Last update - 00:00 03/12/2006
Police arrest left-wing activist during Tel Aviv rally
By Itim
A left-wing activist arrested during a rally against Israeli presence in the Palestinian territories Saturday night will be brought before the Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court on Sunday for a hearing.
Commander of Yarkon District Police Brig. Gen. Hagai Dotan, who commanded the forces at the rally, said that the protester had tried to break a glass window of a MacDonald's branch. Police also said the man assaulted an officer with a pole he was holding.
The activist, 20, of Nahariya, sustained light head injuries in the course of his arrest.
The protesters, on their part, said police used unnecessary violence during the demonstration. According to them, no attempts had been made to break the windowpane, as they only tried to place bumper stickers on it.
As for the allegations that the activist hit a police officer with a pole, the activists said he tripped and fell holding a flag when the officer approached him. According to the protesters, police tried to present the incident as an attempted assault, but they have video footage documenting police violence against the arrested protester.
MK Dov Khenin (Hadash), who attended the rally, condemned police violence at the event. "There was no reason for police to become involved, and I regret that the policemen decided to use violence," he said.
"It was a quiet demonstration and no one tried to break windowpanes," he added.