Yitzhar incident in January
Photo: Yitzhar Spokesman
A Border Guard officer who pulled his weapon on the spokesman for the settlement of Yitzhar is to stand disciplinary trial, the Justice Ministry decided Wednesday after the investigation of the case was completed.
The incident took place in January. A Border Guard force came to the West Bank settlement in order to search the homes of students at the Od Yosef Chai yeshiva after a military jeep had its tires slashed at Yitzhar.
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A heated argument ensued, and the spokesman alerted one of the officers to the fact that his rifle was loaded. In response, the officer said, "This bullet is for your forehead."
A short while later a complaint was filed against the officer, and an investigation was launched.
"It is unacceptable, in any situation, that a police officer express himself to a citizen in such an unbecoming fashion," wrote Superintendant Shay Zarivi, the Border Guard's public complaints officer.
Avraham Binyamin, the Yitzhar spokesman, was pleased, saying that the officer's behavior "demonstrates the problematic treatment of settlers by police command".
"I hope this is a first step in rehabilitation and necessary change of police conduct in relation to Yitzhar," he added.
"Israel Police must repeatedly remind its officers that it carries out its duty for the benefit of civilians and not against them," said the head of the Yesha Human Rights Organization, Orit Struk.
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