About 12 hours after a Haredi protest on Wednesday morning near Bnei Brak turned into unusually violent clashes on Route 4, the Israel Police issued its first response to the criticism over the officers’ conduct. The rally drew intense public outrage after videos showed police using force against demonstrators.
In its statement, the police said it views the behavior of the protesters who blocked Route 4 “very seriously,” saying they held “tens of thousands of drivers and civilians hostage in massive traffic jams” and caused severe harm to a major transportation artery. The force stressed that while “the right to protest is a fundamental right,” blocking key roads, restricting freedom of movement and using violence are “not protest, but anarchy.”
According to the police, officers encountered resistance and violence while clearing the road, leaving two officers injured and in need of medical treatment. Five people were arrested on suspicion of attacking police officers and disturbing public order.
The statement also addressed the widely circulated footage from the day, including stun grenade use, dragging protesters, and tearing clothes and pants during the evacuation. The police said such “exceptional cases,” which do not match the organization’s procedures or expectations of commanders and officers in the field, will be thoroughly investigated and handled disciplinarily. The announcement came after sharp public and political criticism, and after National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said he would hold an urgent discussion about police use of stun grenades.
