City officials tear down signs in Tel Aviv reservists' protest

Tel Aviv municipal inspectors tore down signs that protesters had put up along Dankner station in Petach Tikva on Tuesday morning.

Protest organizers called the actions "illegal" and accused the city officials of abusing their authority for political purposes and to silence opposition voices.

Protesters marked a red line

Reservists and veterans of the IDF Navy and Air Force held a protest along the train tracks in Tel Aviv, marking a red line for the government's judicial reform plans.

They hung red signs saying "my red line - an independent court" at "strategic locations." Afterward, they held a demonstration at the junction of the Shaul Hamelech and Menachem Begin streets, with former Shin Bet chief Ami Ayalon in attendance, among others.

"This is a serious and dangerous act of illegal use of force, for the purpose of shutting mouths and silencing criticism, by someone who receives a salary from the residents of Petah Tikva," said Attorney Uri Ahed, member of the city council.

"The inspector must be dealt with disciplinarily and at the same time state clearly whether this is an instruction given to him by the municipality, in which case the matter is more serious. I do not intend to let go of the issue until I receive the full answers, in Petah Tikva the residents will not shut up," Ahed added.

"There is no instruction to tear down signs for protesters, it is only the responsibility of the police. Unless signs were posted and there are no protesters nearby, then they are taken down like any pirate sign that obstructs the field of vision, etc.," the municipality Spokesperson said.

"In any case, the issue will be investigated and if it did happen, the rules and procedures in these cases will be clear.Petah Tikva respects freedom of expression and protest and there have been protests for years, with an emphasis on the area of the former attorney general's home. There was never an interruption or a failure in the matter."

A group of around one hundred hi-tech workers demonstrated against the judicial reform on Kaplan Street in Tel Aviv on Tuesday.