The Times of Israel is liveblogging Saturday’s events as they happen.
Judge orders temporary halt to U of California academic workers’ strike against Israel
SANTA ANA, California — Thousands of academic workers on strike at the University of California are ordered by a state judge to temporarily cease their weekslong strike against Israel over the war in Gaza.
Orange County Superior Court Judge Randall J. Sherman issued the emergency restraining order after UC lawyers argued that the ongoing strike would cause irreversible harm as students are nearing finals.
The university system sued United Auto Workers Local 4811 on Tuesday even though both sides have competing unfair practice labor claims pending before the California Public Employment Relations Board, which declined twice to issue an emergency injunction.
The union, which represents 48,000 graduate students who work as teaching assistants, tutors, researchers and other academic employees on the 10-campus UC system, started its strike May 20 in Santa Cruz. The strike has since expanded to UC campuses in Davis, Los Angeles, Irvine, Santa Barbara and San Diego.
Melissa Matella, associate vice president for labor relations, expresses gratitude for the order, saying in a statement that the ongoing strike would have set back students’ learning and possibly stalled critical research projects. Officials say the strike is not related to employment terms and violates the union’s contract.
But the union says it is protesting the treatment of its members, some of whom were arrested and forcibly ejected by police in demonstrations against Israel over its offensive in Gaza against Hamas.
Rebecca Gross, a UC Santa Cruz graduate student and union leader, says they are surveying rank-and-file workers on how to proceed.
“The struggle is not over,” she says. “It really hasn’t been confirmed yet … that what we’re doing here is illegal in any way.”
Sirens sound in Safed, northern Golan Heights due to suspected rocket and drone attacks
Incoming rocket sirens are activated in the Upper Galilee city of Safed and nearby town of Birya.
Additionally, sirens sound in Majdal Shams and other towns in the northern Golan Heights due to a suspected hostile aircraft in Israeli skies.
Security measures boosted at White House ahead of protest against Israel for responding to Oct. 7
WASHINGTON — Activists demanding an end to the war in Gaza and to American support for Israel plan to surround the White House during a weekend protest, prompting additional security measures, including anti-scale fencing.
Advocacy and activist groups like CODEPINK and the Council on American Islamic Relations say that demonstrations are planned on Saturday, marking eight months since Israel began its military offensive in Gaza against Hamas following the terror group’s October 7 onslaught.
The United States, Israel’s key ally, has seen months of pro-Palestinian protests against Israel ranging from marches in Washington and vigils near the White House to the blocking of bridges and roads near train stations and airports in multiple cities and encampments on many college campuses.
At least eight officials have quit the administration of US President Joe Biden citing their opposition to his policy. Protesters have also disrupted some of Biden’s reelection campaign events. Biden is currently in France for an official visit.
“In preparation for the events this weekend in Washington, DC, that have the potential for large crowds to gather, additional public safety measures have been put in place near the White House complex,” a US Secret Service spokesperson says.
Rocket sirens sound in several Western Galilee towns
Incoming rocket alert sirens are activated in several small towns in the Western Galilee near Israel’s border with Lebanon.