Rabbonim affiliated with the Eida Chareidis seem to feel that Jerusalem police is taking a tougher policy against shabbos protestors who come out weekly to protest the city’s operating Karta parking lot on shabbos. These protests have been held almost weekly for the past three years, since Jerusalem City Hall decided to offer the parking lot to visitors to the capital who find parking on shabbos difficult.

In reality, the weekly protest rarely receives media coverage as it has turned into a regular event and usually non-violent in line with instructions from Eida rabbonim. Eida rabbonim however feel it is important to continue the protests towards containing the damage, that is to say they feel by protesting it is their hope that the trend of operating businesses on shabbos will not spread.

This last shabbos protestors found their hats and eyeglasses were flying, with participants reporting police used batons freely as many sustained painful blows. According to a Chadrei Chareidim report, the ‘brutality’ of police compelled protestors to take to the streets and violence followed.

An Eida official reported that an officer by the name of Nissim Edri arrived and he ordered arresting two protestors, a move that he felt would serve as a deterrent to calm the others. The man in custody pleaded to walk to the nearby Russian Compound detention center as to avoid being driven in a vehicle on shabbos, which was met with threats that charges against him would now include interfering with a police officer.

Chadrei quotes Rav Yitzchak Weiss of the “B’Yosher” chareidi rights organization stating he received numerous complaints from people who were present shabbos, citing police brutality including intentionally breaking eyeglasses. Anyone with a complaint is urged to phone 02-532-3776 and leave a message. Those who feel they were victims of brutality are also urged to file complaints with the Justice Ministry’s Police Investigations Unit.

Jerusalem Police spokesman Shmulik Ruby responded to the report, stating “200 chareidi protestors tried to block HaNevi’im Street. Police responded by asking them to disperse a number of times. They did not comply. At the end, police dispersed them while making one arrest as protestors hurled stones and shouted “Nazi” at police.

Ruby added that any protestor who feels he was the victim of brutality may file a complaint with the Justice Ministry’s unit.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)