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The right to express protest By Haaretz Editorial Tags: israel, hamas, israel news  In the last few days, the Shin Bet security service questioned dozens of Arab Israelis, while others were subjected to warnings aimed at deterring them from participating in demonstrations against the Israel Defense Forces operation in the Gaza Strip. Those taking part in demonstrations in Jaffa, Sakhnin and Shfaram were brought in for "clarification talks" even in cases when the demonstrations had been authorized. The Shin Bet approved the questioning and explained that, "In recent days a number of violent incidents, with nationalist character, have taken place in Israel. These incidents included arson, stone-throwing and firebombs. As a result of these incidents, arrests were made." In parallel, charges were brought in the Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court against left-wing activists who blocked the entrance to the Sde Dov airbase on Friday, in protest of Operation Cast Lead. The activists were charged with unlawful entry into a military area, participation in a forbidden gathering and interfering with a police officer as he tried to carry out his duty. The judge rejected the prosecution's request to keep the defendants in custody until the end of the legal proceedings, something normally done when the court believes that releasing the suspects poses a threat to the public. Advertisement A democratic society must differentiate, even in wartime, between activities that raise genuine fears of violence or that really incite to violence, like those from October 2000, and the right of every citizen to take part in demonstrations that do not involve serious violence. In a long series of decisions, the Supreme Court has established the freedom to demonstrate as a right "at the highest level of human rights." The right to demonstrate and to protest is part of the freedom of expression and is "one of the loftiest expressions of the idea of human dignity and freedom." This right is not revoked even during war. Today, gatherings and demonstrations are regarded in the democratic world as an acceptable and natural means of manifesting the constitutional right to protest that stems from the freedom of expression. Demonstrations during war are known phenomena even as soldiers are risking their lives. The freedom to demonstrate, like every other constitutional right, is not absolute. It is subordinate to the obligation to obey the law and to act in line with its rules and guidelines. Considerations of public order and public safety are relevant and could justify limits on demonstrations, but not their banning. According to reports, the security services are using intimidation tactics to prevent legitimate protest against the current campaign. Such means are not only excessive but have also been demonstrated as counterproductive. Repressing the freedom of expression normally transforms dialogue into acts of violence that could have been prevented, and it is imperative to prevent this from happening, especially during times of war. Bookmark to del.icio.us   'With total determination' Widow of IDF soldier killed Monday remembers her fallen hero. Anti-Semites unite! Protests against Gaza op worldwide have had a hateful, violent tone.   1.   Let Israeli Arabs protest 10:12  |  Colin Wright 06/01/09   2.   Freedom to demonstrate 12:10  |  Matty Groves 06/01/09   3.   Let them protest and then try them for treason 12:28  |  Israeli citizen 06/01/09   4.   Let Israeli Arabs demonstrate in Sderot!!! 12:39  |  arthur 06/01/09   5.   Constitutional Rights in Israel? 17:24  |  ARTH 06/01/09   6.   Constitutional Rights in Israel? 17:24  |  ARTH 06/01/09   7.   EQUAL Treatment To ALL Protesters 19:43  |  DR 06/01/09   8.   Israel fight for land 20:14  |  Charles 06/01/09

Read & React Bradley Burston / Gaza War Diary III: If Mexico shelled Texas, like Hamas shells Israel Responses: 151 At least 30 die in strike on Gaza school; IDF: Troops fired in self-defense Responses: 103 ANALYSIS / Israel is on its way to reoccupying all of the Gaza Strip Responses: 32 ANALYSIS / Price of stubborness over Gaza exit is dead Israeli soldiers Responses: 59 More Headlines 02:12 Abbas at UN calls for Gaza truce, fresh peace talks 01:51 Israel to establish 'humanitarian corridor' for Gaza Strip 01:55 Egypt's Gaza truce plan: ceasefire followed by border security talks 00:21 IDF shell kills 30 in Gaza UN school; Israel mulls appeal over Hamas fire from UN facilities 22:47 Obama breaks silence on Gaza, calls civilian deaths 'a deep concern' 23:03 Al-Qaida No. 2 urges Muslims to attack Israeli and Western targets over Gaza op 23:50 Five Israeli soldiers killed in 24 hours, as IDF closes in on Gaza cities 23:42 French TV claims photos from 2005 showed damage from Israel's Gaza operation 16:21 Gaza rocket hits Gedera, 30km from Tel Aviv; baby lightly hurt 17:12 ANALYSIS / Price of stubborness over Gaza exit is dead soldiers 18:20 Get up to the minute coverage of the warfare in Gaza directly to your email 00:22 'You'll be proud of me, yet' slain IDF soldier told family before entering Gaza 21:45 The view from Ramallah / An Intifada in its infancy? 22:19 Turkey-Israel basketball game canned after pro-Gaza protesters storm court 14:37 ANALYSIS / Israel is on its way to reoccupying all of the Gaza Strip 19:17 'Iran pledged Hezbollah won't respond to Gaza op,' says top Lebanese MP 18:39 Jewish and Arab students clash on Gaza offensive 13:06 ANALYSIS / The unspoken goal of bringing down Hamas in Gaza 20:07 Hospitalized but defiant, Israeli soldiers eager to return to Gaza battle 13:40 Israeli general: Never knew I was evacuating my wounded soldier son from Gaza 13:00 Burning car rams synagogue in southwest France 13:46 Egypt bars doctors from entering Gaza Strip 05:44 Hamas puts Gazans in danger by drawing IDF into urban warfare 18:21 PICTURE GALLERY / Gaza incursion sparks protests around world Previous Editions Select Day 06 jan 05 jan 04 jan 02 jan 01 jan 31 dec 30 dec 29 dec 28 dec 26 dec 25 dec 24 dec

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