Netanyahu, Gantz at each others’ throats over protests

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Benny Gantz clash at Sunday’s cabinet meeting, with the premier accusing protesters against him of “trampling on democracy” while the Blue and White chief responds that people have a right to demonstrate and must be protected.

“I see an attempt to trample on democracy, there is a distortion of all the rules. Nobody restricts the demonstrations. On the contrary — they go toward them. It’s a coronavirus incubator, there are rules that are not enforced, no one restricts it and no one has even tried to restrict it,” the premier claims.

No outbreaks have been directly traced back to the protests and police have said they are strictly enforcing mask-wearing.

“These demonstrations are fueled by a media mobilization, the likes of which I don’t remember before. They are encouraged, allowed to paralyze neighborhoods and block roads, in stark contrast to everything that was accepted in the past,” Netanyahu says.

Gantz, who also serves as alternate prime minister, responds to Netanyahu, emphasizing he believes the right to demonstrate is the “lifeblood of democracy,” as well as condemning violence against protesters.

“The right to protest is the lifeblood of democracy. As a government, we have a responsibility to allow the demonstrations to take place and to protect the demonstrators, who were unfortunately attacked yesterday.”