JERUSALEM (JTA) — Thousands gathered in major Israeli cities to rally for social justice.
The demonstrations Saturday night in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and elsewhere echoed the mass protests that occurred across Israel last summer.
While smaller than last year’s rallies, Haaretz reported that the gatherings drew 10,000 demonstrators. Maariv put the number at more than 15,000. In Jerusalem, 500 demonstraters marched to the central Zion Square, which the city recently made off limits to protests.
Some Jerusalem demonstrators also temporarily blocked the city’s light rail from moving, while Tel Aviv protesters blocked major streets, according to Israeli reports.
The rallies came one week after protests in Tel Aviv resulted in violent clashes with police. The Times of Israel reported that protest leaders coordinated Saturday night’s rallies in advance with police, and that large numbers of police were present at the protests.
