Thousands of anti-government protesters poured into Ben Gurion Airport today, Monday, leading to skirmishes between some of them and the police, who tried to prevent them from blocking the road leading to the terminal that handles most incoming and outgoing flights. Dozens of demonstrators opposing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan for judicial reforms managed to enter the airport's arrival hall, dancing and chanting "Democracy" into loudspeakers. Police officers eventually escorted them out.
The sidewalk outside the terminal was filled with demonstrators waving flags, blowing horns, and banging drums. The police formed a cordon on the road while passenger cars and buses passed slowly. Earlier in the day, protesters briefly blocked access to a major Israeli seaport. The police pledged to prevent disruptions at Ben Gurion Airport, and a spokesperson for the airport authority noted that "no unusual delays in flights have occurred so far." Authorities arrested four protesters.
A spokesperson for Ben Gurion Airport stated, "The medium-sized airport handles 90,000 passengers daily in July." Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir confirmed that any attempt to paralyze operations at the airport would constitute "harm to national security."
