Netanyahu, Gantz trade barbs over arrested demonstrators

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, after three protesters were arrested outside of the Prime Minister's Residence, that criminal condemnation must be "equal on all sides of the political map."

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz (L) sits alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the weekly cabinet meeting, June 28, 2020 (photo credit: OLIVIER FITOUSSI/FLASH90)
Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz (L) sits alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the weekly cabinet meeting, June 28, 2020
(photo credit: OLIVIER FITOUSSI/FLASH90)
Former Brig.-Gen. Amir Haskel was released from jail unconditionally on Saturday night, following his arrest along with two other protesters on Friday for leading a Black Flags protest outside the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, Ynet reported.
The judge, Orna Sandler Eitan, rejected the police's request to ban the three people arrested, one of which was Haskel, from Jerusalem for 15 days, saying that it is a "disproportionate step" and that "the right to demonstrate is a fundamental right in a democratic state."
"We will learn lessons," said Chief of Police Moshe Edri, according to Kan News. "But there is no substitute for commanders' discretion."
"Freedom of demonstration is important," said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the beginning of the weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday in response to the arrest. "I do not interfere with police decisions but the condemnation of law violators should be equal on all sides of the political map."
Alternate Prime Minister and Defense Minister Benny Gantz presented the event differently than Netanyahu, stating that the right to demonstrate is "a sacred right."
"The claim that the right to demonstrate should be limited is absurd," Netanyahu then clarified.
Following his release, Haskel made comments relating to Netanyahu's ongoing criminal trial over bribery.
"I have a message for Netanyahu," Haskel said, according to Ynet. "It's not so bad in the detention center."
Regarding his arrest, Haskel said that he hoped it would lead to the people of Israel being motivated to bring more action against the current government and place more pressure on Netanyahu.
"If my arrest ignites the state, it would have all been worth it," he said, Walla reported. He added "Nobody will stop us from demonstrating, as long as we do it under the restrictions," which the Health Ministry had put in place in order to stem the spread of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

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"We do not come to demonstrate so as to be arrested," Haskel's lawyer, Gonen Ben Yitzhak, told Army Radio on Sunday morning. "We live in a democratic country. There was no reason to arrest the people."
He continued to say that as evidence, representatives of the police showed footage that depicted the incident in a distorted manner, and as a result the judge rejected their plea and dismissed them from the court.
Ben Yitzhak also stated that throughout the past month, those protesting outside the prime minister's residence "experience serious violence" from Netanyahu supporters. "The person inciting here is the prime minister. We are continuing to function here in a legal manner."
"Free speech and the right to demonstrate are fundamental stones in democracy that must not be challenged except in extreme cases," said Justice Minister Avi Nissenkorn following Haskel's release.


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