From: tjlodge50@PROTECTED Read closely, there are the beginnings of some hopeful themes of peace and reform coming from the people of Israel. Haaretz | Israel News Blocked Roads, Clashes With Police: Thousands Rally Against Netanyahu's Government Across Israel Thousands of anti-government demonstrators called for an early election and the removal of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, Be'er Sheva and Caesarea Send in e-mailSend in e-mail Protests in Tel Aviv on Saturday.Credit: Itai Ron Bar Peleg Feb 17, 2024 10:38 pm IST Thousands of people protested Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government across Israel on Saturday night, demanding early elections. In Tel Aviv, thousands of anti-government protesters marched down the main Kaplan street and broke through a human barrier of police officers. A confrontation broke out between protesters and police over the arrest of a protester, who was released a few minutes later. Meanwhile, others shot fireworks into the air and attempted to block roads. Police declared the demonstration illegal. They handed out 1,000 shekel fines ($277) to two protesters for obstructing traffic and committing an illegal act. Police and protesters in Tel Aviv, on Saturday.Credit: Itai Ron About a thousand people demonstrated in Caesarea near Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's home, calling for elections. Some protesters blocked a road, and police forcibly removed them Four protesters were arrested and one was evacuated by Magen David Adom rescue services after she was slightly wounded in the head during a confrontation with police, according to witnesses. Israel At War: Get a daily summary direct to your inbox Email * Please enter a valid email address Amir Heskel, an activist in the anti-government protest movement, spoke at the demonstration. "In January, I was arrested three times during a legal demonstration near the prime minister's residence here in Caesarea. On Saturday night, there was severe violence and arrests at the demonstration in Tel Aviv," he said. - Advertisement - "We will continue the actions while constantly increasing the number of demonstrators, until there are several tens of thousands who will besiege the Knesset for two or three days, day and night, and stop the state," he added. Anti-government protesters in Tel Aviv, on Saturday.Credit: Dylan Martinez/Reuters According to Heskel, "Yes, there will be forced dispersions, there will be water cannons, there will be arrests. I learned first hand that it is not terrible, I have lost my fear of the police. This is the price we have to pay to leave a reformed country for our children and grandchildren." Hundreds of people rallied outside President Isaac Herzog's residence. From there, protesters marched to Paris Square, where they held a rally to demand the release of Hamas hostages in Gaza. Ron Besin, a member of Kibbutz Zikim near the Gaza border, spoke during the rally and addressed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying, "Throughout your years as prime minister, you disregarded the periphery and the Gaza border villages while building Hamas. On October 7, you abandoned us to our terrible fate. "As long as you are prime minister, we have no hope, no chance to restore the border communities," Besin said. "We're calling from here to dissolve this bad government and go to elections now." About 300 people demonstrated in Be'er Sheva, calling for the return of the hostages and early elections. Among those present are about 50 family members of Hamza and Yusuf Alziadna, a Bedouin father and son still held hostage. The younger two teenage siblings, Aisha and Bilal, who were also taken hostage on October 7, were released in the previous hostage deal. Family members of hostages Hamza and Yusuf Alziadna, at a demonstration in Be'er Sheva, on Saturday.Credit: Eliyahu Hershkovitz Hundreds of protesters marched in Haifa in Israel's north, calling for immediate elections, on their way to the weekly anti-government demonstration. They carried signs saying "No racism in Haifa" and "Haifa will remain together." Protesters said that this demonstration will be marked by the local elections at the end of the month. Protesters in Haifa calling for the announcement of elections, on Saturday.Credit: Haifa People's Protest Israeli philosopher Asa Kasher said in Haifa that objections to the return of hostages are despicable, and "contrary to morality and a religion that does not have idols of real estate," adding that a war of self-defense is a just war, while a war for the establishment of settlements in the Gaza Strip is not. Breaking news and the best of Haaretz straight to your inbox Email * Please enter a valid email address Asa Kasher speaking at a demonstration in Haifa, on Saturday.Credit: Haifa People's Protest According to Kasher , the government must act immediately to return the hostages. "How is it possible that other countries in the world care more about the fate of the hostages than Israel? It's a shame." Kasher added that "the moral principle of protecting human life gives the effort to save the hostages a top priority, even at the cost of a cease-fire and the release of [Palestinian] prisoners." Earlier on Saturday, Histadrut Labor Federation Chairman Arnon Bar-David said that a date needs to be decided upon for the elections and said that Netanyahu "has driven us to the edge, to a place we should not be at… He should take responsibility for what happened, and then make his decisions for himself. I would quit if I were him." Histadrut Labor Federation Chairman Arnon Bar-David in January 2024.Credit: Moti Milrod Bar-David added that "we all want change, but unfortunately are not managing to create it. This is one of my central missions I have taken on for the upcoming year, upcoming months. To change the state of Israel from top to bottom, because we cannot go on like this. We need elections, we need a restart. We need to set a date, the end of the year, December, until then we can win the war, fix it up, arrange things and go to orderly elections and build something new. We are all desperate for something new." Northwest Ohio Peace Coalition Post to: Northwest Ohio Peace Coalition ( peacelist@PROTECTED ) Manage Your Subscription Unsubscribe