Policeman Fires Gun During Bnei Brak Demonstration, Children Violently Thrown Out Of Ashdod Talmud Torah

BNEI BRAK (VINnews) — In a worrying escalation of police actions against the Chareidi population over the implementation of coronavirus regulations, a policeman fired his gun during the course of a Bnei Brak demonstration over the closing of a Talmud Torah. The demonstration was organized by the Jerusalem Faction after the Grodna Talmud Torah in Ashdod which is affilliated with the faction was closed by police, who were pictured throwing young children to the ground as they removed them from the precinct.

תיעוד מטריד מאשדוד, שוטר זורק ילד, זה לא אכיפה זה אלימות, התיעוד המלא בכתבה: https://t.co/UGHHf4W9Jh pic.twitter.com/1SDVp0Xlni

— חיים גולדברג (@haim_goldberg) January 24, 2021

The policeman in Bnei Brak claimed that he had felt danger to his life while patrolling near the demonstrators. There were even claims by police that stones had been thrown but video clips show that he was not in any danger and was merely trying to disperse the crowd of demonstrators around him.

צפו בסרטון הזה, אין אבנים אין אלימות יש צעקות, אני לא רואה פה סכנת חיים שמצדיקה ירי חיי, הזיה pic.twitter.com/6QELp6vK09

— חיים גולדברג (@haim_goldberg) January 24, 2021

Policeman fires gun during Bnei Brak demonstration

The disturbing events in Ashdod and Bnei Brak led to another demonstration in Jerusalem organized by the Eda Chareidis to protest the belligerent police actions against Chareidim. At the same time Chareidi MKs held a meeting in Bnei Brak to protest police violence and the use of weapons during a demonstration.

Minister Yaakov Litzman said at the meeting that “police violence is not an unusual occurrence but what I saw today is a shocking escalation. Today police used a live weapon. We cannot countenance police violence and certainly not the use of weaponry. I said at the cabinet meeting that at this rate the next phase will be a call by the Defense Minister to use the air force.

“Even MKs from outside our sector claimed that this was an extreme and unjustified act. We demand an external investigation, not police investigation. I insist that this should be investigated by the State Comptroller. It doesn’t matter who shot but rather who gave the order. Whoever it is -we will make every effort to ensure that he will not serve in the Israeli police. This is an election period but we will not leave this alone.

“We will stand strong like a wall and we have gathered to express the joint view of all the parties that from today police should not employ extreme tools against our sector. We didn’t see during the violations in Tel Aviv of many people or at Balfour [outside the Prime Minister’s residence] such enforcement and if there was a slight increase in enforcement the entire country raised an outcry. We insist on knowing who is responsible and ensuring that it ceases.”

Other Chareidi MKs as well as Bnei Brak mayor Avraham Rubinstein spoke out against the use by police of stun grenades and live weapons but stressed at the same time that they oppose any violence against police. They added that the way to effect change is through education and communication and not by use of violence by police or by youths against the police.