Protest leaders announced that Thursday, March 9 would serve as the next “day of disruptions” around Israel — a repeat of events this past Wednesday when protests and road blockages took place throughout the country with violence between police and some protesters in Tel Aviv. The “Anti-Dictatorship Day” will be held in dozens of locations from the Upper Galilee, in the North to Eilat, in the South.

On Saturday evening, hundreds of thousands of people rallied throughout Israel against the far-right government in the ninth straight weekend of protests against with some 200,000 estimated in Tel Aviv. Organizers claimed that their counts throughout the country indicated some 400,000 protesters in all. For over two months, hundreds of thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets every Saturday night to protest against the far-right government.

Hadash demonstrators and Anti-Occupation Bloc activists marching in Tel-Aviv with red and Palestinian flags, Saturday evening, March 4, 2023 (Photo: Zo Haderech)

Large protests were seen Saturday in Jerusalem, Herzliya, Netanya, Beersheba, Haifa and more, with reports indicating numbers continue to grow from week to week. Organizers said rallies were held in nearly 95 locations in all.

As the main Tel Aviv rally ended, clashes once again erupted between police and demonstrators, as the latter broke through barriers to enter the Ayalon Highway — action police and far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir had vowed to prevent. Police used horse-mounted cops and water cannons against the demonstrators as they sought to disperse them. This had happened while the protesters were leaving the highway anyway and was not preceded by violence. Officials said at least four were detained. The highway was eventually reopened for traffic after around an hour and half of closures.

Related: https://maki.org.il/en/?p=30860