Following a series of serious incidents that occurred yesterday during the 'Hapeleg' protest, during which police officers from the Jerusalem and Central Districts used stun grenades and olive spray in a dangerous and unlawful manner, the Association for Civil Rights today (Tuesday) appealed to the Commissioner-General and the Deputy Legal Advisor to the Police, demanding that they investigate the cases - and to refine the laws and procedures for dispersing demonstrations for all levels of the police force.
In news reports about yesterday's events, police were seen throwing stun grenades directly at protesters.
""We have contacted the police more than once regarding the dangerous and illegal use of stun grenades," Attorney Eden Gilad of the Association for Civil Rights noted in the letter. "Following our last request, the police procedure on the matter was updated, and it was determined that stun grenades should not be thrown less than 5 meters from the protesters.".
Also, at one of the demonstrations, a fire extinguisher was recorded spraying foam at the protesters - in direct violation of the legislative amendment that went into effect less than a month ago, which states that fire extinguishers must be operated with clean water only and without any added substance.
The use of the Maktzait also included direct spraying from a minimal distance and towards the heads of the protesters, contrary to police procedure which states that direct spraying should be done from a distance of at least 20 meters from the protesters and not towards their heads.
In light of the various recordings showing police officers acting in violation of the law, including a report of pepper spray being sprayed directly into the eyes of protesters, the association demanded that they be investigated and that procedures be tightened at all levels of the police force.
