Dim Amor

An Extra-Territorial Enclave Opposite the Knesset

For nearly three and a half years, an unprecedented reality has existed at the very heart of Israel’s governing institutions – directly opposite the Knesset and the Ministry of Finance – raising serious questions about the foundations of the rule of law. A protest group identified with the political left has occupied a central public area and transformed it into a permanent, fortified, and fully equipped "tent city". While members of parliament and the prime minister pass through Knesset Square each day on their way to the legislature, an entire residential infrastructure spanning approximately 100 to 150 meters has taken root on the site.

The demonstrators, who demand the dismissal of the prime minister, the establishment of a new political order, and a serious investigation into the events of October 7, have long claimed that "there is no democracy in Israel". Yet the reality on the ground paints an entirely different picture: the very existence of such a prolonged illegal encampment in the heart of the capital – without meaningful enforcement or intervention by the authorities – serves as striking evidence of excessive democratic tolerance bordering on the erosion of the rule of law. The facts suggest that democracy in Israel does indeed exist, even to the extent that the occupation of public land remains unanswered and the unauthorized use of public resources is treated as legitimate.

Refrigerators, Air Conditioners, and Pirate Infrastructure: The Illegal "Suite"

This is not a temporary cardboard protest camp or a fleeting act of demonstration. It is a sophisticated residential compound in every sense of the word, causing significant damage to the aesthetics of Jerusalem. A tour of the site reveals extensive logistical infrastructure rivaling permanent housing: radiators, a refrigerator, a dedicated food storage area, air conditioning, a "Tami 4" water system, beds, mattresses, a built-in stage, and an improvised meeting room.

The findings on-site raise serious questions regarding the sources of electricity and water sustaining the encampment. According to suspicions raised at the scene, protest activists connect directly to public lighting poles and consume electricity illegally. Witnesses claim that the Jerusalem Municipality initially opposed these connections and fought against both the electricity usage and the occupation of sidewalks, yet the situation has remained unchanged.

Even more troubling, the protesters allegedly receive water without any authorization. The water reportedly comes directly from irrigation pipes in Knesset Square originally intended for watering plants.

Beyond the economic and aesthetic damage, the encampment also constitutes a serious safety hazard. Due to the occupation of pedestrian pathways, there is effectively no accessible passage for people with disabilities. Individuals in wheelchairs or visually impaired pedestrians attempting to pass through the area are reportedly forced to descend onto a busy roadway, placing their lives at real risk because of blocked public walkways.

Unprecedented in the World: Is the Jerusalem Municipality Afraid of Violence?

An examination conducted with sources at the encampment suggests that the protest is managed and maintained in a systematic and ongoing manner. A guard reportedly operates at the site, apparently for payment, alongside a representative of the protest movement who claims to volunteer and has consistently arrived for evening or night shifts for approximately three and a half years.

Activists and representatives at the site also criticized the media outlet "Maakav", claiming it is a right-wing publication that gives a platform to Mordechai David – a remark that, ironically, demonstrates that the outlet’s activities are well known even inside the illegal tent compound at Knesset Square.

Paradoxically, the same representatives who claim democracy in Israel is being "suffocated" appear to forget that they themselves have occupied public land illegally and have effectively lived there for nearly four years.

The question therefore arises: in what other country in the world could one find a permanent tent city operating without permits or legal authorization directly opposite a parliament building? In Washington, such a camp would likely have been dismantled before it had the chance to establish itself. No comparable precedent exists in Brussels or Germany. No city or country in the world has permitted the construction of a long-term protest city directly in front of its parliament.

According to statements made off-camera by a protest representative, the reason for the municipality’s continued inaction is simple: the Jerusalem Municipality is allegedly afraid to confront the protesters because, according to him, demonstrators overturn police vehicles during enforcement attempts.

Exclusive Support for Yair Golan and the Gap Between Rhetoric and Reality

When residents of the tent city were asked – in an off-camera conversation – which political party they supported in the previous elections, the answer was unequivocal: exclusive support for "The Democrats" party and its chairman, Yair Golan. According to those living in the encampment, Golan is "a man of values, courage, a former IDF officer, and someone who always tells the truth".

This deep political alignment creates a sharp paradox, particularly in light of Golan’s recent public declarations. Only recently, Golan stated publicly:

"In a few months, when we replace the criminal and failed minister, police policy will change completely: the police will stop persecuting citizens and return to protecting them. Security in the streets and governance in the Negev will return. As I said before: we, the Democrats, will take over the Ministry of National Security, rehabilitate the Israel Police, eradicate crime, violence, and the politicization that Ben-Gvir introduced into it. Whoever does not serve the state will not remain".

Despite Golan’s forceful rhetoric regarding "governance", "restoring the police", and "eradicating crime and violence", he consistently appears to turn a blind eye to the fact that the central protest group supporting him allegedly violates the law on a daily basis while operating entirely outside the framework of the governance he promises to restore.

Public Controversies and Previous Criticism by "Maakav"

The support for Yair Golan among residents of the tent city coincides with a series of heated public controversies surrounding his political conduct.

Recently, Golan sparked particularly fierce public and political backlash after stating – while criticizing the government’s conduct and the war in Gaza – that "a sane country does not kill babies as a hobby". According to him, Israel is on a path that could turn it into "a pariah state among nations".

The remark triggered strong condemnation throughout the political system. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attacked the statement harshly, while ministers and members of parliament from both the coalition and opposition denounced the comments. Golan’s supporters, on the other hand, attempted to defend him, arguing that his criticism was directed at government policy rather than IDF soldiers.

Golan later clarified that he was not accusing Israeli soldiers, whom he described as "heroes", but rather criticizing the policies of the political leadership, which he claimed were harming Israel’s international standing.

Within hours, the controversy became one of the sharpest public disputes of the period regarding the boundaries of criticism during wartime and freedom of expression in Israel.

According to "Maakav", the gap between Golan’s democratic rhetoric and his practical conduct is not new. The outlet previously published an investigative report alleging that Golan had acted, purportedly, in a manner harmful to freedom of speech and democratic values after filing a defamation lawsuit against a cartoonist over a satirical publication. At the time, the move generated significant public criticism and concern over possible harm to press freedom and political expression by a public figure.

Furthermore, the investigation allegedly exposed issues concerning transparency and the public’s right to know. "Maakav" reportedly approached Golan for an official response prior to publication, yet no reply was received. Golan’s spokesperson promised to provide an official response, but none was delivered before the article went to press – conduct that, according to the publication, directly contradicts the democratic values publicly championed by the chairman of "The Democrats".

The Absurdity Behind the Democratic Mask

Ultimately, the reality in Knesset Square raises a profound and troubling question for the Israeli public. The right to protest is a fundamental democratic principle, but demonstrations must take place within the bounds of the law and without infringing upon the rights of others.

When an entire political camp effectively operates an illegal city without permits, appropriates public water and electricity infrastructure, and blocks accessibility for disabled citizens – all under the silent protection of politicians speaking about "governance" – it becomes difficult to argue that claims about the "end of democracy" reflect reality.

The tent city in Jerusalem is not democracy; according to the article, it is evidence of absolute anarchy enjoying political immunity.

"Maakav" contacted the Jerusalem Municipality for an official response. However, by the time of publication, no response had been received from the municipality.