Tel Aviv district commander suspends officer filmed kicking ultra-Orthodox protester

Tel Aviv District Police Commander Maj. Gen. Chaim Sargarof ordered the immediate suspension of a police officer who was filmed kicking an ultra-Orthodox protester during a demonstration on Highway 4 near Bnei Brak on Wednesday morning, pending clarification of the circumstances.

The decision came about 12 hours after unusually violent clashes at the protest, where videos showed police using force against demonstrators. The police said that, after reviewing the footage from the Bnei Brak junction protest, it was found that commanders and officers acted contrary to procedures.

In a statement released in the evening, police said they would not hesitate to deal harshly with such incidents and suspend those involved from operational activity. The force also said it would investigate the “exceptional cases” that occurred during the rally.

According to the police chief’s statement, senior commanders were present at the protest, and, in his words, “I expected them to control the event.”