Thousands protest Netanyahu’s government

Thousands of demonstrators rallied in Tel Aviv to protest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government. The march, which began on Begin Road and converged at Habima Square, saw protesters demanding Netanyahu’s resignation and calling for a hostage deal with Hamas—even if that necessitates a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an end to the conflict.

The protest comes amid a series of weekly anti-government demonstrations that have intensified following Netanyahu’s controversial moves. Earlier actions included his attempt to dismiss Ronen Bar, the head of the security agency Shin Bet, following Bar's suspension by the Supreme Court. Critics, including political watchdogs and opposition lawmakers, condemned the dismissal as unlawful and politically motivated.

During the demonstration, some protesters were forcibly removed by police after trying to occupy a city centre road, while mounted officers worked to control the growing crowd. This heavy police presence mirrored previous protests, such as on February 11 when demonstrators attempting to block the entrance to Netanyahu’s office were similarly dispersed, and on March 25 outside the Knesset in Jerusalem.

In a related development, Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar accused Netanyahu of trying to leverage the agency for personal and political gain. According to Bar, Netanyahu pressured him to monitor anti-government protesters and their financial supporters, disregard court orders amid a constitutional crisis, and endorse a security document that would prevent him from testifying in Netanyahu’s corruption trial. Bar rejected these demands, asserting the need to protect the agency’s independence. Netanyahu’s office dismissed these allegations as false, attributing Bar’s supposed failings to Hamas' attacks in October 2023. The dispute over Bar’s dismissal has drawn further attention as the Supreme Court halted the move pending a compromise, intensifying concerns over the health of democratic institutions in Israel.