Anti-Netanyahu protesters assaulted in Netanya; police arrest 3 over violence

Police on Saturday arrested three Netanya residents after a brawl between activists at a rally against the return of former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and supporters of the former prime minister in the central coastal city.

Media reports indicated that pro-Netanyahu demonstrators threatened and hurled objects at those demonstrating against the opposition leader’s potential return to power.

One person is suspected of spraying mace at the anti-Netanyahu protesters. A woman was pushed to the ground by a pro-Netanyahu activist.

According to Channel 12, anti-Netanyahu demonstrators were also suspected of engaging in violence against the counter-protesters.

A police statement said officers detained a couple allegedly involved in the scuffle, as well as the demonstrator suspected of spraying mace, which set off the violence at the rally.

Over the past several weeks anti-Netanyahu demonstrators have returned to highway bridges and central intersections throughout the country to warn against the return of Netanyahu to the prime minister’s seat.

The rallies hark back to the 2020-2021 movement that demanded Netanyahu’s resignation over his criminal trials.

Demonstrations ended with the formation of the so-called change government last year.

תקיפת מפגינים בנתניה על גשר האר"י: המפגינים דיווחו שלפנות ערב הגיע רכב לבן ממנו יצאו כמה צעירים, שקיללו, איימו, זרקו חפצים על המפגינים, שפכו מיץ על מפגינה, ריססו חומר כלשהו, שברו משקפיים למפגין, והיכו מפגינה מבוגרת שנפלה למדרכה.
המפגינים: המשטרה הגיעה רק אחרי חצי שעה.
וידאו???????? pic.twitter.com/o4VRAE5JsB

— Or-ly Barlev ~ אור-לי ברלב (@orlybarlev) October 29, 2022

New elections are set to take place on Tuesday, November 1, following the collapse of that government, with polls indicating Netanyahu is just short of clinching a slim majority in parliament.