Hundreds of protesters waved Israeli, rainbow, pink and black flags and held signs reading “This is a fight for our lives” and “Women deserve a seat at the table.” Among the organizations involved were many of Israel’s major women’s and LGBTQ groups including: Women’s International Zionist Organization, Na’amat, Women of the Wall, The Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel, The Aguda – The Israel National LGBT Task Force, The Israel Women’s Network, Israel Gay Youth, Rabbis for Human Rights and many more.
“A red line has been crossed in the legitimization of extremist parties by having them in the Knesset,” said event organizers. “These parties promote homophobia, hate women and promise to fight us on every front.
“These people must not make decisions about our lives and we must not give them a place in the coalition and government.”
One protester reminisced about protesting across from the Knesset gates when she was 18 years old and demonstrating against the Kach Party founded by Rabbi Meir Kahane and banned in the 90s. “It looks like we didn’t accomplish anything,” she said angrily.
Otzma Yehudit is part of the Religious Zionist Party list and the party is considered the ideological descendant of the Kach Party.
“When I was 18, all the second-generation of Holocaust survivors organized and protested against Kach… I have no words; I am ashamed of what we are letting into the Knesset. I didn’t think I would need to say this on the Eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day,” she said.
Resolution 2331 was based on UN Resolution 1325, which urges countries to increase the participation of women and incorporate gender perspectives in all UN peace and security efforts.
Many younger protesters expressed fear about how a government including extremist parties could affect them personally.
A 14-year-old protester said that because her mothers and father are gay, she came to the protest in part because she felt attacked. “I know that my parents’ rights are at risk,” she said.
A 20-year-old protester said that she had come to the protest because she is a gay feminist and she is terrified. “I am so scared that we are getting farther away from being an accepting safe place and it terrifies me,” she said referencing Noam’s attitudes towards women and the LGBTQ community.
A 17-year-old protester said that as a woman and member of the LGBTQ community she is scared about what legislation might be passed regarding education in a system she already says does not properly educate students about gender and sexuality.
“They want to stop the [egalitarian prayer section at] Robinson’s Arch and take away the little that we have. They are a dangerous movement and can’t be a part of our government.”
A couple who made aliyah from the US 11 years ago also expressed concerns about their ability to practice Judaism in Israel. “We came to a country that we thought was guided by Jewish values and are not seeing that,” they said. “We felt we had more religious freedom in the US than we do in Israel.”
One protester said that the whole thing is shocking. “The thought that there will be racist, misogynistic, fundamentalist MKs… it is upsetting that this is even an option. I’m horrified to think that they could be a part of our government and might be our representatives.”
She summed up her feelings on a hopeful note saying that she is happy to see that so many people came out to protest this.”