Go Home

All the Israeli dailies are carrying reports of the protest in Rabin Square against the Olmert and the Kadima coalition government. Estimates of the crowds vary from 100,000 to 200,000 people have arrived to protest. Here’s the Jerusalem Post’s account:

Buoyed by what they said was a crowd of more than 200,000 Israelis from across the political spectrum who gathered in Kikar Rabin on Thursday night to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, rally organizers said they were planning a series of events with the same goal and would not stop until the prime minister had gone. Police put the crowd at 150,000.

The event's main organizer, Maj.-Gen. (res.) Uzi Dayan, told the crowd that "Democracy is in danger." The very committee that the prime minister established, Dayan said, had "stood before him and bravely said, 'Mr. Olmert, you have failed.'"

What is significant about the protest is not an exclusive leftwing-rightwing, religious-secular demonstration. For once, almost all the diverse segments that make up the Land of Israel have crossed their separate solitudes to be united under one idea – Olmert Go Home.

Update: I should point out that there was one group of Israelis who did not get behind the demonstration at Rabin Square. Peace Now.