(JNS) Thousands of protesters blocked the entrance to a hair salon that Sara Netanyahu, the prime minister’s wife, was visiting on Wednesday night. Hundreds of security forces were called to the scene to rescue her.

After several hours trapped in the salon, Sara Netanyahu was extracted at about 11 p.m. Israel time.

Israeli Police first blocked the entrance to the salon to prevent protesters from entering, and police mounted on horseback were called to the scene to reinforce the perimeter around the salon. Clashes broke out between the protesters and police who tried to remove them.

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The incident began when protesters identified Sara Netanyahu entering the salon. Thousands marched to the scene. They shouted: “She won’t be allowed to leave the barber shop” and “Shame.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the protesters on Twitter: “The anarchistic activists under the leadership of [Opposition leader Yair] Lapid continue to cross red lines. They are currently harassing and threatening my wife in Tel Aviv. I call on Lapid and the opposition to stop this immediately and condemn this shameful act which is unprecedented.”

פעילי האנרכיה בהנהגת לפיד ממשיכים לחצות קווים אדומים. כרגע הם צרים ומאיימים על רעייתי בתל אביב. אני קורא ללפיד ולאופוזיציה להפסיק זאת מייד ולגנות מעשה מביש זה שלא היה כדוגמתו.

— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) March 1, 2023

Netanyahu spoke out against the violent protests roiling the country earlier that evening in a televised address to the nation.

“Freedom of protest is not a license to drag the country into anarchy and chaos. A sovereign state cannot tolerate anarchy,” he said.