Israel’s third ‘Day of Disruption’: Nationwide protests, road closures expected

Israel’s third ‘Day of Disruption’ kicked off earlier than planned early on Thursday morning when dozens of Israeli artists painted a red line on the road to Israel’s High Court of Justice in Jerusalem.

Launching another day of marches, demonstrations and road closures as part of the nationwide judicial reform protest, the artists’ demonstration represents the “inseparable connection between an independent judiciary and the freedoms of speech and expression through art, leisure, culture and sports,” as per protest organizers.

Five of the artists were arrested, Israel Police reported. The protesters noted in a statement that the paint used was designed specifically for the demonstration, noting that it is “easy to paint over.”

Elsewhere in Israel, Israel Navy reservists blocked entry to the Haifa Port for commercialships early on Thursday morning. “The Navy will not sail into a dictatorship, signs hung on the reservists’ boats read.

Israel Navy reservists protest the government’s proposed judicial reform on Thursday, March 16, 2023 (credit: ITAMAR GREENBERG)

Israeli media reported on Thursday morning that IDF reservists attempted to open a military recruitment office in front of the B’nei Brak city hall as part of their judicial reform protest efforts. The reservists were quoted by Maariv as saying, “We came to transfer the burden of enlistment to the ultra-Orthodox population, because if there will be a dictatorship, we will need to come here and enlist [soldiers]. We repeat that without democracy, there is no ‘People’s Army.'”

“The Netanyahu government has decided to kick into fifth gear, with the aim of overthrowing Israeli democracy into chaos,” Protest leaders were quoted by N12 as saying.

“The disruptions are being carried out by tens of thousands of Israeli men and women who are not ready to live in a dictatorship,” the protest organizers stated.

There will be several centers of protest, in the north, south and center of the country. There will also be demonstrations in front of various embassies.

Schedule of protests

Demonstrations in Tel Aviv will follow this schedule:

• 10 a.m. Protestors will gather outside the embassies of the United States, Britain, France and Germany in Tel Aviv.
• 10 a.m. “Religious Zionist Democratic” demonstration in Azrieli
• 11 a.m.  A march will be held, beginning at HaBima square
• 11 a.m. “Torch march” run by representatives from the “world of culture”
• 12 p.m. Protest in front of the Weizmann Institute
• 12:30 p.m. Protest of medical professionals
• 7 p.m. Gathering at HaBima square

The protests in Jerusalem will follow this schedule:

• 8 a.m. Demonstrations in front of schools
• 12 p.m. Student march from the Givat Ram campus of Hebrew University