Israel: Thousands to protest nation-state law in Tel Aviv August 11 /update 1

Event

Thousands of people are expected to participate in a protest march in Tel Aviv on Saturday, August 11, to denounce the recently passed "nation-state law." Demonstrators are expected to gather at Rabin Square at 19:30 (local time) and march to the plaza of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art beginning at 20:00. A heightened security presence and traffic disruptions are to be anticipated near the march route.

Context

A similar Druze-led demonstration was held in Rabin Square on August 4. Tens of thousands of participants protested the law's perceived potential to erode democratic and egalitarian norms in Israel at the expense of ethnic and religious minorities.

On July 19, the Israeli parliament passed the Basic Law, part of Israel's de facto constitution, which, among other things, declares Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people and makes Hebrew the official language, downgrading Arabic to a "special status" language. Opponents to the law argue that it omits principles of equal rights and democracy for the country's one-fifth Arab minority.

Advice

Individuals in Tel Aviv are advised to avoid all protests as a precaution, allow for additional time to travel near demonstrations, and adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities.