VIDEO: Tens of Thousands Attend 'Anybody But Bibi' Rally in Tel Aviv

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhJDA1JJ-fI

A crowd estimated at 40,000 filled Tel Aviv’s Rabin Square this weekend in what is being called an “anti-Netanyahu” rally ahead of the elections scheduled for March 17. Former Mossad Chief Meir Dagan keynoted the rally calling Netanyahu, “the person who has caused the greatest strategic damage to Israel.” The rally was reportedly organized by the Million Hands grassroots campaign “along with other social movements.” The Millions Hands organization “campaigns for a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians and the creation of a Palestinian state.”

Twitter reaction to the rally was mixed with several users referring to the organizers of the rally as the “Obama Army”:

“@slone: ‘Obama army’ deploys to Tel Aviv to topple Netanyahu http://t.co/cWjyfCIRYL pic.twitter.com/1C0oNt7vDm”….can group come here for O?

— Nerd Nation (@Nerditupnation) March 8, 2015

While others noted the rather un-productive nature of the rally’s negative theme:

It’s too bad that tonight’s Tel Aviv rally is #anti-Netanyahu and not pro-somebody… anybody…

— David Brinn (@davidbjpost) March 7, 2015

Most Israelis remained unmoved, chalking the rally up to a typical pre-election political demonstration:

There were many Meretz, Avoda, Peace Now flags & activists, organizers of rally said it was for ”the center and to the left” @BlueMeanie4

— Ben Hartman (@Benhartman) March 7, 2015

…and waiting for Bibi supporters to do the same thing next week:

That’s a wrap folks, ‘Imagine’ by John Lennon playing on stage, Next weekend – right wing rally, same spot.

— Ben Hartman (@Benhartman) March 7, 2015

According to the latest polls, Netanyahu received only a slight bump in the polls after his speech to Congress, illustrating once again that Israel, like every other nation on the planet, has more than just matters of national security to address in an election. Still, in a nation of millions of voters, the most 40,000 demonstrators can do in a tight race is pose for an impressive Twitpic.