Palestinian organizations urge lifting ban on public meetings

Four Palestinian organizations which are concerned with human rights urged the Palestinian government on Tuesday to abrogate the ban imposed against convening of public meetings.

In a statement released in Gaza on Tuesday, the four Palestinian organizations described the decision to impose the ban as a violation of the law which recognizes the right to convene public meetings as long as the Palestinian police are informed about it 24 hours in advance.

The Palestinian Authority took its decision to impose this embargo last month following the throwing of stones at French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin upon his visit to Beir Zeit University in the West Bank by university students. This stone-throwing incident was sparked by statements made by Jospin against the Lebanese resistance.