Freedom of speech? Netivot
Photo: Tsafrir Abayov
'Draconian’ measures
Association for Civil Rights in Israel blasts police, says protest ban reminiscent of dictatorship
JERUSALEM – Even groups normally associated with left-wing causes came to the side of anti-disengagement protesters Monday, after police prevented activists from reaching a scheduled rally and march in the southern town of Netivot.
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In an “urgent” letter to police chief Moshe Karadi, The Association for Civil Rights in Israel demanded police allow protest buses to travel to Netivot and to allow protesters to march towards Gush Katif.
The letter, signed by Layla Margalit, called police actions “draconian," and said there is no law allowing police to block travel merely because passengers might come to gather in one specific location.
“Even if the police are legally allowed to refuse permits for public gatherings, when we are speaking about political protests, law enforcement agencies must take extra care not to restrict freedom of speech and human rights too much,” she wrote.
Margalit also said preventing buses from traveling to Netivot placed Israel in unfavorable company.
“The use of extreme measures to prevent a protest before it occurs – even an illegal protest – is reminiscent of dictatorships we wouldn’t really want to emulate.”
She also said Karadi’s decision to prevent settlers from traveling towards Netivot represents an illegal violation of the right to travel.
