Protesters move prayer rally from Dizengoff; Gantz accuses protesters of violence

Anti-government activists say they will relocate a planned protest prayer from Dizengoff Square, where they had intended to face off against a prayer rally held by Minister Itamar Ben Gvir slated for tomorrow evening.

Instead, Kaplan Force and other groups will gather at Habima Square for a rally billed as a “prayer for the peace and democracy of the state.” In a statement, they say the switch was made after speaking to area residents.

The announcement comes after Opposition Leader Yair Lapid repeated his call for activists not to give Ben Gvir the satisfaction of a confrontation.

Speaking at a memorial, Benny Gantz, head of the opposition National Unity party, accuses protesters who confronted a religious group attempting to organize a gender-separated prayer at Dizengoff Square on Yom Kippur of “using violence against worshipers on a day of holiness and disturbing the prayer.”

He also accuses the religious group of “provocations.”

“Both sides took the law into their hands and both lost mutual respect. Both sides have soul searching to do, as do we all as a society,” he says.