Shabbat Square
Photo: Eli Mendelbaum
Policewoman indicted for assaulting Haredi protester
Defendant suspected of striking Haredi man on the head three times during protest 8 months ago before fabricating report pinning blame on him; commander summoned for disciplinary hearing for use of unlawful force.
A policewoman was indicted Tuesday morning for assaulting a Haredi protester at a demonstration eight months ago at Jerusalem’s Shabbat Square in the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood of Mea Shearim. She was also indicted for obstruction of justice.
In addition to the policewoman, the Police Investigations Unit (PIU) said it would summon for a disciplinary hearing the commander who presided over the dispersal of the crowds and who was also involved in the incident.
The incident occurred when the policewoman and other officers drove to Shmuel Hanavi Street in the capital after receiving reports that garbage cans had been set alight.
Shabbat Square (Photo: Eli Mendelbaum)
Under the supervision of an officer, the defendant began dispersing the crowds. After noticing one of the Haredi protesters shouting at another female officer, she approached him and struck him three times in the head, grabbed him and threw him to the ground.
According to the indictment, which was served by the Jerusalem Magistrates’ Court, the defendant then attempted to conceal her use of excessive force by filing a fictitious report claiming that the complainant attacked and kicked her and that he fell to the ground during the ensuing struggle.
The presiding commander during the protest will be reprimanded for employing excessive and unlawful force.
The indictment against the officers was submitted two days after Israel’s Police Commissioner Roni Alsheikh promised consequences after viewing footage showing violent reactions meted out by police against Haredi demonstrators protesting against IDF conscription on Sunday.
Roni Alsheikh (Photo: Avi Moalem)
Speaking at the Police National Headquarters, Alsheikh reflected on the violent clashes in Jerusalem that took place between Haredim and policemen on Sunday during the protests, vowing to take action against any officer who overstepped the boundaries of authority.
“If a policeman lost control he will pay for it,” said Alsheikh who viewed the videos showing policemen pushing the demonstrators to the ground, dragging them from the roads and throwing them onto the sidewalks, and at times kicking and punching them.
