After the swearing-in of the new right-wing religious government in Israel, the first protests have already erupted. Hundreds of protesters blocked an expressway in Tel Aviv on Thursday evening. They insisted on the rights of the LGBTQ community in Israel. They fear restrictions following anti-gay statements by coalition members.
According to the Times of Israel, Hila Peer, chairwoman of the LGBTQ association, said at the protest: “Darkness has descended on Israel.” The association emphasized that it was not prepared to become “second-class citizens”. LGBTQ is the English abbreviation for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer.
Ambassador in Paris resigns
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of the right-wing conservative Likud party has said the community has nothing to fear. Amir Ochana of his Likud party became the first openly gay politician to be elected Speaker of Parliament on Thursday. In an emotional speech addressing his parents and spouse, as well as their children, Ochana reiterated that no harm would be done to alternative families. However, Israeli media reported that two strictly religious MPs demonstratively lowered their heads during the speech.
The Israeli ambassador in Paris, Jael German, resigned on Thursday in protest once morest the new government. In a letter to the head of government, she wrote that she might not support the radical reform intentions of Netanyahu’s coalition. She warned of a “danger to the democratic character of Israel and its values”.
The new government was sworn in in Parliament on Thursday. It is the most right-wing government Israel has ever had. Right-wing extremist politicians are also represented in the coalition for the first time. (apa, dpa)
