Attorney Uri Narov, director of the legal department at the Reform Center for Religion and State, issued an urgent appeal today (Tuesday) to Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara to ban the protest march of right-wing organizations.
Right-wing protest in front of the Supreme Court: "The High Court will not steal our vote" (Archive) // Shmuel Buchris
The march is expected to take place in Jerusalem on Thursday evening, under the theme: "The Maccabean March." Among other things, it is also planned to pass through Damascus Gate towards the Western Wall. According to the reports, its goal is to honor the souls of fallen IDF soldiers who fell in an iron sword war, and according to the organizers: "remove the Waqf from the Temple Mount, renew full Jewish control over Jerusalem and the Temple Mount," a controversial publication.
Right-wing protest in favor of legal reform (archive),
In his urgent appeal, Attorney Narov wrote: "These days, when a state of war against the Hamas terrorist organization prevails in Israel and the public atmosphere is volatile. The temporary order requires lowering the hostility and hostility that extremist elements seek to inflame at all costs, with the aim of sowing hatred, polarization and division towards the Arab public and raising the walls of separation between the Jewish and Arab publics in Israel.
"Under these circumstances, the decision to approve a march carrying violent and dangerous racist messages along the route that passes through Damascus Gate is extremely puzzling. Moreover, not only is the decision to approve the march puzzling, but it is also dangerous, since it is a march whose participants are seeking the removal of the Muslim Waqf and the renewal of full Jewish control over the Temple Mount – a holy site for Muslims, which has already been determined in the ruling to be of enormous sensitivity and special from a religious and national perspective.
Publication from the Maccabees, photo: uncredited
"Under these circumstances, it is clear to any reasonable person that a march taking place in the Muslim Quarter seeking to renew Jewish control over the Temple Mount is liable to spark violent riots and cause a serious and real danger to public peace, safety and public order."
"In recent days, erroneous reports have been circulating on social networks regarding a protest march expected to take place this Thursday evening, from IDF Square through the Old City of Jerusalem to the Western Wall, distorting the route approved by the police," the Jerusalem District Police noted. This includes up to 200 participants.
Right-wing protest (archive),
"The march from Tzahal Square to the Western Wall in Jerusalem will pass through the Old City, and will not march in the Temple Mount area at all, will not be near it and will not reach its gates. Contrary to lies and inciting publications by hostile elements, we emphasize that Muslim prayers on the Temple Mount will continue as usual during Hanukkah. The existing practice at the site will continue to be maintained in relation to visits by Israelis and tourists in accordance with the rules of visiting during the usual visiting hours and days only."
The police emphasize that any attempt to disturb public order or act illegally, contrary to the permits given and the outline approved in this case, will be dealt with decisively by the forces securing the march. According to them, any disturbance of public order or attempt to harm the march and its participants will be treated with zero tolerance.
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