_a.jpg "Photo: Gil Yohanan")
Amona clashes
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Mounted officer charged with Amona assault
Police files first indictment against mounted officer charged with trampling over protester during outpost's evacuation
A first indictment was filed against a policeman who took part in the evacuation of the illegal Amona outpost to the Jerusalem Magistrates Court Sunday. The Police Investigation Unit (PIU) indicted David Edry, an officer of the capital's mounted police unit, for assault and causing injury.
According to the indictment, in the framework of the police's attempts to disperse protesters during the violent clashes between settlers and security forces in the outpost, the accused spurred his horse and galloped at one of the activists, Yehuda Etzion, who was at the time standing and talking to another person.
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Edry, the indictment states, raced his horse at Etzion's direction, exceeding reasonable speed, and struck the activist, causing him to fall on the ground. He then continued to trample over Etzion with his horse.
As a result of Edry's actions, Etzion hit his head on the ground and sustained bruises to his body, which also caused internal hemorrhaging in the leg and a cut to the head.
The Yesha Human Rights organization has recently filed a series of complaints to the PIU against police officers, claiming they attacked protesters in Amona using unnecessary force. The organization's Chairman Orit Strock told Ynet: "We believe that after this indictment there will be dozens of others against the policemen who acted in a criminal fashion in Amona. We call on the PIU and the internal security minister to immediately suspend the horseman, as required according to a High Court ruling."
In response to the indictment, the Yesha Council stated that "we laud the decision and hope that all those responsible for the violence in Amona are brought to trial. It's important to note that as in any other failure, the responsibility does not lye only with the low ranks, and the involvement of the political echelon, as well as of those who gave the orders, needs to be examined."
"Only a national commission of inquiry can conduct a thorough investigation of the matter," the council's statement read.
Members of the Council have also questioned the timing of the indictment. "Did anyone have an interest to postpone the matter until after the elections, in order not to jeopardize Olmert's prospects?" they rhetorically asked.
