Several thousands of protesters against the far-right government and in support for the immediate release of the hostages blocked Monday, March 31, all entrances to the Knesset in Jerusalem, as part of the 14th consecutive day of mass protests.
More than 12 protesters were detained during several anti-government demonstrations throughout Jerusalem and cops assaulted opposition MK Naama Lazimi during the protest. Despite people screaming that she is a member of Knesset, officers grab, pull, and shove the opposition lawmaker as she screams in fear. “The Ben-Gvir police, sponsored by the judicial coup, doesn’t scare us,” Lazimi told Haaretz. “If anything, it is even clearer to us how important it is to resist and rebuild Israel – including the police.”
Protest against far-right Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government, near the Knesset, Jerusalem, March 31, 2025 (Photo: Yonatan Sindel / Flash90)
Officers arrested the demonstrators in three locations — including outside the Knesset and on the Begin Highway. Among those arrested is the cousin of freed hostage Arbel Yehud, who bystanders say was violently detained after cursing a police officer for allowing a counter-protester within the barricades bounding the demonstration. Protesters also demonstrated on Aza Street near far-right Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence residence, from where they made their way toward the Knesset.
Protesters gathered near Prime Minister’s Aza Street home Sunday, blocked the road to traffic and sat in the street. They said that it would continue activities “until Netanyahu is gone.” Efraim Davidi, a leading member of the Communist Party of Israel and former member of the Histadrut leadership addressed the crowd at Azza Street and urged workers and unions to mobilize “right now against the far-right government and against the massacre in Gaza”.
In addition, opposition MKs protesting against the government also positioned their offices outside the Knesset on Monday. The MKs who joined the demonstration were Yesh Atid MKs Meirav Cohen, Mickey Levy, Ram Ben Barak, Yoav Segalovitz, Vladimir Beliak, Matti Sarfati Harkavi, as well as Michael Biton of the National Unity Party and Ofer Cassif of Hadash. In the afternoon, the Jerusalem municipality issued an order to disband the protest organized outside the Knesset by opposition MKs. Deputy mayor Yossi Habilio said that he is working to protect the protest encampment. “Unfortunately, there are also strong forces against the protest in city hall.”
Related: https://maki.org.il/en/?p=32569
