Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu heavily criticized hostage deal protesters following protests in Jerusalem on Wednesday that resulted in 13 arrests and multiple fires set in residential areas of the city.
“In a democracy, protest is legitimate. But what is happening is a funded, organized, political demonstration against the government, and they have crossed every boundary," Netanyahu said in the statement. "They vandalize property, they block roads, they make life miserable for millions of citizens, they chase after public officials and their families."
"They threaten to murder me, the prime minister, and my family every day. They said they would surround my home, the Prime Minister’s Residence, with a ring of fire, exactly like fascist militias."
A reservist's car was set on fire, and the evacuation of citizens from nearby buildings by the Israel Police was ordered due to the blaze. Israel Police condemned the fires, stating that "The right to protest does not grant the right to set property on fire or cause economic and health damage to the public."
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called the incidents "terror arson" that is "backed and encouraged by the criminal attorney-general who wants to burn down the country."
A deal to save their lives
Opposition leader and Yesh Atid chairman MK Yair Lapid also condemned the fires set; however, he "condemned much more a government that abandons hostages to their death in Gaza."
Lapid, however, also slammed Netanyahu's statement in a second post to X/Twitter. "Netanyahu, maybe enough with the whining and your endless self-victimization? You are the most secure person in the Middle East."
"Those standing outside your fortified and luxurious home are the families of the real victims," the post read. "The hostages who have been dying in the tunnels for two years, and you are not making the deal that will save their lives."
Maya Gur Arieh contributed to this report.