Jerusalem – Video footage of a police officer pulling his sidearm, pointing the pistol at violent haredi (ultra-Orthodox) protesters and stating “Who wants a bullet?” during a anti-conscription riot in Jerusalem Monday night has resulted in an investigation.
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The riot followed the recent arrests and imprisonment of two members of the Jerusalem Faction, an extremist haredi organization that opposes all cooperation with the State over mandatory ultra-Orthodox enlistment in the IDF.
Rabbi Shmuel Auerbach, has called on his followers to protest the arrests, as well as the High Court of Justice’s decision to strike down the law exempting ultra-Orthodox Jews from compulsory military service while they are studying at yeshivot.
In the video, the unidentified officer can be heard issuing the threat while walking aggressively toward a crowd of dozens of protesters with his pistol in his right hand at the intersection of Sarei Israel Blvd. and Yaffo Street.
According to police, moments before, when the officer arrived at the scene, his SUV was besieged by protesters who rocked it back and forth and pelted it with rocks and other objects while shouting insults.
“During the riot by members of the ultra-Orthodox community, the officer’s vehicle was surrounded and blocked by a number of protesters who threw rocks at it, began rocking it and shouted at him,” said Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld.
“For his own personal safety, he exited the vehicle and pulled out his gun, which at no time was discharged,” he continued. “Ten arrests were made against people throwing rocks and blocking roads and the light rail.”
Still, on Tuesday police issued a statement saying the officer was summoned before his commanders shortly after the incident to explain the circumstances that led to the threat.
“The incident is being looked into,” confirmed Rosenfeld.
On Tuesday afternoon, another anti-conscription riot took place in Bnei Brak, an ultra-Orthodox city east of Tel Aviv, where 25 haredi protesters were arrested for throwing rocks and blocking roadways.
Rosenfeld said that the protesters gathered at a major junction just after 1 p.m. where they proceeded to halt traffic and pelt police vehicles with rocks.
The investigation into the officer who pointed his gun at the demonstrators Monday night follows last month’s violent clash between police and haredi protesters during another anti-conscription confrontation in Jerusalem that led to allegations of police brutality.
At least three demonstrators were hospitalized for injuries after being kicked, punched and dragged by responding officers.
That protest was organized by the fundamentalist, anti-Zionist group Eda Haredit, after 40 ultra-Orthodox men, including the grandson of a prominent rabbi, were arrested for refusing to serve.
After video footage of the melee surfaced, Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan and Police Commissioner Roni Alsheich condemned what they deemed excessive force by police as unacceptable, and called for an investigation since launched by the Justice Ministry.
What a pity he did not use it – A few shots to some of the legs would do the trick.
Crying I want to sit and learn, Torah is so important, and then waste their time on this stuff? The only answer is induct them into the army, not to make make them great warriors, but to make them menchen. This senile Aurbach is masking them chayas.
And of course some people here will justify this dictator government!!
Someone using the label “glalitzyaner” seems to be siding with the rioters? One wonders if there is even a hint of understanding of the nature of the “glalitzyaner” culture.
clearly this is excessive force, the police allow the Arabs to throw rocks at them and do nothing but cowher since they don’t wish to be another Elor Azaria, Zionism is on its deathbed why should Torah learners waste their time on this movement that is going the way of utopianism? The Zionist police abuse the hilltop youth even more.
The Police say that the protesters threw rocks at this officers SUV. This is classical Israeli Police lies, to cover up the fact that they brutalize chareidim all the time. Even the secular press is beginning to realize this and report on it.
I understand #1 . How dare Rabbi Auerbach encourage his followers to attack Jews? Because that’s exactly what they are doing & they are too stupid and cultified to even get that what they are doing is AGAINST Torah. But the police & soldiers are scared of these bullies & their gang leader. It’s time they took back our cities from these thugs.
The sad thing is, Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach ZT”L, had the complete opposite view. His son proves that sometimes, the apple rolls far from the tree.
I only wish the secular press would understand & interview Chareidim who vehemently oppose this harassment. There are many of us, but we never get a chance to express our disgust. I hope they read these comments.
In the US, those rocking the SUV would’ve been shot to death even before the cop got out of the car. The chareidim have a tremendous sense of complacency and entitlement. I guess it’s a short jump from expecting that you’re gonna be supported in learning without having to make a parnassah, to thinking you can attack cops and sholom al yisroel.
Totally unprofessional conduct by the policeman. Wasting his time asking stupid questions. He should have just started shooting.
This show–demonstration , was instigated by the ‘gadol ‘ aurbach ‘ to show that he’s the biggest macher in israel. The idea of having off on bein hazmanim should be canceled . These students should be forced to sit in their bes medrash directly after yom tov where the should study the laws pertaining to menchlekait ,not vilde chias It cost money to bring out the police and restore order and the yeshivas should pay that bill.
look at the bochurim who are demonstrating ,carefully.They are smiling and having a good time ,provoking their police who are responsible for the safety of people and the street. Who in heaven’s name think that this bad behavior of the students is in anyway beneficial to their future as members of society?Where are their supervisors, teachers and parents ?A bunch of hooligans in black hats take over the street and endanger the lives of people, and their leaders remain silent?A disgrace on their teachers and yeshivas.