President Reuven Rivlin on Tuesday called on Israelis to de-escalate tensions as numerous clashes between police and civilians occurred across the country in recent days over the enforcement of the COVID-19 lockdown.
“This is not a conflict between citizens and the Israel Police. There are no protests against the police in our streets. There is criticism, which is sometimes extremely harsh, but the anger is not directed at them," Rivlin said during a visit to the Israel Police’s traffic division command center. "I believe that none of us wants to live in a country where anarchy reigns, in a country where there is no respect for the rule of law or law enforcement agencies.”
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Police clash with an ultra-Orthodox crowd at the funeral of a prominent religious figure in Ashdod
Rivlin spoke to senior police officials in support of the men and women of the force
Police are facing growing challenges as protests against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu across the country persist while flouting a new law meant to curb anti-government demonstrations during the lockdown.
Recurrent crackdowns on gatherings within the ultra-Orthodox communities have also created ugly images of crowds hurling stones and objects at forces and officers battering civilians.
“I view with concern the political discourse that has been created around the directives to control the coronavirus pandemic and I pray, all the time, that we do not descend into baseless hatred. Freedom of worship and freedom to demonstrate are two fundamentals of our democracy and we must do all we can to allow them as far as possible, in line with the current directives.”
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President Reuven Rivlin during his visit to police traffic division command center
(Photo: GPO)
“It is precisely at times like this that you need patience and forbearance. I know that I am asking for you to show levels of empathy and self-control that are sometimes impossible. And I ask you to remember that we have no other country, no other police and we must trust them, the police officers and the police, which has only the people’s security and welfare at the forefront of their minds.”