Solidarity protest for refugees
Photo: Ofer Amram
Some 35,000 refugees living in Israel
Photo: Tsafrir Abayov
International Refugee Day event canceled
Organizers say police intentionally altered security regulations at last moment to sabotage mass Tel Aviv event scheduled for Friday
An event marking the International Refugee Day, scheduled for Friday, was canceled at the last minute by the Tel Aviv District police.
The event organizers claimed the police "intentionally and maliciously foiled the event" by refusing to grant the necessary permits some 12 hours before the beginning of the festivities.
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As an alternative, the organizers, who spent months planning the event, were told they can hold a smaller gathering without a stage or speakers, and with a limited number of participants.
"The police's demands are not reasonable, doubtfully legal, and in contradiction with the basic right to protest and celebrate," said Physicians for Human Rights Spokesperson Yael Marom.
According to the organizers, the police did not specify why it has refused to issue a permit for the event, saying that in recent days they were presented with a new set of regulations that go against all previous understandings with the police.
The United Nations' International Refugee Day events, held on June 20, are marked all over the world. This year's theme focused around the 60th anniversary of the UN Charter provisions on refugee status, which Israel helped initiate during the 1950s.
The number of refugees currently living in Israel is estimated at around 35,000 people.
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