Israel Matzav

Police officer charged with violence

The wheels of justice grind slowly in Israel. As investigations into police brutality in 'Amona' at the end of January get under way, a police officer who was present there has been indicted for breaking a demonstrator's jaw at a protest against the disengagement expulsion of Jews from their homes that took place at the entrance to Jerusalem this past summer:

A Jerusalem police officer has been charged with causing grievous bodily harm to a man present at an anti-disengagement demonstration that took place at the entrance to the city last May.

Avishalom Levy, 25, said Supt. Yehiel Amsalam attacked him for no reason and broke his jaw during the demonstration. "I was at the entrance to Jerusalem to visit my parents, who live close by, and not because of the demonstration," he said on Wednesday.

In trying to disperse the demonstrators, who had blocked the road, Amsalam and other officers beat up a demonstrator who had shouted at them, said Levy.

"The officer stood at the top of the flight of stairs by the roadside and shouted to the other policemen, 'Lethally hit everybody...kill everybody,'" said Levy.

He climbed the stairs to read Amsalam's name tag, but when he was level with the officer's feet, Amsalam ordered him to go back down the stairs.

"However, before I could do anything, the policeman kicked me in the face with all his might, causing me to fall down the stairs and onto the road," said Levy. He said he still had not totally recovered. "When I open and close my jaw there is a noise," he said, adding that his jaw still hurts.

A police spokesman wouldn't permit an interview with Amsalam, but said the use of force against the demonstrators was justified.

By the way, the picture of the indicted police officer - who looks like he is 'removing' a 12-year old girl - was taken by the broken jaw victim according to the credit on the web page.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 7:19 PM