Leader of Protest Against Legal Reform in Be’er Sheva Calls Out Minister of National Security
In a bold move on social media, Ido Atias, the leader of the protest against the legal reform in Be’er Sheva, published a scathing criticism of Itamar Ben Gabir, the Minister of National Security. This comes after Atias was arrested during a demonstration in the city, becoming the first person to be arrested since the protest began six months ago. As a result of his arrest, Atias has been banned for 15 days.
The arrest took place amidst scenes of violence, showcased in disturbing photographs shared by DemocratTV on Twitter. The images depict clashes between the Israel Police and Atias during the protest.
Atias took to social media to share a video expressing his discontent, saying, “This is the spirit of the new commander, the most failed, wretched minister, with zero achievements, with zero successes that has ever existed in Israel. We are seeing more and more targeted failures, political failures with the aim of suppressing the protest.”
In an interview with “Maariv,” Atias expanded on his grievances, stating, “After I received the expulsion, I realized that the goal is to kill the protest. To make Minister Ben Gabir satisfied. Instead of dealing with the real problems of the Negev residents, protectionism, wild driving, illegal shooting, what interests Minister Ben Gabir is to silence the protesters. Is that what the police should be dealing with? Suppressing the protesters. He wants headlines instead of dealing with what is important.”
Responding to the situation, Itamar Ben Gabir has yet to release an official statement regarding the criticism from Atias. However, Atias wanted to emphasize the peaceful nature of the protest, saying, “We are not anarchists, lots of older people, there is a craft corner for children. I wish people would come to the protest to hear what we are saying. I am proud to lead the awakening and be the mouthpiece for the liberal voice in the city of Beer Sheva.”
As tensions continue to rise between protesters and the government, the clash between Atias and Ben Gabir serves as a reminder of the deeper issues driving the protests in Be’er Sheva. The focus on legal reform has ignited a passionate response from individuals like Atias, who are determined to bring attention to what they believe are the real problems plaguing their community. Only time will tell if their efforts will result in meaningful change.