Over 10,000 turn out to Tel Aviv peace rally

Late Saturday, approximately 10,000 people turned out to a peace rally in Tel Aviv’s Rabin Square. They called for a political solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

Meretz party leader Zehava Gal-on told the crowd that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is a failure and should resign. She also called for an end to the Gaza blockade.

Author David Grossman addressed the crowd, and said that Israelis “are losing our home to fanaticism and internal hatred.”

“Dangerous movements are coming to pass in Israel because of the despair, the anxiety, nationalism and racism erupting all at once,” he said. “Not one word of condemnation has been uttered by the prime minister. It will be very difficult to rein in the dark forces. I’m concerned that the leaders enjoyed seeing the Left held hostage, but this tide will turn against them when they appear too moderate. These processes and phenomena will unfortunately turn Israel into a radical, militant, xenophobic cult, isolated and ostracized.”