Thousands of Israelis marched in Tel Aviv and Haifa yesterday (Friday) to mark International Human Rights Day. The Tel Aviv march was organized by the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI). 130 groups participated in the event, including Peace Now, Hadash (the Democratic Front por Peace and Equality – Communist Party of Israel) Meretz, Eritrean refugees, TANDI (the Democratic Women’s Movement), Hagada Hasmalit – Alternative Cultural Center in Tel-Aviv and website, “Power to the Workers” union and Negev Bedouin.  Social protest leaders Daphne Leef and Alon-Lee Green also took part in the march.  Marchers carried signs reading “The right will not silence me”, “Bibi, resign” and “We will protect the democratic space” and dozens of red flags.

 The protesters marched from the Habima Square to the Rabin Square as part of an annual human rights march and were joined by hundreds refugees. “Freedom of expression is under investigation,” read one sign alluding the wave of fascist legislation. The refugees were protesting grievances involving their rights. They carried signs which read “Detention center in Israel” “I didn’t choose to be a refugee” and “Refugees are not criminals.”

Human Rights march in Tel-Aviv: Hadash MK Dov Khenin (Photo: Ami Kaufman / 972)

MK Dov Khenin (Hadash) said to journalists: “Israel’s democratic space is increasingly being called into question,” citing the anti-democratic trends in legislation in the Knesset as a public atmosphere that is hostile toward civil society organizations and human rights organizations in general.

MK Khenin said anti-democratic legislation was broken down into four categories: legislation like the Nakba Law and the loyalty oath, which target the country’s Palestinian-Arab national minority; laws like the boycott and foreign funding laws that target civil society and NGOs; legislation to limit the power of the High Court of Justice; and legislation to limit freedom of speech.