Israel Police to Compensate 13 Anti-Government Protesters After Illegal Searches

Israel Police will pay more than 600,000 shekels to 13 protesters against the government after they were subjected to invasive body searches following arrests during demonstrations in Jerusalem. Under the settlement, the state will pay the compensation, but the police will not formally admit the plaintiffs' claims.

Behind the deal was a clear legal position from senior justice officials. Top figures in the State Attorney's Office and the police legal advisory system told Police Commissioner Danny Levi that, legally, “it is impossible to defend the officers” in these cases. Internal reviews by the police and the prosecution concluded that the searches were carried out without operational necessity and in direct violation of the law.

The claims were filed and handled by attorney Oren Goldberg of the “Otef Asirim” legal network, and stem from a series of arrests and invasive searches at Jerusalem's Moriah police station. The first case came to light in June 2025, when Haaretz reported that a female protester arrested after demonstrating against the war with Iran outside the prime minister's residence in Jerusalem underwent an invasive search.

Shortly afterward, another serious case emerged involving protesters outside Economy Minister Nir Barkat's home. Those reports triggered more testimony from additional protesters who said they experienced the same improper procedure, eventually leading to the broader compensation settlement now reached.