Exclusive footage shows arson and damage in raid on Beit Shemesh police station

Exclusive security-camera footage shows hundreds of ultra-Orthodox extremists storming the police station in Beit Shemesh about a week ago during a protest against the arrest of draft evaders. The attackers breached the compound, shouted at officers, and damaged property while trying to strike at police and equipment.

In the video, one demonstrator is seen attempting to ignite a fire inside the station grounds. The flames came close to the station building itself. Protesters were also heard shouting, “Rotsach, rotsach” (“Murderer, murderer”) at an officer who tried to stop the unrest.

Deputy Chief Supt. Shlomi Bakhar, head of the Zion District in the Jerusalem District, said the police know how to work with the broader ultra-Orthodox public, but extremists require a different response. “We need to know how to deal with extremists in other ways,” he said, adding that this includes “aggressive arrests” and the use of force. He noted that many ultra-Orthodox officers serve in the Jerusalem District, both as patrol officers and investigators.

Police arrested eight suspects the same night, but a court released them because of a lack of evidence. This week, three more suspects were arrested on suspicion of breaking into the station, setting fires, and damaging property, and two of them had their remand extended. Jerusalem District Commander Maj. Gen. Avshalom Peled said police would reach anyone who committed criminal offenses during the disturbances, even if they thought they could hide behind the crowd. Their lawyer, Roy Politi, said the arrests were made “in a tendentious way” and not linked to specific offenses, and that all of the suspects were released the next day.