Israel Police employed water cannons and made several arrests during anti-judicial reform protests outside the Knesset in Jerusalem on Monday as law enforcement attempted to remove demonstrators from the roads near the parliament.
Videos and pictures showed thick plumes of water being shot into crowds from hoses mounted on large vehicles.
Police attempted to manually evacuate the protesters, but many had linked themselves together with bicycle locks. Demonstrators outside the High Court of Justice building also tied themselves together in anticipation of police action.
By the end of the morning, police had arrested six people outside the Knesset.
The scene outside the Knesset on Rothschild St. on Monday morning, July 24, 2023 (CREDIT: ALON BANKI/MAARIV).
Labor MK Efrat Rayten called on mounted police not to “hurt them.”
Israel Police statement
Police said that they had met resistance from rioters, who tried to knock down roadblocks and in one case threw a smoke grenade. The police said that when demonstrators did not listen to instructions, they had to use anti-riot measures against those disrupting the entrance to the Knesset.
“The Israel Police will continue to allow protests according to the law, but will not allow riots and disruption of public order and will use the tools at its disposal against violators of law and order wherever they may be,” said the police spokespersons.
Police said that they expected intermittent blockades and traffic issues in Jerusalem on Monday as protests continued.
![Anti-overhaul activists block a road during a protest against the government's judicial overhaul, near the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, on July 24, 2023. (credit: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)]( "Anti-overhaul activists block a road during a protest against the government's judicial overhaul, near the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, on July 24, 2023. (credit: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)")
Anti-overhaul activists block a road during a protest against the government’s judicial overhaul, near the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, on July 24, 2023. (credit: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
Anti-overhaul activists block a road during a protest against the government’s judicial overhaul, near the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, on July 24, 2023. (credit: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)Police Chief Kobi Shabtai joined officers at the police precinct near the Knesset. Shabtai is receiving overviews and evaluations of the situation.
Earlier in the day, three people were arrested when a group of protesters rallied outside the home of Likud MK Nir Barkat in Jerusalem.
Dozens more were arrested outside a school on suspicion of attempting to disrupt traffic in the area. During the night, police arrested two suspects under suspicion of attempting to confront anti-reform activists.
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