Several thousand protesters blocked Jerusalem’s main entrance and marched toward Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence Wednesday, vehemently opposing his government’s efforts to dismiss Shin Bet (Israel’s internal security service) chief Ronen Bar amid renewed fighting in Gaza.
Demonstrators, waving flags and chanting slogans, expressed outrage at Netanyahu’s controversial plan to remove Bar, reportedly to be voted upon in a cabinet meeting scheduled as early as tomorrow, according to Ynet. The decision comes as tensions grow following the collapse of a recent ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza, raising fears for the safety of hostages still held in the Strip.
One protester from a community near Ashdod told The Media Line, “We’re here today to protest against the government’s actions.” They stressed concerns about “all kinds of tricks” the government uses to pass controversial laws without transparency.
Most of the population, even those who voted for them, would not agree to what’s going on.
“Most of the population, even those who voted for them, would not agree to what’s going on,” they continued, expressing particular outrage at the government’s stance on the draft law and military service, describing policies as “completely outrageous” and “more religious and more extremist in many ways.”
[1]Protesters wave Israeli flags at demonstrations in Jerusalem, March 19, 2025. (Nathan Klabin/The Media Line)
Additionally, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid called on citizens to continue their demonstrations against Netanyahu’s administration, accusing the prime minister of exploiting the wartime situation for political gain. Lapid further stressed that unity does not equate to silence, adding, “We will not break the law. We will continue to serve, but we will stand firm against a government that is trying to dismantle the country.”
Give the gift of hope
We practice what we preach:
accurate, fearless journalism. But we can't do it alone.
- On the ground in Gaza, Syria, Israel, Egypt, Pakistan, and more
- Our program trained more than 100 journalists
- Calling out fake news and reporting real facts
- On the ground in Gaza, Syria, Israel, Egypt, Pakistan, and more
- Our program trained more than 100 journalists
- Calling out fake news and reporting real facts
Join us.
Support The Media Line. Save democracy.
Mor, a 34-year-old protester from Jerusalem, told The Media Line, “We’re here today first to protest and to ask for the release of the hostages without pressure from the army or war because we’ve seen that it does not work. Netanyahu wanting to fire the head of Shabak [Shin Bet security agency] is something very disturbing because Shabak is one of the most powerful forms of control. It’s probably the most powerful form of control, and that’s very disturbing.”
The protest here today is combined by a lot of groups. Some people are against war whatsoever; some people are hostages; some people are afraid to lose democracy.
Mor further emphasized the diverse motivations behind protesters: “The protest here today is combined by a lot of groups. Some people are against war whatsoever; some people are hostages; some people are afraid to lose democracy.”
Another protester, also speaking anonymously, stressed the urgency of prioritizing hostage releases over immediate military actions in Gaza. “We believe there is time for a war against Hamas,” the protester said. “But as long as the war continues, it serves Netanyahu’s personal purposes. Now it’s the time to say, ‘not any longer.'”
[3]Protesters wave Israeli flags at demonstrations in Jerusalem, March 19, 2025. (Nathan Klabin/The Media Line)
Tensions are further heightened by “Qatar Gate,” an allegation suggesting Netanyahu may dismiss officials to avoid investigations into controversial dealings involving Qatar. “It sounds like Bibi (a common nickname for Netanyahu) is dropping people just not to get investigated. That’s very worrying,” said the anonymous protester from Ashdod.
We’re looking to save the soul of Israel against a takeover by a person who leads a non-Jewish agenda and a nondemocratic liberal agenda.
Adding a sharp critique from Israel’s military sector, Relik Shafir, a retired brigadier general and former commander in the Israeli Air Force, spoke to The Media Line at the demonstration. “I’m part of a group of several thousand pilots who oppose the policies of this particular government and this particular Prime Minister,” Shafir said. “We’re looking to save the soul of Israel against a takeover by a person who leads a non-Jewish agenda and a nondemocratic liberal agenda.”
The reason we believe that Netanyahu got back to war at this particular time was because he needed the extreme right-wing politicians to support him until the 30th of March when the budget should pass in the parliament.
Shafir specifically accused Netanyahu of prioritizing his political survival over the safety of hostages. “The reason we believe that Netanyahu got back to war at this particular time was because he needed the extreme right-wing politicians to support him until the 30th of March when the budget should pass in the parliament,” he stated. “He preferred his own coalition to the life of the hostages, and that’s what we’re talking about—including all the so-called reforms, which are actually anti-democratic activities designed for a supremacy of the government over the judicial system and over the parliamentary system.”
Members of the High Tech Protest group, interviewed by The Media Line, expressed concern over Netanyahu’s systematic attempts to consolidate power. “He’s trying to take over all the checks and balances,” a representative stated, warning about legislative moves to politicize judicial appointments. They noted the tangible consequences of such governance, including brain drain and declining international investment in Israel.
Protesters also reiterated the fear of Israel becoming nondemocratic, akin to Hungary, Poland, or Turkey. “Nobody will want to do business in a state where you don’t know what the government can decide every day,” another member stated.