'Vandalism must meet harsh response'
Opposition chair attacks violence by demonstrators, but warns that 'it's dangerous to stifle every hint of legitimate protest.' Why didn't the organizers ask for a permit? 'It was spontaneous, put together in less than 24 hours'
Opposition chairwoman MK Shelly Yachimovich said Sunday afternoon that "vandalism and violence must be met with a strong hand, but it's no less dangerous to democracy to stifle every hint of legitimate, non-violent, protest."
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At 3 pm, 15 of the protesters arrested Saturday who were still in custody on suspicion of rioting and attacking police officers were due to appear in the Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court for remand hearings.
Summer in the city: Social justice protests turn violent (Photo: AFP)
When asked why the organizers of Saturday's protest did not request a permit, Liat Biron responded: "It was spontaneous, organized in less than 24 hours in response to the violent arrest of Daphne Leef and others."
Yachimovich talked with Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch (Yisrael Beiteinu), and expressed her opinion that the government was taking aggressive steps to prevent a protest movement, and that the Friday's clash on Rothschild Blvd. had led to escalation on Saturday.
"The police must act like responsible adults," Yachimovich said.
Aharonovitch also talked with Israel Police Chief Yohanan Danino about the violent clashes at the weekend's demonstrations, but declined to issue an official response.
On Wednesday, the minister told the Knesset plenum that "the police must allow social justice protests."
