Smotrich: Can Shas and J look in the mirror? Zilberschlag: Waiting for murder?

October 4, 2020   

The chairman of the National Union, MK Bezalel Smotrich, responded this evening (Sunday) to the wave of police violence against the Haredi public in Bnei Brak, Jerusalem and Beitar Illit - while slamming the Haredi MKs. "I ask myself how the Haredi members of Knesset in Torah Judaism and the Shas can look at themselves in the mirror today after they opposed my proposal to establish an investigative committee to investigate police violence against the Haredi public at the beginning of the Corona crisis," said Smotrich. https://twitter.com/C_shechter/status/1312818457923133440 Smotrich added that there is no connection between the "police rampage" against the Haredi and the enforcement of the lockdown and regulations. "The story is that the police were apparently frightened by the criticism from the media and the left about their enforcement (with silk gloves) yesterday against the left-wing demonstrators and in order to appear "balanced" they decided to enter the Haredi community today with severe brutality. Shame." MK Yaakov Litzman responded this evening to the police violence: "The violent behavior we saw today towards the Haredi is a disgrace to the police. People who are supposed to maintain law and order are violating every public norm, harming the innocent and engaging in violence against children and the weak." Litzman called on Minister Ohana to eradicate this behavior from the police immediately - and at the same time attacked the media: "At the same time, those media outlets that set the country on fire, against the police's behavior towards the demonstrators on the bridges and in Balfour in order to echo the political protest, must be viewed with severity, their voices are silenced in the face of the outcry of the Haredi who were mercilessly beaten." MK Yaakov Margi responded: "I call on Minister Ohana and the Commissioner to immediately investigate the commanders who gave the order to use such brutal violence. The Chief of Police will surely bring justice, but what about the commander who gave the instructions. "Shocking images. If it were in the territories or at demonstrations, the state would be shocked. But hitting the Haredim is allowed. We stopped talking about racism and hatred of others. I am sadder than ever." In response to the chaos and police violence on the streets of Haredi cities, the chairman of the United Torah Judaism faction, MK Yitzhak Pindros, is calling for the urgent appointment of a permanent commissioner - who will come from outside the ranks of the police. "The top command of the Israel Police has forgotten that they are facing citizens with equal rights and not enemies. Instead of acting with any sense and balance in enforcing the Corona regulations, the police today acted with unbridled violence, the result of media incitement and moral decay at the top of the police command. "The police have a variety of ways to enforce the regulations, but they chose the easy way - sending squads to the streets of Haredi cities to show their presence. The officers who signed the order were not interested in enforcing the regulations, but in refuting the media's claims about the lack of presence in Haredi cities. "If the Israel Police officers have forgotten the basic values ​​of the police - service and protection, there is no other solution than appointing a permanent commissioner who will come from outside the ranks of the police, from an organization with a civilian interface. One who will know that on the other side there are citizens with equal rights and not enemies." Media figure Dudi Zilbershlag tweeted: "Elected Haredim, part of the malicious government: you will not be able to wash your hands clean. Are you waiting for murder? You are responsible for the Iron Guards, trampling on human dignity and freedom. "They brutally beat children. Who needs representatives in the Knesset? A global outcry should be raised and the UN should be asked to send observers to all Haredi settlements in the country. The actions of the Klags are not related to enforcement.".