The expulsion of the community of Amona in Shomron nine years ago was perhaps the most brutal show of unjustifiable force by police against unarmed civilians. One policeman, David Attia, a member of the Yassam commando force, was convicted in 2010 for using unjustifiable force.

However, another policeman, Moti Mahger, walked away with only a community service sentence nine years following his offense. Mahger was given six months community service after being convicted on Monday morning, 3 Menachem Av by the Jerusalem Magistrate Court. Justice Dov Pollack ordered him to also pay victims tens of thousands of shekels in compensation, referring to three youths beaten by Mahger without provocation. Mahger was found guilty on all counts and the court, in its ruling, cited how the officer used unjustifiable brutal force against unarmed civilians, yet the sentence was surprisingly light. The protesters sat on the ground, arms locked when he attacked without warning or justification.

The handling of the case by the judicial system has been bizarre. In the case of another policeman, a mounted cop who trampled civilians, he was ordered to apologize in court.

The brutal evacuation of the residents of Amona, near Ofra in Shomron, was carried out in 2005. The community’s permanent buildings were razed.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)