_a.jpg "Photo: Gil Yohanan")
Amona clashes
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Lawsuit: SWAT team leader assaulted settler during Amona evacuation
Yesha rights group files punitive damages claim on behalf of settler claiming he was beat over the head with a club during clashes with police
The Yesha Human Rights Organization filed a claim for punitive damages with the Petah Tikva Magistrates' Court Monday on behalf of a Jewish settler who claims to have been assaulted by a SWAT team during the violent evacuation of the illegal West Bank outpost of Amona in 2006.
Illegal Outpost
Following claim for punitive damages, court instructs police to provide names of officers who took part in violent evacuation of illegal West Bank outpost, state whether explicit order was issued to use truncheons against protestors
According to the lawsuit, the officer kicked the settler in the back, ribs and stomach and beat him over the head with a club. The complainant, David Hashash, said he lost consciousness as a result of the attack and received medical treatment.
The statement of claim said the Shai Police District officer, who holds the rank of chief inspector, did not prevent the officers under his command from beating the demonstrators and even assaulted them himself.
Following the incident the Yesha rights group filed a complaint with Israel Police's Internal Affairs Bureau, but was dismissed under the pretext that "the perpetrator was unknown", despite the fact that Hashash gave a detailed description of the officer and said he could identify him if presented with photos from the riots.
Hashash's attorney Haim Cohen said in the statement of claim that the officer had initially attempted to contain his fellow policemen, but later joined them in assaulting the protestors.
Cohen's demand to reopen the police investigation against the officer was rejected.
According to the Yesha Human Rights Organization, about half of all the cases opened following the Amona riots were eventually closed due to faulty police work and due to the fact that many officers who took part in the evacuation did not wear badges and could not be identified.
