Thousands of leftist protesters rallied in Rabin Square as some carried PLO flags • MK Ayman Odeh: "Today's a dictatorship, we must break democracy"
Security forces in front of protesters
Photo:
Coco
Thousands gathered this evening (Saturday night) in a left-wing demonstration in Rabin Square in Tel Aviv against the program of sovereignty in Judea and Samaria with some carrying Palestinian flags.
Rabin Square demonstration against sovereignty // Photo: Moshe Ben Simhon
Other protesters carried signs with the special needs image of Iyad Elahlak, who was shot dead last week by Border Police in Jerusalem. During the demonstration, protesters kneeled in memory of George Floyd, an African-American civilian killed by police in the United States. In addition, a video from Sen. Bernie Sanders of the Democratic Party was screened in which he said: "There are millions of people around the world who support these basic human values. It is up to all of us to stand against tyrannical leaders and build a future of peace for every Palestinian and every Israeli, "adding:" For this to be possible, the plan to illegally annex every part of the West Bank must be stopped. The occupation must end. "
Police spokeswoman said that with the end of the protest in Rabin Square this evening, a handful of protesters remained in the area and violated the order while blocking traffic jams. Police are calling on protesters to maintain public order and obey police instructions.
Police say: "At this time, a handful of protesters continue to violate public order while blocking traffic jams in Tel Aviv. Once again the violators of the settlement were given a warning by the police chief and a demand to evacuate the axis. "
Non-compliant order violators were dispatched by police. The police ordered the dispersal of the protesters who blocked the axis and did not heed the police instructions. Five order violators who physically resisted the evacuation were arrested by the police and brought for questioning at the police station.
Chairman of the Joint List and Knesset Member Ayman Oda said in a recorded speech against the annexation in Rabin Square: "We are at a crossroads. One way is leading to a joint society with true democracy and civil and national equality for Arab citizens. Independent alongside Israel, the second way will lead us to hatred, violence, annexation and apartheid, a country that will forever live on the sword and devote itself to violent rule over another nation.
"Today in the country breaking right and we have to break left. Today breaking into dictatorship, we have to break into democracy. When they break for annexation and perpetuate the occupation, we fight for peace and democracy. They want to isolate us. Because they know that without us it is impossible to pass laws of true peace democracy and social justice. "
"There are three things that led to the end of every conquest," Odeh said: "the occupation of the conquered people, civil resistance within the conquering state and international public opinion. We are in the second circle. "Four mothers and women in black struggle in the fight against the occupation in Lebanon, too, we continue their path. And, like them, we will win."
Meretz chairman Nitzan Horowitz said in a demonstration: "Annexation is a war crime that will cost us blood. Gantz, Ashkenazi, Peretz, Nissenkorn - you have the responsibility. You have no mandate, in other words, you have no mandate to impose apartheid on us. "
The demonstration organizers, who have united 33 different organizations, argue that applying sovereignty unilaterally will hamper attempts to advance future negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
Digital and Cyber Minister David Amsalem tweeted in response to a rally: "Our only Zionist answer to people waving red flags and PLO flags in Central Tel Aviv - applying Israeli sovereignty to homeland ropes!"
A message from the organizers said: "Yes to peace and democracy, not to annexation or to the occupation. We call for annexation to deepen the occupation and set out to demonstrate democracy and peace with a Palestinian state alongside Israel."
The demonstrators also added: "We want a clean tomorrow from conquest and bloodshed, where we can all live in real security. We will protest in Tel Aviv-Yafo against annexation and through peace and hope, against racism and the power of partnership. And annex West Bank territories, evict residents, and deprive citizens of Israeli Arabs of the Wadi Ara triangle. If that happens, it will eliminate any hope of a solution. But we know there is another, equitable and just way of two states, and that we must fight for it. "
