In the video: the commissioner on the protests: "Protest - a cornerstone of democracy, backs up the policemen" (photo: police spokeswoman)
Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai made a statement to the media this evening (Saturday), before the planned demonstrations across the country and after the criticism the police received after the wave of demonstrations on Wednesday due to the violence the police used against demonstrators, including using stun grenades and stun grenades.
During a tour he conducted at the center of the central demonstration in Tel Aviv, the Commissioner encountered a protester, and said in response to her complaints about the conduct of the police: "Our job is to protect you, the whole deployment here is supposed to protect you, but as soon as the policemen are hurt there is nothing to do.
If you decide to go down and block Ayalon we will have to prevent (this) from you.
Even the right to protest has limits," he emphasized.
Shabtai continued, "No policeman comes here to confront, our job is to maintain order.
Let us do the work.
As soon as you attack policemen and break barriers - don't be surprised.
Before they threw a stun grenade, four barriers were breached.
I hope we pass the evening in peace without arguments."
Last night, the Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir instructed the commissioner to clarify to the commander of the Tel Aviv district, Superintendent Ami Ashad, his policy regarding roadblocks during demonstrations. Ben Gvir made it clear that "freedom of expression is a fundamental right and it is important to be careful and protect it at all costs, but At the same time, my policy is that it is not allowed to block major transportation routes (for example: the Ayalon road, the coastal road, the Jerusalem
Tel
Aviv road, etc.) and the disruption of the fabric of life due to demonstrations and protests should not be allowed.
The national disruption", the police used means to disperse demonstrations, including stun grenades and mortars.
The police claimed that they were used after violence was used against police officers.
As a result of the clashes, 11 protesters were injured and needed hospital treatment, and dozens of people were arrested.
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Kobi Shabtai
Israel Police
demonstrations