Opposition head MK Yair Lapid warned the Israeli government he would coordinate an organized tax resistance while speaking at a protest in Tel Aviv’s Habima Theater square on Saturday evening.
הממשלה הזו עושה הכל כדי שתתחיל פה מלחמת אחים, נתניהו דוחף לזה בגלוי. אנחנו לא ניתן לזה לקרות. נלחם על המדינה, אבל לא ניתן להם להרוס את המדינה. הם משתמשים במילה "אחדות" כדי להשתיק אותנו. זה לא יעבוד להם. שתיקה מול ממשלה הרסנית היא לא אחדות.בכל פעם שהממשלה תחצה את הקווים… pic.twitter.com/EFIxQCRKkU
— יאיר לפיד - Yair Lapid (@yairlapid) March 22, 2025
“If the October 7 government decides to disregard a Supreme Court ruling, it would become a criminal government,” the Yesh Atid leader told thousands in attendance in Tel Aviv. “We will not be extras in Netanyahu’s crazy theater,” he added.
“The economy must shut down, we will organize tax resistance. We will reject any form of refusal to serve, but we will not take part in the destruction of democracy.”
"This government is doing everything it can to ignite a civil war, and Netanyahu is openly pushing for it. We will not let this happen. We will fight for the country, but we will not let them destroy it," Lapid said.
"They use the word 'unity' to silence us. It won’t work. Silence in the face of a destructive government is not unity," he continued.
Democrats chair Yair Golan also spoke at Habima Square. "Tens of thousands of Israelis came out to defend the country tonight. One bloc together, we will win," he posted on X.
Demonstrators call for preservation of Israeli democracy, to bring hostages home
Tens of thousands gathered across protest centers in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and across Israeli cities in a call to preserve Israeli democracy and to release the hostages remaining in Hamas captivity.
Four protesters were arrested by police after a group blocked the central Ayalon highway on Saturday night.
In Hostage Square, several family members of hostages spoke. Following the rally, demonstrators marched toward Begin Gate.
Demonstrators held a sign reading, "History is made by the people," while they marched on Ayalon Highway. Police have begun forcibly removing the protesters from Ayalon Highway.
Additionally, demonstrations have begun across the country, including in Jerusalem, Herzliya, Kiryat Bialik, and Beersheba.
In Jerusalem, police officers dispersed demonstrators who had blocked an intersection, ignited flares, and issued a warning while moving them back toward the pre-designated protest area, the police said in a statement.
Demonstrations were re-energized by Netanyahu's decision to fire Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) head Ronen Bar following the opening of an investigation into aides in the Prime Minister's Office. The Attorney-General blocked this move as a conflict of interest; a hearing will be held in the High Court of Justice in April to determine if the firing will proceed.
This is a developing story.