Even though no incidents were reported during previous demonstrations, the Prefect of Alpes-Maritimes maintains his position and will not authorize the pro-Palestinian demonstration scheduled for this Saturday, December 2.
Weeks go by and they all seem the same… Never has Hugues Moutouh given his approval to permit gatherings in support of Palestine. Once again, the decree was no exception: the demonstration on this Saturday, December 2 by Collectif 06 “for a just and lasting peace between Palestinians and Israelis” in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is prohibited. This is the seventh consecutive prohibition, but all of these prefectoral decrees were rendered null and void by an administrative court’s authorization.
On their side, the gathering is planned for 3 p.m. starting from Place Garibaldi. Its aim is specifically to call for “an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and its surroundings as well as the lifting of the blockade and an arms embargo.” The organizations also want to demonstrate for “the deployment of an interposition force, under the aegis of the UN, to protect civilian populations and the delivery of humanitarian aid, and the creation of a humanitarian corridor” or even “the referral of all war criminals to international justice”.
The Prefect of Alpes-Maritimes justifies this prohibition with fears of “public order disturbances” and “clashes” but also due to “the persistence of the terrorist threat and the resurgence of anti-Semitic acts”. He was present during the November 12 gathering which brought together 4,000 people for the Republic and against anti-Semitism.
Faced with this series of prohibitions, the organizers do not give up and continue to oppose these decisions, which they deem unjustified: “We will never give up the fight for peace and for the liberation of Gaza”, confides Julien Picot.
The departmental secretary of the PCF of Alpes-Maritimes believes that the prefect is overstepping the authority conferred upon him: “His role is to be the representative of the State, not to be the State. Fortunately, in France, there is the separation of powers between the judiciary and the state, and in this situation, we will continue to assert our rights as long as we can. Peace is the priority goal.”
More and More Numerous Protesters
By persistently displaying a “double standards” that is quite visible in the community, is the Azorean political class not creating a feeling of injustice that only increases the number of people in the streets? : “At the beginning, there might have been about a hundred protesters, today we are talking about thousands… When the mayor raises the Israeli flag and then tells us we are at war, what does that mean?”, retorts our interlocutor.
On the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on Wednesday, November 29, a silent vigil was organized at Place Garibaldi. The gathering in tribute to the victims of Gaza had also initially been prohibited by the Prefecture before finally being authorized by the courts.
