"This is one of the most important demonstrations in years. It is important for our message to be heard by the government," one of the organisers, Yariv Oppenheimer, told AFP.

Organisers said up to 15,000 demonstrators, most of the Jews but including Arabs, gathered in downtown Tel Aviv and then marched to the museum where they held a rally.

The demonstration was organised following calls by several groups and leftist parties for "the defence of democracy while it is still possible."

Protesters held Israeli and Palestinian flags and banners with messages that read: "Let's protect democracy so that it can protect us"; "Democracy cannot be built on racist laws" and "Mad right: a danger for Israel."

On January 5, MPs voted to form a parliamentary inquiry to investigate the funding of rights groups allegedly helping to build war crimes cases abroad against Israeli military personnel.

The parliamentary probe focuses on Breaking the Silence, a group of army veterans who bear witness to abuses they have seen or taken part in during their military service in the occupied Palestinian territories.

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