Overview

Freedom of association, freedom of expression, and freedom of protest are fundamental rights enshrined in Israeli and international law and necessary conditions for the existence of a functioning democracy. The state may not deny or restrict these rights without justification, even during wartime or emergency periods. In fact, these rights become more vital during such times, serving as tools for public criticism of government policy and the use of military force.

Sweeping restrictions on criticism of the authorities or on political protest, including the use of administrative, police, and military measures to suppress them, are incompatible with the principles of proportionality and legality set out in Israeli constitutional law and in the international conventions to which Israel is a party. Violating freedom of expression and protest in the name of maintaining public order weakens democracy, narrows civil space, and enables the continued violation of human rights in the West Bank, Gaza, and within Israel itself.