Ben Gvir tells cops to stand tough against airport protesters

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir says he expects police to “not give in to lawbreakers” when protesters attempt to block Ben-Gurion airport as planned Monday.

In a statement, Ben Gvir says the government “certainly” supports the right to protest, including shouting.

“But blocking cities, blocking streets, paralyzing Ben Gurion Airport — this is a violation of national security,” he says, noting that he heard from senior police officials how dangerous blocking the airport can be.

“I expect the police to enforce the law and to ensure there is no surrender to lawbreakers and people who want to harm democracy,” he says in a statement.

Protest organizers have called on demonstrators to gather outside Terminal 3 at 5:30 p.m. on Monday to block access to the airport.

Police have vowed zero tolerance for attempts to block rights of way and have capped attendance at 5,000, setting up a confrontation with organizers, who have refused to back down.