Thousands rally in Tel Aviv against Netanyahu three days before Israeli election

Thousands gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday for a large anti-government demonstration, three days ahead of a general election widely viewed as a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (AFP via Free Malaysia Today, Manila Times).

The protest was organised by the October Council, a group founded by the families of victims and hostages taken by Palestinian militants on 7 October 2023, demanding accountability for the failure to prevent the Hamas attack that sparked the Gaza war and a state commission of inquiry.

Leaders of the four main opposition parties took part, including Gadi Eisenkot, the former military chief of staff who is neck and neck with Netanyahu and received a warm reception from the crowd, according to Israeli media cited by AFP. An AFP reporter said thousands were marching from the central Rabin Square towards Hostages Square, a focal point for past anti-government protests.

The latest polls before a Friday-night gag period showed neither bloc winning a majority in Israel’s 120-seat parliament. A poll by public broadcaster KAN put Eisenkot’s bloc on 52 seats and Netanyahu’s on 50, with the rest going to non-aligned parties, including Arab ones.

Opposition leaders also attacked Netanyahu’s Friday suggestion that Israel may need an alternate digital economy amid growing isolation. Eisenkot sarcastically dubbed the idea “bbCoin” on X, using a common nickname for the premier, while former prime minister Yair Lapid warned voters that a Netanyahu win would bring sanctions and no security agreement with the United States.