Two police volunteers suspended for shouting support for Netanyahu at protesters

The Israel Police said Monday it had suspended from service two of volunteers who used the loudspeaker system in a patrol car to shout support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at anti-government protesters.

The incident was caught on camera as the vehicle passed under the Neurim Bridge near Kfar Vitkin in the central region of the country. Black Flag movement activists on the footbridge were participating in a regular rally held at the site against Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption, and in protest of the government’s handling of the coronavirus outbreak.

As the car drove under the bridge a voice was heard declaring, “Only Bibi,” a slogan, using a nickname for Netanyahu, that is popular among his supporters.

Police said in a statement that a probe of the incident revealed there were two police volunteers in the vehicle who acted “contrary to the norms expected of every volunteer as soon as he puts on a uniform.”

The volunteers were immediately suspended and their continued service with the force would be reviewed, the statement said.

There has been tension between anti-government protesters and police that has on occasion erupted into violent clashes against the backdrop of enforcement of virus lockdown restrictions limiting protests.

New measures passed last week bar Israelis from traveling more than a kilometer from their homes to protest and limit demonstrations to socially distanced groups of 20, although they apparently also allow for multiple groups of 20 in areas with sufficient space for social-distancing between the groups.

The approval of the restrictions was seen as a blow to the weekly demonstrations outside Netanyahu’s official residence in Jerusalem.