Israel law restricts right to protest due to pandemic

In Jerusalem, demonstration against the restriction of the right to demonstrate, September 29, 2020. REUTERS / Ronen Zvulun

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After several days of negotiations and debate, the Israeli Parliament adopted a text tonight imposing severe restrictions on the right to demonstrate due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The text, adopted after anti-Netanyahu demonstrations have been organized every week for more than three months, has been denounced as an attack on fundamental democratic rights by the opposition.

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From our correspondent in Jerusalem

,  

Since the start of the pandemic, the right to demonstrate had remained an untouchable democratic principle in Israel: it had suffered no restrictions, even during periods of confinement.

But from now on, the government will be able to limit the exercise of this right.

Declaring a "

" will prohibit going to a demonstration more than a kilometer from home. 

The legislation has been the subject of intense negotiations between the coalition parties.

The centrist Bleu-Blanc formation demanded to limit these restrictions to the period of confinement while the Likud of Benyamin Netanyahu wanted to maintain them even when economic activity resumes.

"

", assured the Minister of Justice.

But this legislation will drastically restrict

for more than three months.

And the opposition sees in it a desire to prevent contestation.

Its leader in Parliament, Yair Lapid, believes that the next step will be to prevent him from speaking in full.

“

” he said.

“

”, for his part, judged an elected official from the ultra-nationalist Israel Beitenou party.

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• Israel

• Coronavirus

• Benjamin Netanyahu