Jerusalem mayor begs protesters for night off

A spokesman for the Black Flag protest movement responded that the demonstrations would take place as planned.

By GIL HOFFMAN
Israeli Police uses water cannon to disperse demonstrators during protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (photo credit: OLIVIER FITOUSSI/FLASH90)
Israeli Police uses water cannon to disperse demonstrators during protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
(photo credit: OLIVIER FITOUSSI/FLASH90)
The mayor of Jerusalem, Moshe Lion, pleaded with the heads of the protest movements against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday to cancel demonstrations set for Thursday night.
The demonstrations are set to begin after the end of the fast of Tisha B'av. But Lion said they should take the night off.
"I call upon all the protesters to refrain from demonstrating today out of concern for security forces and residents of the city after a day of fasting amid heavy heat," Lion told the leaders of the protest movements. "Tisha B'av is not like other days. It is a long fast day that this year is exhaustingly hot. I hope my request will be answered."
A spokesman for the Black Flag protest movement responded that the demonstrations would take place as planned.
"We ask the mayor of Jerusalem to have the police protect the protesters, maintain their democratic right to demonstrate and prevent police violence against citizens who come to protect the State of Israel from the inciting convict Netanyahu."    
One of the leaders of the protesters said the mayor was "just looking for a headline" and "if he was serious, he would have coordinated with us a week or two ago instead of putting out a press release hours before thousands of people are planning on coming."