Diametrically Opposed - a photo on Flickriver

            On Friday 24 March, hundreds gathered in central London to protest the rolling out of a red carpet at Number 10 Downing Street for Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.   

يوم الجمعة 24 مارس 2023 ، تجمع المئات في وسط لندن للاحتجاج على طرح السجادة الحمراء في رقم 10 داونينج ستريت لرئيس الوزراء الإسرائيلي بنيامين نتنياهو

ביום שישי ה-24 במרץ 2023, מאות התאספו במרכז לונדון במחאה על פריצת השטיח האדום ברחוב דאונינג מספר 10 עבור ראש ממשלת ישראל, בנימין נתניהו

Israeli liberals, angry at Netanyahu's attempt to crush the independence of the judiciary and protect himself from a corruption indictment, joined Palestinian and other activists infuriated by 56 years of Apartheid, since Israel's occupation of the West Bank in 1967.  

Netanyahu is still on trial for corruption in three separate cases. In 2019 he had already been officially indicted for breach of trust, accepting bribes and fraud, and, as a consequence, he lost the support of his coalition partners in parliament.  However, last November, he returned to power in coalition with the ultra-orthodox and ultra nationalist factions, forming what almost commentators agree is the most right wing government Israel has witnessed since its independence in 1948. 

Israel has been rocked by massive protests and strikes ever since Netanyahu's justice minister, Yariv Levin, revealed the government's plan to overhaul the country's justice system in January.  Activists pointed out that its intent was clear. To weaken judicial independence and to shield Netanyahu from corruption charges.

Resistance to the government's proposals escalated even further two days after this photograph was taken when Netanyahu returned to Israel and fired his defence minister, Yoav Gallant.  Within an hour tens of thousands had taken to the streets in central Jerusalem and also surrounded Netanyahu's home.

Returning to Friday morning in London when this photo was taken, protesters waiting peacefully on the pavement opposite 10 Downing Street were doubtless surprised at the huge number of police, including dogs, deployed on Whitehall. Later, and despite heavy rain, around a hundred protesters made their way to the Savoy Hotel where Netanyahu was rumoured to be staying, where the police presence was far more low key. 

Many activists carried placards such as "democracy and occupation cannot coexist" and "Free Palestine = Free Israel."   They pointed out that Palestinians live in what both Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have concluded is an Apartheid state, many without any access to clean water or electricity, many fearing the demolition of their homes and others the detention for lengthy periods of their relatives and children for protesting the continuing occupation. Meanwhile, Britain's ongoing military and diplomatic support for Israel make us complicit in the continued oppression of the Palestinian people.

Some rights reserved

Taken in: UK / England / Westminster / Westminster Abbey (show map)

Taken on: March 24, 2023

Tags:

Netanyahu

Benjamin Netanyahu

Bibi

Israel

democracy

Palestine

Occupation

West Bank

London

protest

protesters

demonstration

Number 10

photojournalism

בנימין נתניהו

נתניהו

نتنياهو

لندن « less

Sets appears in: • Israel - Protests Against Netanyahu - March 2023 - see also Palestine • Jews against the Occupation - see also Palestine more » • Palestine Solidarity Protests 2016 - 2024 • Palestine solidarity protests - most popular « less

Groups appears in: • Creative Commons (pls read the rules) • Photojournalism more » • B&W • S!gns • Protests and Demonstrations • Global Photojournalism • Londonist • Protests, Political Art, Democracy, Social Change • British Protests & Demonstrations • London Photographers • Streetshots (people in the street) • Progressive Photojournalism • LONDON EYE • White and Black Photography • demo, demonstration, protest • Photojournalism & Photojournalists • Favorites: 5 • Politics on FLICKR with Free Speech • A LONDON EYE • Photojournalism 2.0 • Flickr Central Free • Protest • B+W • photojournalisme • B & W • News-Photojournalism • British Politics • Your Best Photography • Signs, Signs, everywhere are signs • World of B&W + Sepia & other monochrome • Stop the Moment! Photojournalism... • White/Black • city & the streets • Streets In The City • Fight Club - Politics & Society (project mayhem) • Streets of the World (AntiWar, Anticapitalist , Protests) • Street & Reportage • worldwide street photography • This Week in Photo • Journalism Social,Beautiful people &Political • Black and White Photojournalism • British Photographers • *****Street Photography***** • ***Flickr Global • Black and White Photography Art • Street Photographer • Black & White Done Right !. • Street Protest Documentation Project • Street Photography - Image of People. • Street! • Time Out London • Black&White Photo Group • Black and White Photography Learning Group • Sign of the Times (All Types of Signs) • LONDON LONDON LONDON • World Street Photography! Full Color and Monochrome. • Sony ILCE-7RM4 - Alpha7RIV - A7RIV - a7R4 • ! with people -in pure! B&W • Tamron 20–40mm F/2.8 Di III VXD • Photojournalists of Flickr « less

Camera: Sony ILCE-7RM4, f/4.0, 1/320 sec, 21mm, ISO 100 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Sony ILCE-7RM4
Lens:	E 20-40mm F2.8 A062
Aperture:	f/4.0
Exposure Time:	0.003 sec (1/320)
Focal Length:	21mm
ISO:	100
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Aperture-priority AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Contrast:	High
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Lightroom 6.0 (Windows)
Show full info

Stats: 6,791 views / 4 comments