Demonstrations during Biden’s visit in East Jerusalem banned
Several Israeli organizations have expressed rage after the police have banned their planned protests in eastern Jerusalem during US President Joe Biden’s visit to Israel’s capital later this week.
Joe Biden
The Israel Police denied a request submitted by a coalition of right-wing organizations to protest Biden’s unprecedented visit to eastern Jerusalem without official coordination and escort by the Israeli government, a move perceived as a challenge to Israel’s sovereignty in its capital.
Matan Peleg, CEO of the Im Tirzu Zionist organization, called on the Biden administration to “stop harming Israeli sovereignty and independence.”
“The US does not have too many friends in the world and the State of Israel has always been a loyal ally and partner. It was the only country in the world after the attack on the Twin Towers that civilians held demonstrations in support of the US. The Biden administration must stop harming the State of Israel,” he demanded.
Meir Deutsch, Director General of the Regavim Movement stated that the ban is “nothing short of a complete breakdown of the system. The Israeli government intends to fold. By allowing a first-of-its-kind visit by a sitting US president to eastern Jerusalem, this government is re-dividing our capital – in violation of US law and Israeli law.”
“This is an outrageous capitulation and we demand the right to express our objection by standing proud and tall, in great numbers, to make the Zionist presence in Israel’s capital seen and heard far and wide. If the Israel Police denies us this right, we will turn to the High Court of Justice,” he stated.
The Sovereignty Movement, The Bithonistim, Ad Kan, and the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) also submitted a request to demonstrate.
The Israel Police denied the permit request for a demonstration, claiming that all roads along the route to the proposed demonstration site would be closed during the presidential visit. The police offered two alternatives, a demonstration after Biden concludes his visit or an event at an alternate location off the route of the visit.
The organizations expressed anger and frustration, arguing that the alternatives will not allow them to “express a legitimate Zionist position in an appropriate manner.” The only alternatives they agreed to consider were those that allow them to express their position in eastern Jerusalem during Biden’s visit, adding that if no satisfactory solution is found they will petition the court against the police’s decision.
