Israel's social protest turns violent

Demonstrators in Tel Aviv broke windows and blocked roads last night.

Israel's social protest movement turned violent last night. The movement staged mass demonstrations last summer that were almost entirely peaceful. However, Channel 2 news reports that after about 2,000 people demonstrated in Tel Aviv's Habima Square last night, some of them blocked road junctions in the area, smashed windows of banks, and clashed with police. Later, demonstrators marched towards Ibn Gabirol Street and blocked traffic near Rabin Square, and then for a short time blocked the southbound lanes of the Ayalon highway near the Central Railway Station, before they were cleared by police.

The demonstrators had gathered to protest against the violence that they claimed the police had used in removing the tent set up by protest leader Daphne Leef in Rothschild Avenue on Friday.

The police detained a few dozen demonstrators for questioning. Some were held in the lobby of a Bank Leumi branch the windows of which they had broken. Disturbances continued until the early hours of Sunday morning. Altogether, 85 people have been arrested since the start of the demonstrations yesterday evening.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on June 24, 2012

© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2012

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