Israel Matzav

Fire him!

Border police officer Refael Cohen is going on trial again - this time for kicking a revenant during an outpost evacuation. No, not the one pictured above. That revenant - whom Cohen has in a chokehold - is Amihai Merhavia HY"D. Merhavia was killed in the battle of Bint Jbeil during the Second Lebanon War and that picture was taken in 2002. In fact, if you go to thnk above, you will see that Merhavia lost consciousness as a result of the 'tender loving care' he received from Cohen.

But Cohen remains with the border police and this time he's going on trial for kicking a woman.

The Police Investigations Unit decided Monday to put on disciplinary trial Israel Police Special Patrol Unit officer Refael Cohen, who is accused of hitting a female settler during the evacuation of West Bank outpost Ramat Migron last October.

Cohen has already had three complaints filed against him in the past, and was forced to pay compensation to a settler whom he beat during an operation in the West Bank.

In footage recorded by Channel 10, Cohan is seen kicking the woman while she is already lying on the ground. Another video shows other officers spraying tear gas at protesters, without any apparent reason.

"We got complaints of officers spraying tear gas on passive protesters, grabbing women in their private parts and pulling protesters by their hair," Orit Struck, director of the Judea and Samaria Human Rights Organization wrote in a complaint filed with the Police Investigations Unit, which led to the launching of an investigation against Cohen.

Three years ago, while evacuating an outpost in the Binyamin area, Cohen was filmed slapping settler Nahum Greenblum, and was put on disciplinary trial following the incident. Cohen also faced a civil lawsuit, and was forced to pay NIS 4,000 in compensations to Greenblum.

In 2002, Cohen was investigated on suspicion that he strangled Amichai Merhavia while evacuating Havat Gilad. Merhavia was killed four years later during the Second Lebanon War. The case was eventually closed.

Not only should this guy pay damages if it turns out he did this - he should be banned from the border police.

By the way, note that all his brutality appears to be directed toward revenants. People who live here will not be surprised by that.

Labels: Israeli border police, police brutality, revenants

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:35 AM