The Anti-Occupation Bloc (in Hebrew: הגוש נגד הכיבוש, in Arabic: الكتلة ضد الاحتلال) is an Israeli alliance of Jewish and Palestinian political movements, activists and organizations, which argues against Israeli occupation policies. The bloc was formed during the 2020–2021 protests against Benjamin Netanyahu, which argued that rather than simply remove Netanyahu from power, Israeli policies must also be examined and amended.
The bloc protested together at the Sheikh Jarrah demonstrations, 2020–2021 protests against Benjamin Netanyahu, and 2023 Israeli judicial reform protests, and as of April 2024 is participating in the 2024 Israeli protests against Benjamin Netanyahu.
On their website, the bloc has written: "We are working together to emphasize the connection between the occupation and the regime revolution [referring to the [[2023 Israeli judicial reform]]]. We are thousands of protesters in over 20 cities across the country".
The bloc consists of mainly left and far-left movements and organizations, that felt the need to unite in view of the weakening of the Israeli left.
| Organizations | Type | |
|---|---|---|
| Peace Now, Looking The Occupation In The Eye, Breaking the Silence, Fighting for Peace, Free Jerusalem, A Land for All, Parents Against Child Detention, PsychoActive, Machsom Watch, Academia for Equality, Women in Black, Moms Against Violence, Yesh Din, Yesh Gvul, Ir Amim, PHR-IL, Gisha | NGO | |
| Hadash, Israeli Communist Party (Maki) | Political party | |
| Standing Together | Political organisation | |
| Democratic women's movement in Israel (Tendi) | Social movement | |
| Israeli Communist Youth Alliance (Banki) | Youth movement | |
| Mesarvot | Social group |
The bloc formed at 2020–2021 protests against Benjamin Netanyahu.
On 14 October 2020, the bloc wrote "דמוקרטיה או כיבוש" ("Democracy or Occupation") in Rabin Square, where the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin occurred.[1]
On 1 July 2023, a Brothers in Arms activist attacked an Anti-Occupation Bloc protestor with pepper spray, causing outrage.[2] On 23 July 2023, members of the bloc hung a sign saying "We will not die and we will not kill in the service of the settlements" in front of General Staff Israel Defense Forces Headquarters in Tel Aviv-Yafo.[3]
On 16 January 2024, clashes occurred between Israeli Police and the Anti-Occupation Bloc. the police said later that day: "There is no tolerance for those who support the enemy".[4]
Since 2023, three youth members of Mesarvot and Anti-Occupation Bloc have been sent to prison for refusal to serve in the Israel Defense Forces.[5]