The organizers of the protests against the judicial reform have promised a day full of widespread disruptions across the country on Monday, and the police are preparing accordingly, with the top priority being gaining control over the biggest planned disruption of all: The blocking of Ben Gurion International Airport.
The police will send about a thousand police officers to secure Monday’s demonstration, and the Israel Airports Authority will increase the number of staff at the airport. Despite the extensive preparations, however, there is still great fear in both organizations of the upcoming protest events.
A senior official in the Israel Police told Kan 11 News, "We have intelligence that the protesters intend to go on a rampage tomorrow at the airport."
The official added that the protest actions at the airport are going to be extensive: Protesters are expected to arrive with suitcases and passports in order to torpedo police enforcement, and convoys of vehicles will drive around the terminals in order to block regular traffic. Another concern which emerged in the preparation discussion at the commissioner's office is that protesters will arrive at the airport and start the protest actions in the early hours of the morning, in order to surprise the police and create a "victory image".
The Director of the Israel Airports Authority has designated a restricted area for protest events, by virtue of his authority, and the police have limited the number of people permitted to gather at the airport to 5,000 people.
The organizers of the protest stated, "There is a deliberate violation of the freedom of protest by the servants of Ben Gvir and Miri Regev. We call on the general public to come en masse to Ben Gurion Airport tomorrow. We will not allow anyone to infringe on the right to protest."
Additional protest actions that are expected to take place on Monday include: Blockades of the Ayalon Highway, the Carmel tunnels, the airport in Haifa and other places, demonstrations in 85 protest centers throughout the country and protests in front of public figures. The police are preparing for the disruptions to last until midnight.
