Israel: the right to protest preserved despite the new lockdown

Audio 01:22

Demonstration on the beach in Tel Aviv, this Saturday, September 19, 2020, against the new confinement imposed on Israel.

AP Photo / Oded Balilty

Text by: RFI Follow

4 min

Israel re-confined itself on Friday and is imposing restrictions on prayers in synagogues during the Jewish New Year holidays.

But the demonstrators who have been protesting for weeks in particular in Jerusalem under the windows of the residence of Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu intend to continue their movement.

They oppose the directives announced for the conduct of the demonstrations during this period.

Publicity

Read more

With our correspondent in Jerusalem, 

Michel Paul

About two hundred people on the beach in Tel Aviv demonstrating against the new confinement imposed on Israel.

We will not be told where and how to protest, proclaim the demonstrators.

The day before, dozens of people celebrated the Jewish New Year at an impromptu banquet outside Netanyahu's Jerusalem residence.

Shortly before the re-

containment took

effect

,

authorities in Israel issued new guidelines for such gatherings.

Capsules for a maximum of 20 people.

But no limit to the total number of participants in the events.

For Dan Catarivas, one of the demonstrators, the important thing is that the right to protest is preserved: “

 I think we must still let people continue to be able to express themselves openly.

The very principle of being able to continue to express oneself in a state of crisis in a democratic state is something essential.

 "

It is this Sunday evening that the new instructions which have yet to be officially approved will be put to the test.

Several demonstrations are planned, in Jerusalem and

like every week

on the bridges and at the crossroads of the country.

And at this point, only a group that runs these weekly gatherings has decided to take a break during the lockdown period.

Newsletter

Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_FR

  • Israel

On the same subject

Reportage

Israel is reconfiguring itself, a blow for the various religious communities

Israelis concerned after at least three-week containment announced

Israel: Benjamin Netanyahu confronted with ever more upbeat protesters