Police want protest dispersed by 11 p.m.

Police officers are meeting with organizers of the Ethiopian-Israeli protest in Tel Aviv, trying to establish a cut-off time for the protest.

Initially police told organizers they want the demonstration to disperse by 9 p.m., and organizers said they were unable to promise they’ll be able to control the crowd and enforce the deadline.

After a heated discussion, police extended the deadline to 11 p.m. and warned that at that time they will view the demonstration – which received a police permit to take place – as a disturbance of public order and will use necessary means to disperse the crowd.

Police are also trying to have the organizers personally sign an agreement, holding them responsible if law enforcement forces resort to crowd dispersal means. The organizers refused.

— Judah Ari Gross