Livni at Tel Aviv rally: Israel needs different politics

Hundreds demonstrate against Bibi-Mofaz unity deal. 'This isn’t just about social justice anymore – we're fighting for our country's character,' Meretz MK says

Gilad Morag |Last update: 05.08.12 , 22:20

Some 1,000 people gathered outside the Habimah National Theater in Tel Aviv Tuesday night to protest against the unity agreement between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Kadima Chairman Shaul Mofaz.

During the rally, which was organized by activists affiliated with last summer's social protest, former Kadima leader Tzipi Livni said she came "at the request of these young people, who care about Israel and are willing to fight for its future, and could not tolerate this morning's turn of events.

"They deserve politics that are based on principles rather than (Knesset) seats," she said.

A number of Knesset members from Meretz and Labor also attended the demonstration. Police detained at least six of the protesters on suspicion of disturbing the peace.

MK Nitzan Horowitz (Meretz), who disrupted the press conference in which Netanyahu and Mofaz announced that Kadima would be joining the coalition, said during the rally, "People feel that the government and political system in general do not represent them, and they are taking to the streets to fight for Israel's character.

"This is not just a battle for social justice anymore; it is a fight for the country. Mofaz spat in the public's face. He sold the biggest faction to Bibi for seats," he said.

Ofer Nueman, a social activist, said the protesters are demanding that the Knesset "cease to be an embarrassing playground for members of the (IDF) General Staff" and want to convey the message that the public will "no longer accept such disgraces as the one we witnessed at 2 am (unity deal). Lying leaders are a problem for us all."

Labor activist Leah Fadida said, "We came here to say that the right to choose is in the hands of the people. We went to sleep thinking elections were on the horizon, but we later discovered that Kadima was overtaken by the fear that it would be left without any Knesset seats."

Similar rallies against the unity agreement were held Tuesday evening in Beersheba and Jerusalem.