Protestors attempted to break into PM Netanyahu's office

They were stopped by security guards at the scene.

By TAMARA ZIEVE, HERB KEINON
Updated: SEPTEMBER 5, 2018 19:28
Protesters break in to the Prime Minister's Office (photo credit: HADAS PARUSH/FLASH90)
Protesters break in to the Prime Minister's Office
(photo credit: HADAS PARUSH/FLASH90)
Dozens of of protesters tried to break through the outer perimeter of the Prime Minister Office on Wednesday afternoon.
They were stopped by security guards at the scene.
The demonstrators are retired policemen protesting that their pensions are not equal that of retired career IDF soldiers and officers.
The attempt to get into the PMO compound came after reports – denied by the Prime Minister's Office – that the protestors had blocked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu motorcade in the morning.  The PMO also denied that a cabinet meeting scheduled for 2.30 p.m. at the PMO had been cancelled because of the protest.
The government is scheduled to discuss at that cabinet meeting a Finance Ministry proposal that the retired policemen believe locks in a lower pension for them than other retired security officials.
"The Israeli government has declared war on the police retirees," read a statement released by protest organizers. "The police commissioner personally asked to participate in the cabinet meeting to talk to the ministers, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused."
The dozens of demonstrators said they were protesting on behalf of 60,000 police and other retirees of security services. They held signs reading: "We are not second class," "the Finance Minister continues to lie to us," "the police has no back," and "until when will you ignore [us] Netanyahu?"
Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan expressed his opposition to the decision in a letter he sent on Tuesday to  Cabinet Secretary Tzachi Braverman, describing the proposal as discriminatory in its treatment of personnel of the different security bodies.
The proposal, he said, "contradicts the principles that guided Israeli governments in recent decades with respect to the salaries of security service employees and retirees."
"A government that wants policemen and prison guards who are rewarded in accordance with their dangerous roles cannot harm in such a way those who serve in these organizations," Erdan said.


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