Thousands protest in Israel; police chief resigns

Jul 07, 2023

World
Thousands protest in Israel; police chief resigns

Tel Aviv [Israel], July 7: Thousands of Israelis again protested against the government in the coastal city of Tel Aviv on Wednesday following the resignation of the popular local police chief.
The rally was organised after Ami Eshed announced his resignation.
Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir had demanded that Eshed take tough action against those protesting against the right-wing government and its planned judicial reforms.
Demonstrations against the reforms, which opponents say will give the government too much power over the courts, have been going on for months. The plans were paused but the government is trying to push them through again.
Tel Aviv police chief Eshed refused Ben-Gvir's demands, saying he did not want to use "unreasonable force." Ben-Gvir and Israel's police chief KobiShabtai then threatened to transfer him to another department but Eshed refused.
In several cities, demonstrators blocked roads while in Tel Aviv they blocked a highway. The police used water cannons. On the fringes of the protest, a car rammed into a demonstrator, injuring him. It was initially unclear whether it was an attack or an accident.
Source: Qatar Tribune