Live Update arrow right icon From the Liveblog of Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Protesters demand new elections chain themselves together outside Knesset

By Sam Sokol 20 March 2024, 5:21 pm 3 Edit

Sam Sokol is the Times of Israel's political correspondent. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"

Israelis protesting against the government block a road near the Knesset in Jerusalem on March 20, 2024. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
Israelis protesting against the government block a road near the Knesset in Jerusalem on March 20, 2024. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Dozens of protesters block entrances to the Knesset, chaining themselves together while calling for early elections.

Members of the Yasam riot police unit are deployed as protesters unsuccessfully attempt to storm the back gates of the compound.

Inside the Knesset, protesters hand out “dismissal letters” to coalition lawmakers, including Likud MK Yuli Edelstein, who tells the uncle of a terror victim to “get out of my sight” after being handed one of the letters. Relatives of the hostages also handed out traditional Purim food baskets known as mishloah manot to lawmakers. However, instead of holiday treats they contain moldy pita bread and olives to emulate the food provided to the hostages by their Hamas captors in Gaza.

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