[87648] Criticism within the police regarding road blockades: "There are red lines, the country is not lawless"

Tension surrounding law enforcement during road blockades

Throughout the day (June 17, 2026), police officials responded to footage showing confrontations and the use of force during the dispersal of protests that included the blocking of major traffic arteries. According to reports, the police emphasize that there is graduated enforcement, but they are setting clear boundaries for the conduct of protesters.

In a report published on YINONEWS - Yinon Magal (a channel identified with right-wing positions and support for the government), police officials were quoted as saying: "There is a hierarchy of the use of force. It always looks bad." The officials added that blocking a central artery during rush hour is unacceptable, while clarifying: "It is impossible that a central artery would be blocked at such an hour. There are red lines. The State of Israel is not lawless" (to the full report).

Similar sentiments were also published on the channel 🎗️Israel News IL🎗️, which presents a similar editorial line, where they emphasized the need to maintain public order in light of the difficult footage from the field (to the full report).

The messages from both sources point to a determined approach by law enforcement agencies toward road blockades, as part of what is defined as crossing "red lines" that justifies the use of measures available to the police.