The Knesset on Wednesday passed a controversial measure to limit public protests due to the coronavirus pandemic. The vote followed a heated, all-night parliamentary session in which the opposition lambasted the government for undermining Israeli democracy.
The measure gives the government the power to bar traveling over one kilometer (0.6 miles) from home to attend a protest, and limit outdoor gatherings to a maximum of 20 people. This is largely seen as a move that would end the large weekly demonstrations outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's official residence in Jerusalem.
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The bill passed on second and third readings by a vote of 46-38 just after 4:30 a.m. The vote was made possible largely over the fact that on Tuesday, Likud dropped dozens of reservations it had filed over articles in the bill.
The ruling party had previously demanded that the ban on mass protests remain in effect even after the current nationwide lockdown is lifted. Coalition partner Blue and White said it would not allow that type of prohibition to pass into law.
Under the final version of the amended law, the government-declared "special coronavirus emergency" allows the cabinet to limit all public gatherings, including protests, prayers and religious ceremonies for a period of week, with the possibility of extending it for another two weeks should the state of public health emergency remain in place.
Sources privy to the letter of the new law said that protests outside the Prime Minister's Residence would be kept to 2,000 total, with 100 "capsules" of 20 people. Only those who live within a kilometer would be able to attend.
The protests have so far seen 10,000 to 20,000 people show up on a weekly basis.
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