From the Liveblog of
Sunday, May 26, 2024
Police clash with Haredi Jews on Mt. Meron after attempts to breach closed military zone
Israel Police forces clashed violently with crowds of ultra-Orthodox Jews on Mount Meron earlier today, after hundreds of pilgrims tried to reach the presumed gravesite of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai to mark the Jewish holiday of Lag B’Omer, despite the area having been declared a closed military zone, due to Hezbollah rocket fire.
After would-be-revelers were told that they could not enter the compound, Hebrew media outlets report that they attempted to break through police barricades, with some reportedly vandalizing the surrounding area.
In video footage circulating online, a member of the Border Police forces can be seen responding to the crowds with force. In one instance, a police officer slaps a man across the face before pulling out his gun and firing in the air.
האלימות הקשה מירון: שוטר מכה באלימות אזרח ולאחר מכן לכאורה יורה באוויר. איזו הזיה. pic.twitter.com/l6hKAxMPLJ
— אבי מוסקוב Avi moskoff (@AviMoskov) May 26, 2024
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who oversees Israel’s police forces, writes in a post on X that he has demanded a detailed account of all the instances of police violence that occurred at the religious site.
“I strongly condemn cases of police violence against citizens,” he writes, adding that those who acted violently will be held accountable.
In response to accusations of violence, the Israel Police say in a statement that 19 officers required medical treatment as a result of the clashes.
“Starting this morning, thousands of people came to the tomb compound while violating the orders from the Home Front Command and the law,” the police statement reads.
“Nineteen police officers were taken for medical treatment after iron rods, glass, and various objects were thrown at them,” the statement continues, adding that, “so far, over 1,000 unauthorized people have been removed from the site and thousands more have been blocked on the roads leading to it.”
The police add that a Border Police officer who was seen attacking an elderly man in a video has been removed from duty until the end of an investigation.
