Court orders cops to pay rightist they beat at West Bank protest

The Jerusalem Magistrates Court on Sunday ordered two elite Border Policemen to pay NIS 4000 compensation to a rightist whom they beat at a demonstration.

The incident occurred about a year-and-a-half ago near the settlement of Hashmonaim, where right-wing activists were rallying to call on Israel to continue settling the West Bank.

Raphael Cohen, a member of the Border Police's Yasam special unit, slapped Nahum Greenblum, one of the demonstrators, and repeatedly tried to pad him down. Gal Segev, His commander, strangled the demonstrator and threatened him with further violence.

In the court ruling, Judge David Mintz rejected the claim by the state prosecution that that the suit was unjustified since Greenblum was not substantially wounded in the incident.