Ayalon blocked, mothers rally at induction center in protests of overhaul, inequality

Demonstrations focused on social equality held nationwide, at ministers’ homes, religious institutions; mothers group with baby coffins protests bill to exempt all Hardim from IDF

By Jeremy Sharon 4 May 2023, 11:54 amUpdated at 4:30 pm Edit

Jeremy Sharon is The Times of Israel’s legal affairs and settlements reporter

Protesters push strollers carrying small coffins in a rally outside the IDF Induction Center on May 4, 2023. (Mothers at the Front)
Protesters push strollers carrying small coffins in a rally outside the IDF Induction Center on May 4, 2023. (Mothers at the Front)

Protesters carried out acts of civil disobedience, including blocking major highways, around the country Thursday morning for the latest “Disruption Day” against the government’s judicial overhaul program and in support of equality over a range of societal issues.

Activists also staged demonstrations outside the homes of prominent cabinet ministers as well as offices of state religious institutions.

Diverse demonstrations and events were used to drive home various arguments against the judicial overhaul, with cabinet ministers depicted as babies, blood-spattered mannequins representing murdered Israelis, protesters in “Handmaid’s Tale” costumes marching for women’s rights, and a civil marriage staged outside the Tel Aviv rabbinate.

Protests were held outside the President’s Residence in Jerusalem as well as the homes of ministers and a senior ultra-Orthodox rabbi in Bnei Brak, while “Handmaid’s Tale” demonstrations were staged in Tel Aviv.

Main traffic arteries were blocked, including the Kaplan Street and the Ayalon highway in Tel Aviv, as well as major intersections in Raanana, Kfar Haro’eh, Kfar Hayarok, Nahala Junction, Modiin, and numerous other locations around the country.

The police reported that protesters had been removed from the Ayalon Highway shortly after having blocked the road.

At least two protesters were arrested during protests in Haifa protests and two in Tel Aviv, protest organizers stated Thursday afternoon.

According to the police, two protesters in the Haifa demonstrations aged 45 and 68 were arrested on charges of disturbing the public order, one of whom attacked a police officer. A decision will be made later today as to whether charges will be brought agains them.

In the West Bank settlement of Kiryat Arba, mannequins representing dead bodies were strewn outside the home of National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, with protesters accusing him of failing to tackle the wave of murders in the Arab community.

“Ben Gvir, you represent all that is wrong with the current government — zero governance, zero responsibility, zero capability,” said Yiftach Golov, one of the leaders of the Brothers in Arms group of IDF reservists opposed to the judicial overhaul.

“We, the people’s army, will not stop until we will ensure a Jewish democratic state based on equality, equally sharing in service to the whole country in paying taxes and security. It’s not about left and right, it’s about right and wrong.”

A morning prayer service was held outside Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s home in the West Bank settlement of Kedumim, where protesters blocked the exit from his house.

Although the coalition’s legislative program to remake the legal and judicial system is currently on hold, organizers are seeking to prevent a decline in the fervor of the protests, fearing the coalition could resume legislation at any moment.

The Brothers in Arms protest group against the government’s judicial overhaul program demonstrates outside the home of National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir in the West Bank settlement of Kiryat Arba, May 4, 2023 (Courtesy Brothers in Arms)

In Bnei Brak, dozens of Brothers in Arms protesters set up a demonstration close to the home of 100-year-old Rabbi Gershon Edelstein, the leading rabbinical figure in the non-Hasidic ultra-Orthodox community.

Protesters flew banners declaring, “Without enlistment there is no reconciliation,” in reference to demands for an end to the blanket military service exemptions afforded to ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students.

“There must be a division of the burden, [through either] military or civilian service,” read other signs while protesters chanted “Democracy” outside the rabbi’s home.

The coalition agreements signed by the Likud party with the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism and Shas parties stipulates that legislation be passed formalizing the blanket exemptions before the passage of the state budget, which must be approved by May 29.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is, however, seeking to postpone passage of the unpopular legislation, invoking the ire of UTJ in particular.

In another draft equality protest, a group of women from the “Mothers on the Frontlines” organization took baby carriages mounted with small coffins draped with Israeli flags and placed them outside the IDF’s Induction Center at Tel Hashomer.

The women marched towards the base chanting demands for equality in military service, in reference to the government’s plans to re-legislate the draft exemption laws previously struck down by the High Court of Justice, most recently in 2017, which would exempt all ultra-Orthodox males from military and national service.

Protesters push strollers carrying small coffins in a rally outside the IDF Induction Center on May 4, 2023. (Mothers at the Front)

In Tel Aviv, the Women’s Protest staged a march with activists dressed in “Handmaid’s Tale” costumes from the Tel Aviv Rabbinate to the Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court.

Outside the rabbinate, protesters held up signs reading “Dicta-Torah,” “No entrance to dictators,” and “Rights for women to chose where to divorce” as they blocked the entrance to the building.

Students and professors from Tel Aviv University, meanwhile, marched to the Tel Aviv city center presenting the government as babies with pacifiers in their mouths playing with Lego blocks in protest of what they described as the “Kindergarten Government,” in reference to the numerous squabbles unfolding at present within the coalition.

Protestors from the Women’s Protest organization march from the Tel Aviv Rabbinate to the Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court in costumes from the Handmaid’s Tale in protest at what they say is the discrimination against women in religious proceedings in the state rabbinate and rabbinical courts. (Courtesy Women’s Protest)

“The ministers have lost control of the country, and while they bicker like children, prices are rising and Israel’s security is dropping. Instead of dealing with the true issues facing Israel’s citizens, the irresponsible ministers continue their attempt at a judicial coup,” the Student’s Protest group said in a statement.

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