'Day of Paralysis': Thousands march in Bnei Brak, across Israel

Israel Police arrested five protestors at the Raanana Junction on Thursday morning on suspicion of disturbing the public order.

Israel Police arrested two protestors at the Green Village Interchange on suspicion of disrupting public order on Thursday morning.

A children's march began at Habima with children carrying a sign reading "you fell on the wrong generation."

Three IDF widows told Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Thursday not to send them the annual greetings card signed by him and the gift that is usually sent to them for Memorial Day.

"Our loved ones went to war, not just to protect the borders of the country and the security of its residents, but also so that we can keep living in a democratic, free and pluralistic country under the rule of law," they wrote. "We feel that the government, which you are a part of, is empty of the vision of our loved ones and violates the contracts it has - not just with the living, but also with the dead."

The letter was signed by Dalia Elkalai, Gila Barziv Rakouch and Vivi Gan Moore Weiler.

Ashdod Port was opened for traffic an hour after protestors blocked it and burned tires at the entrance.

Reservists demonstrated against the judicial reform outside the homes of Shas leader Arye Deri and Education Minister Yoav Kisch on Thursday morning as a "Day of Paralysis" began.

At Kisch's home, four Air Force reservists were detained. One was later arrested, and the other three were released.

The protestors at Deri's home said in a statement that people in the area had thrown eggs at them as they protested.

Exhibitions of protest around the country

In Jerusalem, protestors hung a large Israeli flag and the Declaration of Independence from the walls of the Old City. The protestors carried signs that read, "loyal to the declaration of independence."

The Time is Running Out organization set up a giant hourglass in Tel Aviv. The hourglass signified that time is running out for the hi-tech sector in Israel.

Time is Running Out exhibit an hourglass in Tel Aviv March 23, 2023. (credit: AVSHALOM SASSONI/MAARIV)

We are protesting because we care about the country, and we care about hi-tech," said Yair Adato who is a CEO in a startup company. "We are protesting because we want to stay in Israel, we love this country, and we're patriots, but we need the government to help us stay."

In the Green Village youth village, protestors set up an exhibit where three people wearing masks of Justice Minister Yariv Levin's, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's and Law Committee Chairman Simcha Rothman's faces held marionettes that were attached to people dressed as judges.

The exhibit's organizers said that "this is how Israel's judges will look the day after the overhaul. Politicians' puppets.

Protestors block modes of travel

Kaplan Street in Tel Aviv was blocked to traffic early in the morning by Democratech, an organization of hi-tech workers protesting against the reform.

Protestors also blocked Weizmann/Katznelson Interchange in Kfar Saba.

At the Ashdod Port, protestors from the Navy blocked the entrance to the port and burned tires in the area.

Israel Police arrived on the scene to direct traffic to alternative routes.

The police emphasized that they would "allow freedom of speech to every person, but disrupting the public order would not be allowed."

Protestors blocked Kaplan Street in Tel Aviv on Thursday morning.

The protestors were from the high-tech sector.