Gantz says it was a ‘mistake’ for IDF troops to man protest roadblock

Defense Minister Benny Gantz says that it was a “mistake” to deploy IDF troops alongside police at a roadblock to prevent a protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu near the Knesset, after video emerged earlier in the day of a demonstrator telling one soldier that he should be “ashamed of himself.”

Gantz calls for the Israel Defense Forces and Israel Police to remain outside partisan fights.

“The government sets the policy. Leave the police and IDF out of political debate. Israel Police officers are deployed day and night, carrying out work of the utmost importance, and are enforcing the rules of the lockdown alongside IDF troops, who are assisting them,” Gantz says in response to the video.

In the footage, a protester is seen yelling at a soldier at a roadblock near the Knesset, saying he shouldn’t be there. The soldier was one of hundreds loaned to the police to bulk out their forces during the national lockdown.

שמאלניות אנרכיסטיות מטרידות ומקללות חיילים ושוטרים במחסומים… ????

בושה וחרפה!!! pic.twitter.com/Wc0HjZNNmj

— Moti Tal (@Mot_Tal) September 29, 2020

“I roundly denounce the attempt to attack [soldiers and police] carrying out their duty. At the same time, stationing IDF soldiers next to a protest point was a mistake that has already been dealt with and that will not be repeated,” he says.

— Judah Ari Gross