Israel Police reports a violent incident occurred involving residents of the Shomron community of Yitzhar, when police who were summoned to the community were attacked by a number of “lawless persons” as the police statement refers to them. Police report the officers were “attacked with unbridled violence in an effort to harm them”. An investigation into the incident has been launched and efforts are ongoing to apprehend the attackers.

In the incident, as seen in the accompanying photos, a police vehicle was damaged by the attackers as well.

The Yitzhar Vaad released the following statement to police: During Shabbos, a number of residents went for a walk near Yitzhar. At the end of their walk, which passed without incident, and contrary to police claims that there were confrontations between Arabs and the Jews, they returned to the community. While they stopped to rest, border police stopped and instructed them to return to the community, using unjustifiable force against them.

Members of the community explains they do not have video evidence because it was Shabbos but they point out that just a few short days ago, border police violently attacked and arrested an autistic chareidi youth in Jerusalem, and there too, they claimed he attacked police.

“We call on Minister of Public Security Erdan to conduct an in-house inspection regarding the light hand that police officers have towards using violence against civilians and about the culture of lies that prevails in the organization”, the residents add.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)