The Land of Israel Task Force submitted a request this week to block traffic on the busy Ayalon Highway in Tel Aviv for two hours this evening. The group's purpose is to cause a traffic disruption that will turn public attention to the "disruption" the residents of Gush Katif and northern Shomron are scheduled to suffer this summer.
When the police turned down the request, organizer Aviad Visuly took the case to the Supreme Court, "which will clarify once and for all whether Israelis enjoy freedom of speech and a democratic regime."
The Court ruled yesterday that in fact the right to protest does exist, though not for "many hours." The decision stated,
"It can be assumed that if the petitioner changes its position and agrees to hold the demonstration in a different format, one that will properly balance between the different values [- freedom of speech and assembly, and public order and unimpeded traffic -], the police will reconsider it, and assumedly will judge the request favorably."
However, despite the ruling, Commissioner David Tzur refused to meet with Visuly today. "Because of this refusal," Visuly told Arutz-7 today, "we won't be able to hold the rally tonight. We plan to sue Tzur personally, as well as other police officials, for causing us to lose a tremendous amount of money on all the preparations that have been wasted. We will hit him in the pocket, and then he will understand."
Visuly said that by saying that "many hours" is too long a time to block the Ayalon Highway, "it agreed that we could do so for a shorter time. We plan to submit many more requests to block traffic in the greater Tel Aviv area in the coming days and weeks."
Rabbi Dov Lior of Kiryat Arba has given Halakhic [Jewish legal] dispensation for the road-blockings, even though they could be considered dangerous in the event that an ambulance is not permitted to get through. "Just like when a suspicious object is spotted and traffic is stopped in order to prevent a greater danger later," Rabbi Lior said, "so too these protests are designed to stop something that, in the long run, will lead to increased terrorism and will be very threatening to the security of Israel and the communities."
Rabbi Lior, speaking with Arutz-7 last night, said, "If truckdrivers are permitted to block traffic merely because of a hike in the price of fuel, and as this is acceptable, then I don't see why those who are fighting for something real and important should not be able to do the same thing."
When the police turned down the request, organizer Aviad Visuly took the case to the Supreme Court, "which will clarify once and for all whether Israelis enjoy freedom of speech and a democratic regime."
The Court ruled yesterday that in fact the right to protest does exist, though not for "many hours." The decision stated,
"It can be assumed that if the petitioner changes its position and agrees to hold the demonstration in a different format, one that will properly balance between the different values [- freedom of speech and assembly, and public order and unimpeded traffic -], the police will reconsider it, and assumedly will judge the request favorably."
However, despite the ruling, Commissioner David Tzur refused to meet with Visuly today. "Because of this refusal," Visuly told Arutz-7 today, "we won't be able to hold the rally tonight. We plan to sue Tzur personally, as well as other police officials, for causing us to lose a tremendous amount of money on all the preparations that have been wasted. We will hit him in the pocket, and then he will understand."
Visuly said that by saying that "many hours" is too long a time to block the Ayalon Highway, "it agreed that we could do so for a shorter time. We plan to submit many more requests to block traffic in the greater Tel Aviv area in the coming days and weeks."
Rabbi Dov Lior of Kiryat Arba has given Halakhic [Jewish legal] dispensation for the road-blockings, even though they could be considered dangerous in the event that an ambulance is not permitted to get through. "Just like when a suspicious object is spotted and traffic is stopped in order to prevent a greater danger later," Rabbi Lior said, "so too these protests are designed to stop something that, in the long run, will lead to increased terrorism and will be very threatening to the security of Israel and the communities."
Rabbi Lior, speaking with Arutz-7 last night, said, "If truckdrivers are permitted to block traffic merely because of a hike in the price of fuel, and as this is acceptable, then I don't see why those who are fighting for something real and important should not be able to do the same thing."