Demonstrators and Police Clash at Tel Aviv City Hall

TEL AVIV, Israel—Since mid-July, Rothschild Boulevard in central Tel Aviv has been a shantytown of tents pitched by demonstrators demanding a resolution to the nation’s housing crisis. On Wednesday, municipal authorities moved in to forcefully dismantle the camps, prompting a violent confrontation outside Tel Aviv City Hall.

At least 40 demonstrators were arrested and some needed medical attention.

Wednesday morning, Tel Aviv municipal officials began dismantling the encampment on Rothschild Blvd. The authorities moved in, confiscating tents and valuables, then loading them on a large truck and driving them away.

Around 200 demonstrators tried to stop them, some attempting to grab keys in the ignition of the truck while officials were distracted, but to no avail.

By the afternoon, angry protesters down the road to city hall. They banged drums and shouted slogans like “Police State” and “We want social justice,” and “Ron Huldayi Go Home,” referring to the city’s mayor.

Some protesters threw eggs and water at the building and the confrontation turned more violent on both sides. Police responded with more force, dragging some demonstrators into city hall, the crowd changed their cry to “Stop the violence.”

Police later created a human chain surrounding city hall, to prevent protesters, and media, and from getting into the building.

Nonetheless, not all police, nor all protesters, turned to violence. Some activists threw flowers at the entrance of city hall, and tried to give policemen flowers and water to drink.

“You are one of us. You also suffer from the problems in the country. You should also be one of us. Don’t stop us from demonstrating,” a protester told police.

Protesters Were Warned

The city’s move on the camp did not come without warning. Protesters said municipal authorities had come to Rothschild Blvd a day earlier, with roses and a note telling them the Municipal Council supported them.

However, as the protests have dragged on for nearing two months, there has been mounting complaints from local residents living along Rothschild. At night in particular, there has been increased activity from drug dealers and other criminals, which protest organizers have been unable to control.

The note said the area would have to be cleared before the High Holidays, which start with Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashana, on September 28. They were also told an area would be set up in front of the city hall where their concerns could be publicly debated.

“Yesterday they brought us flowers and asked us to stay until the holidays and that they will help us stay, and at 5 o’clock in the morning they came like thieves, with violence, and without a warrant to destroy the tents,” Dror Shalom, one of the leaders in the protest group, told The Epoch Times.

Protesters said the note was deceptive as it did not specify when the move would take place, but it implied that it would be closer to the holidays.

But municipal authorities say they will allow the protesters to express their concerns in four specific areas in Tel Aviv, including Rothschild Blvd.

Over 300,000 people in Tel Aviv, and another 100,000 people across the country, joined rallies on Saturday to protest a range of issues including prohibitively high housing costs, high commodity prices, and the rising cost of education.

As night fell in Israel, the stand off continued, since many of the evicted housing crisis protesters lost the only place they had to call home.