An officer is being investigated by the Police Internal Investigations Department, known as Makhash, on suspicion of assaulting an ultra-Orthodox protester during a demonstration on Geha Road last week. The case followed video footage that appears to show the officer kicking the protester in the head. The report was aired by Yolan Cohen on N12.
The incident took place during the “storm” protest held last week on Geha Road as part of demonstrations against the arrest of Torah students. During the rally, multiple cases of severe police violence were documented, including the use of water cannon trucks and stun grenades against protesters. Last weekend, reports said the Tel Aviv district commander ordered the suspension of an officer who kicked an ultra-Orthodox demonstrator on Route 4, in violation of procedure.
The police later admitted, “There are officers who acted not according to procedure.” About 12 hours after the unusual clashes, the force said, “After reviewing the videos from the protest at the Bnei Brak junction, it was learned that commanders and officers acted not according to procedure, we will not hesitate to deal with this harshly and suspend them from operational activity.” According to Police Commissioner Danny Levy, “There were senior commanders at the protest and my expectation from them was to control the event.”
The footage from recent protests has triggered public outrage. Photos and videos showed officers dragging protesters by force, stripping their pants, and humiliating them. In one case, a child who had already been moved aside and was lying on the pavement was shown with a police officer stepping on his head. Knesset member Yoav Ben Tzur of Shas submitted a motion this week on “police violence against ultra-Orthodox protesters,” accusing the police of selective enforcement and saying, “The shocking documentation that has reached us in recent days should deprive every citizen in Israel of sleep.” He added, “The ugly sights expose a painful truth, a wrongful policy of selective, discriminatory, and outrageous enforcement has recently taken root in the Israel Police.” He contrasted the treatment of different demonstrators, saying Kaplan protesters are addressed with loudspeakers and negotiation, while batons, blows, and stun grenades are “reserved for ultra-Orthodox protesters.”
The incidents come amid ongoing tension between the ultra-Orthodox public and law enforcement. On Wednesday, a historic car protest took place, with thousands of vehicles moving slowly in convoys against the arrest of Torah students. Police said in advance that it would allow the protest to proceed in an orderly manner, and no significant clashes were reported. Following the disturbing footage, several organizations said they plan to file formal complaints with Makhash against officers accused of violence, and the Association for the Protection of the Rights of the Ultra-Orthodox Public said it is collecting documentation and testimony for organized complaints.
