A video of Kobi Levy, a 36-year-old combat dog from Ashdod who is recognized by the Ministry of Defense, who was arrested last night by police after boarding a bus in Bnei Brak with his guide dog - drew harsh reactions from the police and the Minister of National Security this evening (Wednesday). The shocking video shows Levy sitting inside a bus line 350 of the 'Afikim' company in Bnei Brak - and police arrest him with severe violence. The police officers involved have been suspended from operational activities until the investigation is complete. It all started when the driver refused to allow him to board the bus with his dog, even though he presented a service dog certificate - and declared that he would not continue driving until he got off. The confrontation with the driver, in front of all the bus passengers, ended with the police being called and Levy being arrested by the police, who also ignored the certificate in his possession, using violence, threats with a Taser and leaving him in a detention cell for 5 hours - without water for the dog. In a conversation with Nina Fox on the Ynet website, Levy said: "I returned from visiting a bereaved family. On the way back, I waited for the bus with Morpheus, my dog. When the bus arrived, the driver refused to let me on, even though I showed the service dog's ID. The driver said he wasn't ready for me to get on, stopped the bus, and said he wouldn't continue driving until I got off. I begged him to show me the ID and that I was a disabled person and that didn't interest him. He spoke dirty words and called the police. "Five police officers arrived. I told them I was a disabled person and showed them the dog's ID. But that didn't help. After a few minutes, they told me I was being detained. One of the police officers tried to put handcuffs on me. I told them that handcuffs were not allowed because I deal with a mental disability. They used force, injured my hands, and took me in a van to the police station. "The officer told me to enter the cell. I told him they weren't allowed. He replied: 'If you don't enter, I'll taser you and your dog.' I entered with handcuffs on my hands, and after a few minutes they wanted to take Morpheus to a dog kennel in Tel Aviv. They tried to take him, but he wouldn't come out to them. "I sat in a detention cell for five hours, without shoes, and they wouldn't let me put a bowl of water in Morpheus. After five hours, they released me without questioning. The policeman who arrested me and beat me cursed at the officer who sent me home." "Right now I feel terrible. They disrespected me. It's a really humiliating feeling on a bus in front of people. I felt really broken, it's a terrible feeling of humiliation. Sitting in a detention cell for 5 hours? For what? And the fact that it happened the day before the IDF Wounded Veterans' Appreciation Day is very sad and shocking. "I'm very scared, I cry a lot, my hands hurt a lot. "They laughed at me, so that I would hear it all the time," he added painfully. "I heard one of the police officers say four times, 'I made him like a tahini,' and it's humiliating. And I can't calm down at all.".
The police stated that "Tel Aviv District Commander, Superintendent Haim Sargaroff, views with seriousness the incident that occurred last night in Bnei Brak, during which a citizen was arrested on a bus by police officers, in a manner that goes against the values of the Israel Police. "In light of this, he has instructed to conduct an immediate investigation of the incident and to suspend the police officers involved from operational activity until the investigation is complete." National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir responded: "The Israel Police did well to suspend the police officers who violently arrested a combatant who boarded a bus in Bnei Brak with a guide dog. On my watch, I will not accept any kind of violence, certainly not towards combatants who defended the State of Israel with their lives - we will do everything to preserve their honor." Electra Afikim said: "We sincerely apologize to the passenger. The driver has been suspended until a full investigation of the incident is completed, and after receiving the final findings, a disciplinary investigation will be conducted accordingly. We are holding dedicated meetings with all drivers and company employees and are refining procedures to prevent similar incidents.".
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