Hundreds of thousands expected to demonstrate in Tel Aviv, demanding resignation of Olmert and Peretz

May 3, 2007

Bethlehem – Ma'an – Hundreds of thousands of Israelis from across the political spectrum will be heading this evening to Rabin Square in the center of Tel Aviv, to take part in a huge demonstration calling for the resignation of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Minister of Defense Amir Peretz. The demonstration follows the release of the initial report of the Winograd commission, which harshly criticized the two men over last summer's defeat in Lebanon.

The demonstration was called for by a group of reserve troops, composed after the war on Lebanon, in cooperation with the organization of bereaved families.

The organizers have announced that no Israeli politicians will address the demonstration, described by Israeli media as "the most important [demonstration] since the first Lebanese war". Protestors will express their disappointment over the poor performance of the Israeli politicians, and their reluctance to bear the responsibilities given to them by the Winograd report.

Demonstrators have already started arriving at Rabin Square, the site of the famous demonstration which followed the massacres in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps in southern Lebanon, which resulted in the resignation of then minister of defense, Ariel Sharon.


Prime Minister Olmert giving an address at a seminar held by the Israel Democracy Institute in Jerusalem on Thursday, May 10, 2007. (AP)

Further Information:

100,000 attend rally in Tel Aviv, calling for Olmert and Peretz to resign

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Olmert: Resigning would be display of irresponsibility