A march in Tel Aviv for Jews and Arabs had been in the works for months. Scheduled to happen on Thursday, July 18, the march was meant to be a demonstration where Israeli citizens of all stripes could come together to call for a ceasefire and a hostage deal. They called it the March for Peace and Life. The organizers—including NIF grantees Standing Together (Omdim Beyachad-Naqef Ma’an), Zazim, The Faithful Left, and half a dozen others—were expecting thousands.
Then, just two days before the event, police announced that the march had to be called off. Why? Because of “threats from people who are against a deal.”
The same police that enabled Kahanists and racists to hold a violent flag parade in Jerusalem, and protected violent marchers, wanted to stop thousands of peace activists from marching in favor of a political path forward.
The police decision smacked of repression. And Standing Together took the police to court.
Shortly before the police had to file their response to the court, the police announced that they changed their mind again: The march could go on after all. It was rescheduled for the following Thursday, July 25.
NIF stands for the rights of free speech. We stand for the right of free assembly. And we stand for all those who believe that tomorrow can be better than today. We will always march, alongside Israelis and Palestinians, for peace and for life.