Police accused of brutality at Jerusalem protest

Protesters against proposed plans to export much of Israel’s natural gas, as well as government budget cuts, met with stiff police resistance Saturday night when they attempted to march on the Prime Minister’s Residence in Jerusalem.

The approximately 250 protesters encountered a large police presence, including Border Police, mounted police and a water cannon truck, according to protest organizers.

Participants in the protest charged police with use of excessive force after at least one individual was injured. One man, Yishai Oltchik, wrote on Facebook that a police officer had kicked him for no apparent reason, and that mounted police officers trampled other protesters as well.

Police spokesmen Mickey Rosenthal said officers arrested seven protesters — including two of the organizers of the demonstration — after they impeded the Jerusalem Light Rail, causing significant delays. Six were released after questioning, and one remained in custody for charges of disturbing the peace.

Rosenthal denied charges of excessive force, noting that the protest “was not coordinated with police” and that the demonstration was met with “no police brutality whatsoever.”

The activists voiced opposition to the government’s consideration of measures to export up to 50 percent of Israel’s recent natural gas finds as well as sweeping austerity measures, including an increased value added tax, recently approved by the Netanyahu government.