""National Disruption Day" Turned Violent: The demonstration by opponents of the legal reform taking place today (Wednesday) in Tel Aviv got out of control, after Kaplan Street and Ayalon Highways in the city were blocked to vehicle traffic by thousands of people who broke through the barriers set up by the police - and clashed with police officers.
The police, some on horseback, used stun grenades against the protesters. MKs from the Future Party and the Labor Party left the Knesset building and joined the protesters.
The police reported: "Stones were thrown at us from the rooftops.".
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Ichilov Hospital reported: "Eleven injured people arrived for treatment in the emergency room from the protest events. They are suffering from bruises, cuts, burns and injuries to their bodies. One injured person was even taken to the operating room, two others will remain hospitalized.".
Clashes were reported between protesters at the Azrieli intersection in Tel Aviv and police officers at the scene. Some protesters boarded vehicles in an attempt to pass through the checkpoints set up by the police, while others tried to infiltrate under trucks that were also set up as a checkpoint.
Police arrested 39 protesters on suspicion of involvement in disorderly conduct and disobeying police orders.
A 26-year-old Haifa resident was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer during a demonstration at the city's Matam intersection. According to police, he refused to evacuate the blocked intersection and assaulted one of the police officers.
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Earlier, protesters blocked the Sha'ar Hagai interchange on Highway 1 towards Jerusalem with a barbed wire fence and chains.
Subsequently, major highways across the country were blocked and heavy traffic congestion was felt from north to south.
At the Tel Aviv train stations, protesters blocked the train doors this morning and prevented travel.
Demonstrations, convoys, and protest marches will take place in various cities and intersections. The day will end with demonstrations in Tel Aviv and in front of the Prime Minister's residence on Gaza Street in Jerusalem.
Chaos in Ayalon: Stun grenades and cavalry forcefully evacuate protesters in the area of the Peace Interchange@daniel_elazar pic.twitter.com/D7JR2noySZ
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Minister Ben Gvir: "I am in favor of democratic protest, but we will not allow civil disobedience and we will not allow anarchists to block major thoroughfares, and the daily lives of Israeli citizens must be maintained. I have instructed the Israel Police to open all roads if they are blocked.".
After conducting a situation assessment at the Tel Aviv Police Headquarters with Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai and Tel Aviv Police Chief David Filo, the minister said: "Zero tolerance must be shown towards anarchists who attack police officers, break through police checkpoints and lead to anarchy.".
MK Avraham Bezalel of the Shas: "They are allowed to do anything! Damage public property, block patients from reaching the emergency room and receiving treatment, stop children from going to school, prevent people from going to work, and all in the name of democracy. The anarchists are taking over the country from within! The absurdity that the Israel Police knew about the demonstrations in advance and yet did not prevent the roadblocks out of fear of the media.".
Minister Strok: "The predictions are on the way? Why on the way? This is a predetermined failure.".
