Democratic Candidate Accused of Encouraging Mass Arrests to Oust Netanyahu

Activists from the Kaplan and Balfour protest movements began planning drastic measures against the Netanyahu government in late 2024, during the ongoing war. These plans included blocking roads, blockading the Prime Minister's residence, and orchestrating mass arrests, according to a Channel 14 report. Retired Brigadier General Amir Haskel, a protest organizer against Netanyahu, stated that weekly demonstrations were failing to achieve the desired political change and that a new phase was necessary. In a conversation obtained by the channel, Haskel described a plan involving law-breaking, widespread arrests, and creating chaos to bring about the Prime Minister's downfall. Veteran activists from the Balfour and Kaplan protests joined this organizing effort. One organizer, Ali Brook, spoke of establishing a volunteer network he called a revival of the "Palmach." The group's stated goal was to blockade the Prime Minister's home, disrupt police operations, and generate pressure to topple Netanyahu.

Attorney Gabi Lasky, a candidate for the Democrats party, was involved in the planning discussions, providing legal guidance. The report claims Lasky encouraged activists to get arrested en masse, believing this would increase chaos and contribute to regime change. The publication also alleges that participants discussed intimidating Prime Minister Netanyahu's wife, Sara Netanyahu, and that Lasky did not object to these remarks. Ultimately, the plan did not garner broad public support and was not executed as intended. However, the exposure highlights the involvement of the Democratic candidate in an organization that sought to promote protest actions, including law-breaking, with the aim of overthrowing the government during wartime.