Students protest in Jerusalem
Photo: Ronen Medzizni
Leftists petition court for right to wave Palestinian flags at protest
Two activists organizing Saturday rally claim police would not approve demonstration unless they promise not to wave Palestinians flags
Two left-wing activists filed a petition with the High Court of Justice Thursday demanding that police be forced to allow them to stage an anti-IDF protest.
The activists claim authorities announced they would allow the protest only if they promised not to wave Palestinian flags, a condition the petition said was unlawful and unfeasible.
Protesting IDF Operation
Around 300 left-wing activists gather on Defense Ministry lawn to protest offensive against Hamas during Olmert's speech; five arrested after clashing with police
Ayala Maoz and Hagai Matar are two of the organizers of a procession and rally scheduled for Saturday evening. The event is intended to protest the military operation in Gaza.
They claim the condition posed by the police lacks logic and legality, and that despite the fact that they were not intending to wave Palestinian flags at the protest, they could not vouch for the other demonstrators in attendance.
Maoz and Matar say police were afraid the presence of the flags would anger people of opposing political views and result in possible riots, as the angered parties may become violent.
Thus, the petition says, the police's fear is not due to the behavior of the demonstrators, but "criminal passers-by who want to harm the participants." They asked the court to hold an emergency hearing on the petition so the protest would not have to be postponed.
The Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) joined the activists' struggle by sending a letter to Attorney General Menachem Mazuz regarding the arrests of numerous demonstrators who protested the IDF operation in Gaza.
The letter warns against adopting policies allowing for numerous arrests and dispersal of protestors, as this constitutes a violation of the right to freedom of speech.
