Basel police block 'Death to Zionism' protest planned for 129th anniversary of Zionist Congress

A planned protest entitled "Death to Zionism" by an anti-Israel group based in Basel, Switzerland, was denied approval for Saturday after the organizers failed to submit a permit request, and authorities cited concerns about calls for violence, according to a statement issued by local police.

The Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM), which issued warnings about the event prior to the police announcement, identified the group ‘basel4palestine’ as the organization behind the protest.

In an official statement released earlier this week, the police noted that, in addition to lacking an official permit, local authorities determined that the event, as proposed, was "not consistent with fundamental rights and therefore cannot be authorized."

The police statement emphasized, "Freedom of expression and freedom of assembly also protect sharp and controversial political positions. However, they reach their limit when violence is being incited. In light of the explicit calls for violence, the planned protest cannot be approved."

The police said they were still preparing for any attempts to demonstrate on Saturday but declined to provide details about personnel and measures for operational reasons.

The statement added, "The Jewish community in Basel must feel safe at all times."The demonstration was reportedly planned in Basel due to its connection with the founding of political Zionism.

Protest to mark 129 years since the First Zionist Congress

Scheduled to take place at Theaterplatz Square in Basel, the protest was planned to mark exactly 129 years since the First Zionist Congress opened in the city. 

On August 29, 1897, Theodor Herzl convened the congress, where the "Basel Program" was adopted and the organizational foundations of the Zionist movement were established. 

Herzl famously wrote in his diary, "In Basel, I founded the Jewish state."

The promotional posts for the planned protest, which circulated on social media, included the slogans "Free Palestine" and "Death to Zionism," along with an image of an Israeli tank featuring a red inverted triangle above it - a symbol associated with Hamas propaganda videos used to identify targets for attack.

One social media post from the ‘basel4palestine’ group proclaimed, "From the birthplace of Zionism, we call for its destruction."