The demonstration in Jerusalem (Photo: Photo by Flash90)
The families of the abductees held a mass rally in Tel Aviv this evening, on International Holocaust Day, with descendants of Holocaust survivors and leaders in Israeli society working to promote the memory of the Holocaust. Together, they called on the Israeli government and world leaders to end the suffering of the abductees and save them.
12-year-old Ziv Breslavski, brother of Rom Breslavski, who was kidnapped in Gaza. (Photo: headquarters of the kidnapped families)
At a press conference this evening, Prime Minister Netanyahu addressed the protest of the families of the abductees, and claimed that it only strengthens the demands of Hamas in the negotiations for a new deal. According to him, “I understand that it is impossible to control emotions, but it doesn’t help.” The headquarters of the families for the return of the abducted said in response to Netanyahu that the families “expect the prime minister to remember that he is an elected official whose job it is to correct the mistake, and not to scold those whose family members were kidnapped.”
Towards the end of the demonstration that developed immediately after the abductees’ rally, the Peruvians protesting the order on Kaplan Street, tried to block the entrance and exit to the Government Kiryat, went down to the road and blocked the traffic for a short time.
The police forces evacuated the demonstrators from the road which was opened to traffic.
During the evacuation, the police arrested 5 suspects, on suspicion of violating the order. Another suspect, unrelated to the protesters, was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer on the spot.
The Israel Police will allow the freedom of protest to be exercised, but will not allow disturbances that injure the body or harm the freedom of movement and may endanger the safety of the public.
In the face of the police’s claims, the protesters claimed severe police violence against them, which also included horsemen who pushed them from the road onto the sidewalk. The entire protest ended about an hour later, and the protesters dispersed.
There was also a demonstration against the government in Jerusalem, during which about 200 people marched from the President’s residence to Paris Square and called for the release of the abductees, during which there were many clashes between the police and the demonstrators.
The clashes in Jerusalem (Photo by Flash90)