Google News
West Jerusalem, Israel - An incident unfolded in the Mea Shearim neighborhood of West Jerusalem yesterday, as Israeli police reportedly used physical force against members of the orthodox Jewish group, Neturei Karta, after they displayed a Palestinian flag in an area predominantly inhabited by ultra-Orthodox Jews.
Neturei Karta: A Unique Perspective
Neturei Karta is not a typical ultra-orthodox Jewish community. What distinguishes this group is its outspoken opposition to the State of Israel and Zionism on religious and moral grounds.
Their support for Palestine has earned them international attention and, in some instances, criticism from other Jewish groups. The event was captured on footage shared by the International Organization of Anti-Zionist Jews on various social platforms, showing the seemingly harsh intervention by the Israeli police.
🚨🇮🇱 Israeli police BRUTALIZE pro-Palestinian Orthodox Jew in Jerusalem.
🇮🇱 Israel is a TERRORIST STATE! #HinkleCensored pic.twitter.com/H4BlooqTCt — Jackson Hinkle 🇺🇸 (@jacksonhinklle) November 1, 2023
Accusations of Discrimination and Bias
Concerns over potential bias in law enforcement have been echoed by various groups, including Amnesty International.
Saleh Higazi, speaking on behalf of the organization, commented on the broader situation, stating, “The evidence gathered by Amnesty International paints a damning picture of discrimination and ruthless excessive force by Israeli police against Palestinians in Israel and in occupied East Jerusalem”.
Higazi went on to express concern about what he termed a "discriminatory crackdown," suggesting that Jewish supremacists were permitted to organize their demonstrations without facing similar repercussions. Disturbing extremist social media messages from Jewish supremacists, such as "Tonight we are not Jews, we are Nazis," were cited as evidence of unchecked inflammatory behavior.
Higazi further elaborated: “The few Jewish citizens of Israel arrested were dealt with more leniently. Jewish supremacists also continue to organise demonstrations while Palestinians face repression." The heart of the issue, according to Higazi, is the perceived bias against Palestinians, with the majority of those arrested in the recent police crackdown being of Palestinian descent.
He argues that the police crackdown appears to be an act of "retaliation and intimidation to crush pro-Palestinian demonstrations." In light of these events and concerns, Amnesty International is urging the UN Human Rights Council’s recently-announced Commission of Inquiry to thoroughly investigate the purported pattern of violations by Israeli police.
This incident underscores the complex political and social landscape in the region, and as tensions escalate, the call for impartiality and fairness in law enforcement becomes ever more critical.