Radical Bloc

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Radical Bloc
הגוש הרדיקלי / كتله راديكاليه
Formation2020; 5 years ago (2020)
Founded atJaffa, Tel Aviv
PurposeActivism
HeadquartersJaffa, Tel Aviv
Official language
Arabic, Hebrew

Radical Bloc is an Israeli far-left organization, and a contingent of the Hadash party, based in Jaffa, Tel Aviv. The group was formed alongside the Anti-Occupation Bloc in the 2020–2021 protests against Benjamin Netanyahu, but is known to be more radical, anti-zionist and anti-militaristic then the AOB.[1][2][3]

History

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Early phase

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The Radical Bloc was created in 2020 during the 2020-2021 protests against Benjamin Netanyahu. Despite working closely with the Anti-Occupation Bloc the movement has always been staunchly anti-zionist, bringing several Palestinian flags to protests from 2020 to 2023.[1] Troughout this period, the group faced verbal and even physical attacks by other protesters, especially when holding onto Palestinian symbols, gaining a negative reputations by many participants.[4]

The movement rallied alongside the Anti-Occupation Bloc and other leftist organizations and parties during the 2023 Israeli judicial reform protests up until its latter phase.[2] During the protests they openly criticized the evictions of Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah, which had occurred in the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis,[5][6] and protested Zionism.

Recent developments

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After the start of the Gaza War, on 7 October 2023, the group's positions started to become controversial even to its own allies. In November 2023, the Anti-Occupation Bloc officially cut its support and relations with the Radical Bloc, ending its occasional partnerships with the Bloc due to the RB's statements on the Israeli's actions in Gaza, calling them genocidal in nature.[2]

The RB kept up with its protests over the years, protesting US arm trade to Israel outside the US embassy back in 2024,[1] organizing locally in a peaceful manner and in September 2025 gathered near the border of the Gaza Strip to denounce the Gaza War, the Israeli blockade and support the Global Sumud Flotilla.[7][8][9][10]

Ideology

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The group can be identified as a radical leftist organization which opposes militarism, Jewish supremacy, corruption, apartheid policies, zionism, Israeli settlements in the West Bank and genocide. They are supportive of the recognition of a Palestinian State, a two state solution and LGBTQ rights.[1][2][4][10]

Demography

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The group is made up of Tel Avivim Israeli Jews and Israeli Arabs, adopting two official languages and appealing to both groups.[1][7]

Bibliography

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  1. ^ a b c d e Glanz, David (2024-05-02). "An Israeli Jewish activist speaks: 'Today I don't believe in the Zionist entity at all' – Solidarity Online". solidarity.net.au. Retrieved 2025-09-20.
  2. ^ a b c d Brison, Amos (2025-01-03). "What is the duty of the Israeli left in a time of genocide?". +972 Magazine. Retrieved 2025-09-20.
  3. ^ "Radical bloc (Israel) - Europe Solidaire Sans Frontières". europe-solidaire.org. Retrieved 2025-09-20.
  4. ^ a b Reiff, Ben (2023-01-25). "'No democracy with apartheid': Inside the radical bloc at Israel's anti-gov't protests". +972 Magazine. Retrieved 2025-09-20.
  5. ^ Iraqi, Amjad (2021-12-19). "Israel set to expel Sheikh Jarrah family in the new year". +972 Magazine. Retrieved 2025-09-20.
  6. ^ Staff, Al Jazeera. "'Unbearable': Israel set to forcibly displace Palestinian family". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2025-09-20.
  7. ^ a b "I pescatori di Giaffa, gli attivisti ebrei e le barchette di carta contro l'assedio". il manifesto (in Italian). 2025-09-19. Retrieved 2025-09-20.
  8. ^ "Idf: "Forza senza precedenti su Gaza City, i residenti scappino". L'esercito israeliano avanza su due fronti: civili 'schiacciati' verso la costa". Quotidiano Nazionale (in Italian). 2025-09-19. Retrieved 2025-09-20.
  9. ^ Fabbretti, Alessandra (2025-09-19). "VIDEO| Gaza, gli attivisti israeliani al confine: "Stop al genocidio"". Agenzia Dire (in Italian). Retrieved 2025-09-20.
  10. ^ a b Reuters, Source (2025-09-19). "Israeli protesters march to Gaza border calling for war to end – video". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-09-20. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)