Police face off against anti-overhaul protesters at Tel Aviv’s Ayalon Highway

Anti-overhaul protesters have marched from Habima Square in Tel Aviv — where thousands gathered — to the Ayalon Highway, and mounted police have deployed to try to prevent them from blocking the highway.

Channel 12 reports that the southern lanes of the highway were briefly blocked a little earlier before the police arrived.

A police water cannon is spraying protesters at the side of the highway, trying to prevent them from descending into the road.

Anti-overhaul protesters march in Tel Aviv, July 20, 2023. (Roni Levinson)

Protests, which had begun before Netanyahu’s speech to the nation, are also gathering momentum at numerous places nationwide, including in Jerusalem and Modi’in.

In Ra’anana and Ramat Hasharon, protesters have gathered to block junctions.

Ra’anana junction is blocked by protesters, July 20, 2023. (Tiffany Viner)

Hundreds have blocked Ra’anana junction, Army Radio reports, with police not immediately intervening. Subsequently, the police deploy to clear the junction, pushing protesters out of the road.