Israeli Police Commissioner Danny Levy issued his first response on Wednesday after footage of police violence against ultra-Orthodox protesters on Route 4 drew sharp criticism. Levy said that if the review shows commanders or officers acted outside procedure, “we will not hesitate to deal with it severely and suspend them.” He also ordered the immediate operational suspension of the officer who kicked a protester, pending clarification of the circumstances.
Levy said a formal examination has been opened, and added that after reviewing the videos from the protest at the Bnei Brak junction, any commander or officer found to have acted improperly will face tough measures. “There were senior commanders at the protest, and I expect them to control the event,” he said.
The Jerusalem Faction staged an unexpected demonstration on Route 4 that quickly turned violent after police arrived to disperse the crowd. Images spread online and prompted harsh condemnation from ultra-Orthodox parties. United Hatzalah treated eight injured people who suffered bruises, bleeding and other injuries from riot-control measures. After the clashes, Route 4 was reopened in both directions.
Political leaders in the ultra-Orthodox camp escalated the response. Shas chairman Aryeh Deri accused police of treating protests against government policies differently from the morning’s events and urged National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir to intervene immediately. MK Meir Porush asked Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman Tzvika Fogel to convene the committee at once, alleging selective enforcement and brutal force, including stun grenades, batons and dragging protesters. MK Yinon Azoulai also condemned what he described as police overreach, saying officers were “taking the law into their own hands.”
