The police officer who was filmed kicking a protester on his head during the Peleg Yerushalmi protest last week was questioned on Thursday by the Police Internal Investigations Department, Channel 12 News reported.

The investigation was launched after videos circulated from the protest, showing the officer kicking a protester who was lying on the ground, among other acts of violence by officers, including throwing stun grenades directly at protestors. Other officers humiliated protestors by deliberately ripping their pants off in the middle of the street..

Shortly after the videos were published, the police announced that the officer seen kicking the protester had been immediately suspended from operational duties pending clarification of the circumstances surrounding the incident. The police also officially acknowledged that “there were officers who did not act according to procedures.”

Shas MK Yoav Ben Tzur of Shas submitted a motion to the Knesset this week on the issue of “Police Violence Against Chareidi Protesters.”

“The shocking footage reaching us in recent days should keep every citizen of the State of Israel awake at night,” Ben Tzur said. “Police officers are acting with brutal, unrestrained violence and injuring Chareidi protesters until they bleed. These disturbing scenes expose a painful truth — a flawed policy of selective, discriminatory, and outrageous enforcement has recently taken root within the Israel Police.”

“Kaplan protesters are addressed through loudspeakers and negotiations, while the batons, beatings, and stun grenades are reserved for Chareidi protesters. And I cry out from the Knesset podium: Why? Is Chareidi blood less red than that of other citizens?”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)