Welfare Minister Itzik] Shmuli."
The Coronavirus Law memorandum was published last Thursday, causing national outrage. According to Channel 13, the proposed bill expands police authority, allowing its officers to enter citizens' apartments without a warrant.
The bill reportedly authorizes the cabinet to sign bills into law without the approval of the Knesset and to sign and extend executive orders. According to Calcalist, the bill is expected to be passed by the end of the week.
Earlier this week, Netanyahu said that police will not raid citizens' apartments during a statement to the public in light of the controversy around the bill.
Another law at the spotlight of recent protests is a bill restricting citizens' right to counsel. According to a memorandum published in late May, the bill will "ban the entry of visitors and attorneys to jails, police precincts, and civil and military prisons."