Israeli Suspect Questioned About Assault on anti-Netanyahu Protesters

An Israeli man was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of attacking protesters against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Binyamina Junction on Tuesday.

The suspect, 28 years old and from the northern town of Pardes Hannah, was held briefly and released, but the investigation continues.

A protester who was present, Zeina Zimmer, said the suspect was driving a truck and violently assaulted one of the protesters at the intersection. She said “the driver got off and grabbed one of the protesters by the shirt, ripped it and threw him on the ground, making him fall on his back, and then he sat down on him and started beating him.”

Zimmer said another passenger got off the truck and attacked the protesters as well, and tried to grab a flag carried by one of them.

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That protester “was using her phone like a camera, and so they left,” Zimmer said. “The truck driver shouted at her and tried to grab the telephone. Police arrived a few minutes later.” She said bottles had been thrown at them and that they had previously been cursed at, “but this time a red line was crossed.”

Hundreds of protesters have reported being spat at, shoved, pelted with things, called “traitors” and attacked with pepper spray over the months of demonstrations against Netanyahu.