Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke harshly about the nationwide wave of anti-government protests during the weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday, calling them an "attempt to trample democracy."
"I condemn any violence. It has no place, from any side, and we have zero tolerance for violence or threats of violence. From any side, toward any person. But here, in the name of democracy, I am seeing an attempt to trample democracy," the prime minister said.
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"These protests pervert all the rules. First of all, no one is limiting the protests. The opposite – they are accommodating them. They are a breeding ground for coronavirus. There are rules that are not being enforced, no one is limiting them and no one is trying to," Netanyahu said.
WATCH: #JerusalemProtests: i24NEWS Defense Correspondent @DanielTsemach's camera knocked down by members of the far-right extremist group 'La Familia' as they ran past him pic.twitter.com/I6Dza1eRmN
— i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) July 30, 2020
Netanyahu said that society was encouraging the demonstrations, particularly an "enlistment by the media" that he said was unlike anything he could remember.
"I remind you what former Chief Justice Aharon Barak said about the anti-disengagement protesters. He took a hard line against blocking roads, and said, 'Freedom of speech is not a license to riot. Freedom of speech is not a shield to shut down the mechanisms of law enforcement and bring them down. Freedom to demonstrate is not a shield with which to bring the country to a standstill and put individuals and the population in danger,'" Netanyahu said.
"When there is unchecked incitement, including daily calls to murder the prime minister and his family, the media ignores it, whitewashes it, and politicians are silent," Netanyahu continued.
Defense Minister and Prime Minister-designate Benny Gantz sided with the demonstrators, saying, "As a government, we have an obligation to listen to people. As the ones in power, we have a responsibility to allow the demonstrations to go on and protect the protesters, who I regret to say were attacked yesterday [Saturday] at a number of locations."
"The right to protest is the soul of democracy and violence eats away at the foundations of democracy. I spoke about this issue last week, with [Public Security Minister] Ohana. I am again calling on everyone to refrain from violence, and on the Israel Police to use minimal force and uphold the law while protecting protesters," Gantz said.
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