Tel Aviv Social Protesters Smash Bank Windows, Block Roads and Clash with Police
- Posted on June 24, 2012 at 8:58am by
Sharona Schwartz
- Print »
- Email »
Bank window smashed by protesters in Tel Aviv (photo from Ynet)
Activists trying to rekindle last summer’s social protests across Israel clashed with police over the weekend after a violent outburst by demonstrators that was in contrast to last year’s largely peaceful demonstrations protesting the high cost of living in the country.
The Times of Israel reported on the Saturday night events reminiscent of some of the more anarchical scenes of Occupy Wall Street protests:
Police arrested 85 people in the overnight hours between Saturday and Sunday as a protest in support of social activists in Tel Aviv turned violent.
Bank branches were broken into, eggs were thrown and roads were blocked as an estimated 3,000 people massed in central Tel Aviv Saturday night to to protest perceived police brutality against demonstrators Friday evening.
Tent-carrying protesters smashed windows in a branch of Bank Leumi near Rabin Square and in a nearby branch of Bank Hapoalim, according to media reports. Demonstrators also reportedly attempted to break into a branch of Discount Bank and threw eggs at City Hall, adjacent to Rabin Square.
At one point, activists blocked the main Ayalon highway that courses north to south through Tel Aviv and Ibn Gvirol, a main road in the city. In the video below, one protester waves a red flag while the group chants in Hebrew, “We’ve returned to the streets”:
Yarkon Subdistrict Police Commander Yoram Ohayon denied to Ynet News protester claims that police used excessive force:
“We have to enforce the law,” he continued. “Protests are legitimate and we will allow them as long as they are held within the law. If we didn’t initiate arrests we would have seen looting as well. The rioters crossed every possible red line. I couldn’t believe this could happen in Israel. We were very close to seeing the harsh sights we see in violent rallies overseas, here.”
The Times provided further detail on the protests which brought out between 3,000 and 6,500, depending on the news source:
Vandals also threw knocked over garbage cans, according to media reports.
Police commandeered a Dan bus to transport all the arrested activists.
“They crossed every red line,” Tel Aviv police chief Aharon Axel said. “We won’t allow this to devolve into violence.”
Labor Party leader Shelly Yachimovich who supports the protests criticized the police response:
“Despite the fact that Public Security Minister [Yitzhak] Aharonovitch told me clearly in the Knesset that there was no order from on high to take harsh steps against the movement’s protesters, it turns out that the government and its operational branches have decided not to enable the existence of democratic protests this summer,” she noted.
Photo from Ynet
The Saturday night spree was prompted by the Friday arrest of Daphni Leef, a leader of the protest movement, along with 11 other activists. This after they tried to erect tents without permits along Rothschild Boulevard, a key symbol of last year’s protests.
Ynet opinion columnist Yoaz Hendel cautioned protesters not to fall into the trap of anarchy:
Some of the organizer’s [sic] of Israel’s social protest are angry now, and possibly despaired. The summer has arrived yet the people demand to stay at home with their air-conditioners. Only small numbers of people hit the streets in the recent events organized by protest inheritors. Only few showed interest.
And if that was not enough, Tel Aviv City Hall officials decided that they will not be hosting yet another Woodstock in the city’s Rothschild Boulevard. Even the media did not go out of its way to cover the intentions to re-launch the social justice protest in Tel Aviv.
The above is enough to justify the grim feelings of protestors, yet it is very far from constituting a permit for reckless rioting.
Social activists have tried on several occasions without success this spring to bring out the masses as they did last summer when hundreds of thousands answered the call, demanding subsidized housing, free preschool education and other increased social entitlements.
The largest rally brought out 350,000, a staggering number considering the total population of Israel is less than 8 million. Then, the social protesters met with a modicum of success when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government enacted several reforms including free education from age three.
Comments (65)
Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In
Popular Stories
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 587 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 414 Comments
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 412 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 375 Comments
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 372 Comments
Faith
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 412 Comments
Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 414 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 372 Comments
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 151 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 303 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 412 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
rebelarizona
Posted on June 25, 2012 at 12:00amEven the Holy Land has commie socialist lowlife…OY VEI!
Report Post »rebelarizona
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 6:40pmIt will be worse in the USA when communists, socialists and collectivists start this garbage. Has anyone ever met a happy liberal, commie or socialist???
DEO VINDICE
Report Post »rickc34
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 4:53pmGun sales by law abiding people are at an all time high.. if a revolutions is coming from the left the right is ready…remember the 14 year old boy that shot the bad guy who was also armed….one thing is having a gun another is knowing how to use it .
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 5:42pmIf push comes to shove… throw away the Legal & Punishment Handbook… and go primitive!
Report Post »rickc34
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 4:46pmpsalm 109 verses 6-20. Here you go Obama
Report Post »ALL4FREEDOM
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 2:30pmLet me give you another reason why a lot of the protesters stayed home: the Occupy movement has lost it’s legitimacy as a protest movement. The masks have been torn away and people now recognize that only the leftist anarchists remain to cause mischief. Sadly, Israel has her radical leftist wingnuts as well.
Report Post »socialism.rocks
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 3:26pmhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPKH4GHiihg&feature=g-user-lik
no we are arming ourselves
lukerw
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 6:04pm@SOCIALISM…
Report Post »I… for one… believe you!
MrKnowItAll
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 1:56pmThese people just have to be 1/32 part Indian. They sound Just like them! Hurry get Em’ a Grant to Harvard.
Report Post »angeleyes63
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 1:39pm@INDIVIDUALISM
Report Post »You keep calling everyone a dumbass that’s like calling the kettle black. The left is why we have all the problems. History is clear on that. P.S where do you get your news the huffpo?
dsind
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 12:24pmwhat happened to OWS here in the USA?
Report Post »i miss that smelly, liberal, confused trainwreck!
lol
socialism.rocks
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 3:26pmwe are everywhere preparing for revolution
Report Post »RingADingDing
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 11:44amI have an idea, why don’t some of you freaks give them some of your money since you worship Jews so much. That’s right, they’re in need, give them your money.
Report Post »Unix
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 11:27amThe liberal disease is worldwide! They always have to get their freak on eh? I think a protest is okay, to express ones views and such is a good thing, but in the end, when lefties protests, it turns violent. They have no respect for others or their property. Things will get more intense all over the world as stagflation kicks in, as our governments have no idea what they are sowing by spending like drunken sailors! No offence to sailors. We could be faced with much social unrest in the new year, as our government marches down the road to tyranny. I am not optimistic about the future, because our country has become a nanny state, and created the give me culture; which will become the take it culture, unless drastic changes happen, starting in November, when we vote the Progressive dolts out of power!
Report Post »rambosharley
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 12:10pmDon’t insult the sailors….instead you should say “they spend like drunken marxist”!
Report Post »shogun459
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 11:25am“Labor Party leader Shelly Yachimovich who supports the protests criticized the police response:”
Yes and when This Communist is in charge the police will call out the Tanks like they do in every Socialist Dictatorship.
It‘s only a brutal crackdown if you’re the revolutionary, everyone else calls it inforcing the law.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 11:35amOur Democrats have purposely supported these so-called Democratic revolutions. Similar to their trashing of the SCOTUS. Our Democrats and their anarchist wing are setting the stage for an anti-capitalist “ revolution” and setting the stage to squelch public anger over same. Remember Obama saying he ” shares the frustration of the OWS?” Notice that this administration has NEVER spoken out against all of the union bullying , the MIC checks, the OWS endless Occupations of public space at tax payer’s expense. Do the Obama people think we are so stupid not to see what they are up to ? Do the Obama people think that the majority of Americans favor anarchy ? The Obama people are sorely misguided. And, hopefully, soon sorely missing from the American political scene. Americans do not like Bullies.
Report Post »shogun459
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 11:21amThe Muslims prepare to attack from without, and these Communists begin by attacking from within.
Report Post »Individualism
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 10:11amits time the right and the left join forces to make change.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 10:24amOur INDI: the Paul Revere of the Anarchists ! Grab you hoodies ? Grab your face masks ? Grab your cocktails ? ( Think it’s time for you to go back into the basement before you end up in jail. )
Report Post »De minimus
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 11:28amNo, it’s past time for the Marxists to go.
Report Post »Individualism
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 12:04pmlearn your history before you say crap barber instead of watching stupid hannity.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 6:11pmThe CHANGE that I support is… a decline in the numbers of the Left.
Report Post »momrules
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 10:00amSocialism/evil invades every country on earth. The weak, the greedy, the takers, the whiners grow in number with every demand they make that is met. They must declare their victimhood as they destroy what others have worked to attain.
Report Post »iampraying4u
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 10:12amThe end will come like a flood.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 10:00amJust more of the international Left’s “revolutions” – last year it was London , etc. Am sure our “Let’s Have A Revolution ” Crowd – our local franchised Far Left anarchists – will have some more plans for us. This is what the international Left does : stir up anger, disorder, civil unrest and , possibly, a revolution if they are successful. Same old group of international Anti-capitalists…like the Weathermen from the 60′s. Like our OWS groupies from last year . Like the London rioters last August. Just maladjusted anarchists with little on their “ change” agenda than destruction and anarchy. Anarchists NEVER change ! Now just hooking up with their Arab Spring buddies to thrash Israel and America – those two nasty, SUCCESSFUL capitalist countries .
Report Post »Individualism
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 12:11pmis that what faux news told you and those dumbasses bill o reilly hannity
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 3:18pm@Indi
“dumbasses Bill O’Reilly and Hannity?”…And I believe up above you’ve said “Stupid Hannity”
Better watch the language there mr. paulbot…You’re starting to devolve into a 12 year old…Fix that antennae on your tinfoil cap…Or better yet, upgrade to the new and improved titanium edition, I hear you can tune into AJ much, much better…that is of course if you can save up enough money from your allowance…
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 9:56amows comes to Israel.
Report Post »Fools, this offers nothing to the social/political dialogue.
angeleyes63
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 9:54amCan you say worldwide union (socialist-communist movement) IT’S SPREADING EVIL FAR AND WIDE. BE AWARE IT WILL COME FOR YOU AND ME IF WE DO NOT STOP IT.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 10:03amAgree. And guess they think we are too dumb to connect the dots…most “ transparent” thing about the Obama Administration ! Just think : 2012 – an election between capitalism and “ whatever they Lefties are calling ” anti-capitalism today ! ( you know how they love those 99% baloney (new ) definitions and word games )
Report Post »JQCitizen
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 9:51amReally. If all these malcontents don‘t like the lands they’re living in, why don’t we give them the sea?
There’s much more of that on the globe, isn’t there? And if they get too unruly someone can just pull the plug, one dingy at a time. No loss.
Report Post »JQCitizen
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 9:53amThere’s a LAW OF THE SEA TREATY for you, Aye?
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 9:30amThe teat suckers have invaded Israel too? The world is toast….
Report Post »marybethelizabeth
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 9:51amWhat are you talking about?
Israel has always had a socialist government.
Report Post »Fubared
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 9:56amMBE
Report Post »Huge difference being that they, the peeps, took care of themselves, their own, and their country. Your version ain’t theirs. Yours is inner city teat suckers and union backers only in it for the fed bennies. Imagine NW DC inhabitants doing military service for 2 years….haha. AHAhahahahahahaha. Right. MBE, socialism has worked so well where again? They still elect people to represent them, but as a country have to have massive social programs for the MBE teat latcher on ers. What a wanker. Cheers, and good day.
barber2
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 10:09amMBE: My, dear. Three words: Greece, Spain, Italy. Oh, that lefty stuff just works out swell. Just ask an American Democrat . They still believe we can spend ourselves into prosperity…just like Greece ( oh, yeah, and then when it all blows up..Blame the Banks ! Such economic wisdom by the Color Me Stupid Crowd ) You, go, Democrats. Just keep piling on that ” blame the banks; blame the rich; blame George Bush; blame the man in the moon.” Oh, and grab those pitch forks , hoodies, and face masks ! So Bolshevik 1917 …. that one ended swell, also…)
Report Post »marybethelizabeth
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 11:11amMr. Fubared .
You are making ridiculous assumptions. My version of What? You are making things up.
If you think that Israel is a success, then that is an example of a successful socialist country
Report Post »marybethelizabeth
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 11:15amMr. Barber2.
Nobody advocates living above their means except the banks, who make their money by keeping as many people in as much debt for as long as they can.
Report Post »shogun459
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 11:28amIgnore Marybethelizbeth she doesn’t know who writting her stuff and her/thier agenda is showing.
Black is white and up is down huh, Marywhoever.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 11:44amMBE: so you blame banks for people living beyond their means ? Duh. Reminds me of the Old “ blame the bartender for getting drunk ” bit. My, dear : it’s called personal responsibility. Without it, you create a dysfunctional society. That is exactly what the Democrats are trying to do. You can not have a functional society without personal responsibility. All of this Big Brother government is based on a society which is too dumb and anarchistic to “ behave” and to use common sense. Welcome to the New Democrat America. Blame everyone. Get mad. Throw a temper tantrum. Throw yourselves on the floor . Waaah. Destroy stuff . The New Democrat Dark Ages ! No thanks. NO – Bama 2012.
Report Post »Want our country back
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 9:20amSmashing windows and destroying property, DOES WHAT?????
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 9:59amI would think that it makes the cost of living even higher.
Report Post »sinsay7
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 11:24amit gets their point across.
Report Post »they like to break things.
rambosharley
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 12:20pmYea ! I remember the Tea Party smashing windows and throwing crap when they had their RIOTS, right!
NOT!
The left and the media hated them for what! Being respectful of others and their property! The commies need to be thrown out, as far as the media…what media as far as I can tell it’s just a wing of the commie party!
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 9:15amSo Soros and his activist buddies are attempting to divide and conquer? Now I have to wonder which will come first; the enemy within the nation or from without?
Report Post »Baikonur
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 9:14amSoon, we will hear about these protesters are not ‘real Jews,’ and how Soros somehow had a hand in this. Also, a few ‘try to be a gay or a woman in a Muslim society’ comments will be forthcoming.
Report Post »Fubared
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 10:00amQue? No hable punk/ows caca.
Report Post »momrules
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 10:13amFUBARED………Thanks for my first great laugh of the day.
Report Post »justangry
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 9:12amWhen Isreal is split and fighting amongst themselves, who do we stand by GB?
Report Post »Baikonur
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 9:16amGB stands for whatever will get the most website hits and purchases of survival related items.
Report Post »Fubared
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 9:59amBacon hour
Report Post »When is bacon not a good thing? Do you have your canned bacon yet? It has shot up from 7-8 bucks a can pre 0 to around 14-16 bucks a can during 0 regime. You should market yourself, get some decent mennonites to help with the fda crap and sell off pieces of yourself. It’s always bacon hour at the ranch.
Individualism
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 10:07amStand with the protestors and the common man being oppressed by their goverment controlled by the central bankers. there our left wing brothers and sisters. Israel’s cost of living is terribly high and they have done nothing to lower it i am surprised that they have been able to take it for this long. The Bankers will get whats coming to them soon and i can’t wait for that.
Report Post »Individualism
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 10:13amdon’t let the elite divide us because they know soon we will unite right left and center and chase them down and make change.
Report Post »justangry
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 10:14amI personally like the add on his site for the Kissinger, Rice, Powell, LOST. Makes it sound like it’s a great thing not another ploy to get us farther away from our roots to the UN.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 10:15amI know : Just stand against the international Left and their Anarchist contingent who are behind all of this mess. They believe that they will win IF all order is destroyed…and, like alinsky advised, ” have your people do what they enjoy doing .” And our little dysfunctional, angry anarchists LOVE destroying stuff . Just like they loved disobeying mom and dad…..
Report Post »momrules
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 10:19amJUST…………….I stand with the nation of Israel not necessarily every Jew and never socialists. I don’t need GB or any other person to tell me who to stand with and as smart as you seem to be neither do you.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 10:20amIDI: ” anti-bankers”….now where have I heard that mess ? Oh, I know the ACORN crowd.. bused with bull horns to the front yards of bankers. So ” American.” Oh, and our classy president who spews anti- bankers, anti-Wall Street, anti-rich CEOs rhetoric. What ever happened to that Vote Ron Paul stuff you were slinging around here ? Have you finally become honest , Mr. Vote Obama dude ?
Report Post »justangry
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 10:27am@Momrules, Yeah, I was just trying to illustrate a point on collectivism.
Report Post »Individualism
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 10:28amno i am a libertarian willing to unite with the left to take down the elite, obama and romney are puppets of the bankers and their day will come soon as well. maybe after the system is destroyed and recreated we could have someone like Ron Paul or Gary Johnson as leader of the free world when we make it free.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 10:42amINDI: after you ” destroy the system, “ you will probably have lots of time in jail like Hitler and such dudes to write up your ” magic formula ” for this new system. Hopefully, you will have parents who will stick by you and come for visits. Most of us do not want to live under a collective system of bullies.. find it hard that you would also since I have a feeling that you hate ALL rules and regulations. Big Brother Collectivism is real BIG on rules and prisons for those who do not comply. You seem an odd match.
Report Post »morioka
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 11:19amIsrael isn’t split, my friend.
Report Post »Most of us Israelis are believers, right wingers and capitalists. You can see that in every poll and every elections.
99% of us do not support these anarchists, I can guarantee you that.
Unfortunately, in Israel we don’t have a FoxNews, all Israeli news channels (except inn) are liberal. The biggest media source, Ynet, is known to be radical left and you‘ll never get to work for the media if they knew you’re a right wing or a patriot or, god forbid, a religious man!!
This is why I stay away from all the Tel Aviv liberals and try to remain here in Jerusalem, where I am proud to say that I believe in God and where life is more than just malls, beaches and reality TV.
Individualism
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 12:03pmAmerican revolution didn‘t happen that way or look at what happened in Iceland didn’t happen that way, why don’t you research instead of watchign faux news and that dumbass bill o reilly.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 6:17pm@MORIOKA
Report Post »It is a Beautiful City… keep it Safe & Sound!
lukerw
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 6:39pm@INDIVIDUALISM
Your words are strung together… without conveighing information… nor a sense of Education, Thought, Reasoning, nor Rational.
Capitalism is a System that Creates Capitalist to Collect Capital for Investments & Loans… where if the System does Not Select you, then you are too incompetent to Lead.
The Socialists Control the Government and all the Major Corporations… and form an Intellectual Elite… that opposes Capitalism… so they are the Sponsors of Protestors… to destroy themselves alike Lemmings… seeming being Insane. But, they have a Dream of a Utopia… and follow it’s Ideolgoy, regardless of Collateral Damage.
The difference between Capitalism and Marxism is… Banks (thereby Thinking Investors) are replaced by a Government Direction of Economic by an ELITE. But, if you Hate the Elite, then why do you support Protestors?
You Definition of Reality… is MisPerceived… caused by Indoctrination or Insanity!
Report Post »