Naalin riot (archives)
Photo: AP
A skunk (archives)
Photo: Visual/photos
Border Guard uses ‘Skunk’ as new crowd-dispersal means
Out with rubber bullets, tear gas, shock grenades; in with new, stinky means to scatter violent rioters. After using new tool during Naalin riot, officers report Palestinians ran to shower, changed clothes
The Border Guard has begun using a new means of contending with riots coined "Skunk”.
The police developed this new method for scattering violent demonstrations and tested its effectivity in the last demonstration which took place in the West Bank village of Naalin.
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Use of the “Skunk” is by means of an especially foul-smelling liquid spraying machine.
Over the past few years, security forces have been compelled to deal with a large number of demonstrations against construction of the separation fence in the West Bank village of Bilin and lately, in Naalin.
Until now, forces used rubber bullets, tear gas and shock grenades in order to disperse crowds who burned tires and threw stones at soldiers.
The police searched for a solution in order to deal with riots and simultaneously reduce the number of injuries. Thus, it was decided to “enlist” the “Skunk” for dispersing riots.
On Friday, during a protest that took place near Naalin, Border Guard officers used the “skunk” for the first time in order to scatter the violent rioters in the area.
Use of the new apparatus began upon receipt of all necessary authorizations and after operational, health-related and legal instruction were given by the body which created this technology.
Border Guard Commander Yisrael Yitzhak, who is responsible for use of the “Skunk", also authorized its usage.
"Skunk” is operated by two manual systems and one water-spraying machine. However, instead of spraying water the foul-smelling material is sprayed.
The Border Guard reported that after the first usage of the “skunk” the Palestinians fled in order to shower and change clothes.
It should be noted that it is still unclear whether or not the new apparatus will permanently replace the previous crowd-dispersal means.
