Huge Anti-Netanyahu Protest in Tel Aviv Three Days Before Election, With Demands for October 7 Accountability
Just three days before Israel's general election, thousands of protesters have taken to the streets against the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Saturday's protest in Tel Aviv is being seen mainly as a kind of referendum or test of public opinion on Netanyahu. The French news agency AFP reported the news.
The protest was organised by the 'October Council' to demand accountability for the failure to prevent the Palestinian armed group's attack on 7 October 2023. The Gaza war began after that attack.
The organisation, formed of relatives of those killed in the attack and families of hostages, has been demanding an independent investigation to fix responsibility for the incident. Their demand is that the truth be uncovered through a state commission of inquiry.
According to Israeli media, leaders of the country's four main opposition parties took part in the protest. Among them was former army chief Gadi Eisenkot. His coalition's contest with Netanyahu in the election is described as neck-and-neck. The crowd at the protest gave him a warm reception.
Before the rally, the October Council said in a post on social media platform X that, three days before the election, it would hold the final programme of a three-year struggle to uncover the truth, ensure accountability and form a state commission of inquiry.
An AFP reporter said thousands of protesters marched from central Rabin Square towards Hostage Square. That square has also been the centre of various anti-government protests in the past demanding the release of those held in Gaza.
Before the rally began, 68-year-old Hadas Feuerstein told AFP that those who have led us for the past four years have failed terribly. Netanyahu's government came to power at the end of 2022. She added that Israel has never faced such a situation before.
Before the protest, the October Council had warned law enforcement about possible 'provocation' by pro-government individuals. On Saturday evening, Israeli police said a suspect had been arrested in Tel Aviv on allegations of attacking the security staff of a prominent person.
Israeli media reports named former prime minister and opposition leader Naftali Bennett as the target of the attack. The arrest added to the tension on the day of the protest.
Notably, the latest opinion polls published before a ban on publishing election campaign information took effect on Friday night showed that no coalition would win a majority in Israel's parliament.
According to a survey by the state broadcaster Kan, Eisenkot's coalition could win 52 seats in the 120-seat parliament and Netanyahu's coalition 50. The remaining seats would go to Arab parties and other parties with independent positions. Uncertainty therefore remains over which coalition the election result will favour.
