Zionist Opposition Snub Hadash in Rally vs. Let-Off Law for PM Tonite

Israel’s Zionist opposition parties will join forces for the first time since the April 9 election in a demonstration organized for tonight, Saturday, May 25, in the plaza outside the Tel Aviv Museum.

Kahol Lavan, Labor and Meretz are working together to bring the public to protest against proposed legislation which would grant Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immunity from indictment by the Attorney General in three separate cases investigated by the police. Charges include fraud and breach of trust in all three cases, and bribery in one.

Announcement for the Saturday night demonstration organized by the Zionist opposition: "Stopping the Immunity Law! A Wall of Defense for Democracy"

Announcement for the Saturday night demonstration organized by the Zionist opposition: “Stopping the Immunity Law! A Wall of Defense for Democracy”

Hadash and the Arab parties will not have official representation or a speaker on the podium, after having been shunned by the organizers. However, Hadash activists will be present with red flags and anti-occupation signs.

Hadash says that its parliamentary head, MK Ayman Odeh, was actually uninvited from participating even though he had agreed to speak at the rally. A senior member of Kahol Lavan claims that the organizers asked Odeh two weeks ago if he would speak at the rally, and contends that Odeh only gave his affirmation at the beginning of this week, but was told “the list of speakers had already been finalized.” Hadash lawmaker, MK Ofer Cassif, has denied the report that Odeh’s delayed his reply and said it was the organizers who decided to exclude him. Sources among the organizers told Haaretz there “were objections to having Odeh speak at the rally, resulting in his invitation being revoked.”

The speakers’ list at this evening’s demonstration includes Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid from Kahol Lavan, Labor Chairman Avi Gabbay, and the chairwoman of Meretz Tamar Zandberg. Other public figures and leaders of organizations are also expected to speak.

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