ADVERTISEMENT
Tens of thousands of Israelis staged the largest anti-government protest since the country went to war with Hamas in October on Sunday.
Protesters in central Jerusalem urged the government to reach a ceasefire deal to free dozens of hostages held in Gaza by Palestinian militants and to hold early elections.
Israeli society was broadly united immediately after 7 October, when Hamas killed some 1,200 people during a cross-border attack and took 250 others hostage.
Nearly six months of conflict have renewed divisions over the leadership of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however.
Netanyahu has vowed to destroy Hamas and bring all the hostages home, yet those goals have been elusive. While Hamas has suffered heavy losses, it remains intact.
Roughly half the hostages in Gaza were released during a weeklong ceasefire in November. But attempts by international mediators to bring home the remaining hostages have failed.
Hostages' families believe time is running out, and they are getting more vocal about their displeasure with Netanyahu.
“We believe that no hostages will come back with this government because they’re busy putting sticks in the wheels of negotiations for the hostages,” said Boaz Atzili, whose cousin, Aviv Atzili and his wife, Liat, were kidnapped on 7 October. Liat was released but Aviv was killed, and his body is in Gaza.
'Netanyahu is only working in his private interests'
Protesters blame Netanyahu for the failures of 7 October and say deep political divisions over his attempted judicial overhaul last year weakened Israel ahead of the attack. Some accuse him of damaging relations with the United States, the country’s most important ally.
Netanyahu is also facing a litany of corruption charges which are slowly making their way through the courts.
Critics say his decisions appear to be focused on political survival over the national interest.
Opinion polls show Netanyahu and his coalition trailing far behind their rivals if elections were held today.
Unless his governing coalition falls apart sooner, Netanyahu won't face elections until the spring of 2026.
Protest organisers vowed to continue demonstrating for several days. They urged the government to hold new elections nearly two years ahead of schedule.
Netanyahu, in a nationally televised speech before undergoing hernia surgery later Sunday, said he understood families' pain.
But he said calling new elections - in what he described as a moment before victory - would paralyze Israel for six to eight months and stall the hostage talks.
Netanyahu’s governing coalition appears to remain firmly intact, for now.
ADVERTISEMENT
All-time great, Teddy RINER was in Antalya and looking for gold. Preparation for his home Olympics this summer.
In the final there was an exciting match up with the Olympic pick for Japan Tatsuru SAITO. It produced a great taste of what is to come in Paris - a close battle with many exciting moments. Ultimately RINER countered SAITO for a waza-ari.
IJF President Marius VIZER awarded the medals.
“Thank you all," said Teddy RINER. "Thank you because the people cry and create a good sensation for the fighters like me and other fighters who are preparing for the Olympic Games. Antalya is a beautiful Grand Slam, thank you all again”.
At -90kg, Sanshiro MURAO and Vugar TALIBOV were approaching Golden Score, each with a waza-ari on the board but Murao’s experience won out and he seized the opportunity for a second waza-ari. A dominant performance for his fifth Grand Slam gold.
Turkish Judo Federation President Sezer HUYSUZ awarded the medals.
At -78kg, Madeleine MALONGA faced Alina BOEHM. A big ippon from the French athlete won her the gold. Huge emotion flooded Malonga to a cheering audience. A fourth Grand Slam gold for Malonga.
IJF Ambassador Antonio CASTRO awarded the medals.
“Antalya Grand Slam was very good" said Madeleine MALONGA. "A good public, good atmosphere and this helped me today for real I think”.
Former double world champion FONSECA blasted his way to the final. ELNAHAS was unable to compete.
Harvest Group CEO Almaz ALSENOV awarded the medals.
At +78kg, Julia TOLOFUA produced an amazing uchi-mata to score ippon and win the gold in her first tournament back on the world judo tour for seven months.
IJF Director General Vlad MARINESCU awarded the medals.
Turkish judo fans in the crowd were treated to some fantastic ippon moments from today by their heroes.
With the bronze medal performances of Mihael ZGANK, Kayra OZDEMIR and Hilal OZTURK the final flourish!
And that's a wrap on the thrilling 2024 Antalya Grand Slam! Thank you, Turkey for hosting the judo family!
ADVERTISEMENT
With nearly 60% of the ballot boxes counted, incumbent Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, of the Republican People's Party, or CHP, was leading in Istanbul, Turkey's largest city and economic hub, according to state broadcaster TRT.
Mansur Yavas, the mayor of the capital Ankara, retained his seat with a large margin, the results indicated.
The CHP was leading in 36 of Turkey's 81 provinces, according to the results reported by TRT.
The vote was seen as a barometer of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s popularity as he sought to win back control of key urban areas he lost to the opposition in elections five years ago.
The CHP's victory in Ankara and Istanbul in 2019 over Erdogan's AKP had shattered his aura of invincibility. A six-party opposition alliance that was led by CHP disintegrated after it failed to oust Erdogan in last year's election, unable to capitalize on the economic crisis and the government’s initially poor response to last year's devastating earthquake that killed more than 53,000 people.
Yet, in Sunday's vote, Imamoglu — a popular figure touted as a possible future challenger to Erdogan — still ran without the support of some of the parties that helped him to victory in 2019. Both the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party and the nationalist IYI Party fielded their own candidates in the race.
Some 61 million people, including more than a million first-time voters, were eligible to cast ballots for all metropolitan municipalities, town and district mayorships as well as neighbourhood administrations.
Turnout was around 76%, according to the state-run Anadolu Agency, compared to 87% last year.
Analysts said a strong showing for Erdogan’s party would have hardened his resolve to usher in a new constitution — one that would reflect his conservative values and allow him to rule beyond 2028 when his current term ends.
Erdogan, who has presided over Turkey for more than two decades — as prime minister since 2003 and president since 2014 — has been advocating for a new constitution that would put family values at the forefront.