Slippery Slope

According to Palestinian witnesses, IDF soldiers used tear-gas grenades and rubber-coated bullets to disperse Palestinian protesters near Ofer prison, which is situated at Qalandiya Checkpoint. Dozens of Palestinians were treated by medics, mostly for tear-gas inhalation, though there are reports of at least one serious injury, apparently from a rubber-coated bullet hit to the head. (Haaretz)

(Hebrew – Haaretz)

Israeli troops detained Nasser Shiyoukhi, an Associated Press photographer, during West Bank unrest over the weekend, handcuffing him and forcing him to sit on the ground without food or water or access to a bathroom for roughly five hours. (AP)

(Hebrew – HaAyin HaShvi’it)

Two soldiers were video-taped firing live bullets at Palestinian youths throwing stones near road 356 in the West Bank, even though none of the soldiers’ lives were in danger and their position granted them a significant advantage over the youths.  One of the youths was injured during the incident. (B’Tselem)

(Hebrew – B’Tselem)

After it was reported that an 83 year old woman was raped by an Eritrean asylum seeker, dozens of right-wing activists and residents of southern Tel-Aviv held a demonstration demanding that the state expel African migrants and left-wing activists. (Haaretz)

(Hebrew- Walla!)

The Jerusalem small claims court has ordered the police to pay 7,000 NIS to right-wing activist Itamar Ben-Gvir as compensation for an illegal arrest during a demonstration against the deal with Hamas for the release of Gilad Shalit.  Right-wing activist Benzi Gupstein, who was detained but not arrested during the same demonstration, will receive 2,000 NIS in compensation. (Ynetnews)

(Hebrew – HaKol HaYehudi)

According to the 2012 annual report on the state of human rights in Israel, compiled by the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI), new regulations were adopted in Tel-Aviv and Jerusalem which significantly limit the right to protest, by requiring special permits in order to set up tents as well as for other protest actions.  In Tel-Aviv, the municipality acted in an unequal manner toward activists with different agendas.  In Jerusalem, a protest encampment set up by social activists was dismantled, while its occupants’ personal belongings were confiscated. (ACRI)

(Hebrew – ACRI)

Seventeen Palestinians were injured and at least 10 arrested during West Bank demonstrations against Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip. Some of the wounded suffered serious injuries.

According to an activist’s facebook post, soldier fired live ammunition at a group of stone throwing youths during the weekly demonstration in the Palestinian village of Nabi Saleh.  Later in the day the soldiers fired gas grenades and rubber coated bullets into houses in the village, injuring 4 of the residents.  A young girl was injured by a bullet, and a boy sustained cuts to his face.

(Hebrew – Facebook)

Foreigners and left wing activists were assaulted during a demonstration demanding the expulsion of foreigners held at the Tel-Aviv-Yafo neighborhood of HaTikva.  In addition, the headlights and windows of a vehicle in which foreign nationals were driving were smashed, as well as the windows of stores owned by asylum seekers.  During the demonstration speeches were made by members of Knesset Danny Danon (Likud), Miri Regev (Likuds), and Michael Ben-Ari (National Union).

(Hebrew - Walla)

(Hebrew - Twitter)

The police decided to pass on to the Justice Ministry Police Investigations Department several severe complaints about police brutality towards demonstrators, during a demonstration to support Palestinian prisoners outside of Ramle prison two weeks ago.  The complaints include the use of tasers on demonstrators, punching and kicking bound detainees, sexual harassment and use of racist, demeaning and abusive language. (Haaretz)

(Hebrew - Haaretz)