The Eida Chareidis has filed an official complaint with police against police. The letter to the Jerusalem police commander refers to Shabbos protests against chilul Shabbos, accusing police of using unjustifiable force against civilian protesters. Of late, protests have increased as the worrisome chilul Shabbos increases as well R”L.
The letter explains “As you know, in recent weeks there has been an increase in chilul Shabbos in the holy city of Jerusalem, and the Eida Chareidis has given the order to protest. The elders and rabbonim of the Eida Chareidis are pained over the chilul Shabbos that is unfortunately increasing”.
It is explained protestors were at Davidka Square when an “especially violent group of police arrived and began striking young and old without discrimination, including elderly heads of the Eida, who were hit in their heads. This includes the elderly Rav Yechiel Cohen Shlita and R’ Yaakov HaCohen Ratta Shlita. they were knocked to the ground and kicked mercilessly like the last of the criminals.
Moreover, during the recent protests to inflame the situation and probably intentionally sent police officers to check the chareidi public, and use offensive words to the protesters, threatening, kicking and smiling knowing that this interferes with the chareidi protestors who remain true to safeguarding modesty.”
The letter continues that the Eida will continue Shabbos protests as it eels responsible to act tow safeguard the holy city and the holy Torah. The Eida calls on police to act in light of the unjustified brutality and actions of those personnel who responded to the Shabbos protest.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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5 Responses
Ratta? Do you mean ראטה, which is always spelled in English, Roth?
Please YWN, you need some editorial consistency.
Fair request from Eida if protestors act respectfully to police.
Here’s some background (Perhaps the translator was in too much of a rush to translate this letter completely):
The police only intervene when the demonstrations turn violent, which the Eida’s demonstrations generally do. These demonstrations take place on Shabbos, causing great chillul Shabbos due to the great number of police officers that must be deployed, again because of the violent nature of these protests.
The letter is protesting the use of FEMALE officers, which the Eidah feels compromises the modesty of the men who are being arrested.
Of course, they could solve this problem themselves by not being violent and not having the demonstrations on Shabbos.
Zionflag, only if they acted respectfully? So if a couple of hotheads speak out of turn the police are allowed to strike protestors? Is this the medina you’re so proud of?
It’s about time the police were called to task over their frequent thuggery.
It’s only when their heads get beaten do they care, but when hundreds of regular people do, no one cares.