Police prohibits the anti-war rally scheduled to take place tonight at Tel-Aviv

Police prohibits the holding of the anti-war rally scheduled to take place tonight at Rabin Square in Tel-Aviv, allegedly because of rocket fire from Gaza. There are good reasons to suspect the police’s true motives of, but lawyers have advised that the Supreme Court may reject a petition filed on the issue. Accordingly organizers felt compelled, under protest, to decide on postponement of the rally.

2014-08-09

A statement on behalf of the organizing committee was published on Saturday: “In light of the expected participation of many thousands in the peace rally scheduled for tonight (August 9, 2014), the police announced it would not allow it to be held, due to the Home Front Command prohibition on the gathering of over a thousand people at open spaces in Tel Aviv. The organizing committee, therefore, decided that the rally must be postponed until the earliest date when it would be possible to hold it. The wide response to our call proves that a large part of the Israeli society supports a change in direction, opposes the way of wars and demands an end to the cycle of bloodshed through a real dialogue with the Palestinians, in order to reach a peace agreement that would ensure independence and justice for both peoples. There are a large number of Jewish and Arab citizens who are prepared to stand together against the waves of racism and incitement and for democracy. We will continue to make this voice heard in every possible way. We regret that the police and military authorities prove ineffective in protecting the freedom of expression in Israel, in particular the democratic right to demonstrate and protest. This is a badge of shame for Israeli democracy.”

Organizations sponsoring this rally included:  Hadash (Democratic Front for Peace and Equality – Communist Party of Israel), Meretz, Peace Now, Combatants for Peace, Gush Shalom, Peace NGOs Forum, Young Labor in Tel Aviv and many others.

Related:

Mass rally in Tel-Aviv: No to the way of wars – move towards peace!