From the Liveblog of
Monday, August 5, 2024
Police officer charged with assault of journalist during unrest at soccer game
Jeremy Sharon is The Times of Israel’s legal affairs and settlements reporter
The Department of Internal Police (DIPI) Investigations has filed an indictment against a police officer serving in the Jerusalem district for assaulting prominent journalist Chaim Levinson during disturbances at a soccer game outside Teddy Stadium in January.
According to the indictment, a confrontation between soccer fans broke out next to one of the stadium entrances in the capital and police were deployed to the scene, including the officer in question, to disperse the confrontation.
Levinson, who was close to the confrontation and had videoed the scene, approached the police officer in question, challenged him over his handling of the unrest and then accused of him assaulting fans involved in the disturbance, while continuing to record the incident.
According to the indictment, the police officer tried to seize Levinson’s phone, and then “wrapped his hand around his neck in a chokehold and forced the complainant down,” only releasing him after Levinson cried out that he couldn’t breathe.
But the police officer then grabbed Levinson’s glasses and smashed them into the wall.
The officer has been charged with assault.
Levinson writes on X following the announcement of the indictment that he feels the indictment was brought only because of his public stature, a sentiment he says is strengthened by the fact that the officer was not indicted for punching another fan in the head during the same incident.
“We, the soccer fans, get the worst possible police services. They don’t protect us from violence but attack us violently, and no one is brought to account,” writes Levinson. He also denounced National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who has authority over the police, for politicizing the force.
“I am a small point in the process in which the police is being dismantled of its neutrality, the minister is rejoicing, and the prime minister is silent,” adds Levinson.
The indictment is the latest in a series of such charges leveled by DIPI against police officers for violent behavior since the Public Defender’s Office publicly rebuked the department for failing to crack down on the phenomenon at the end of June.
