Some 1,000 members of Israel’s Ethiopian community protested in Jerusalem on Thursday night 11 Iyar. Organizers explained the protests were the community’s response to police brutality against the community, which was sparked by the beating of an IDF soldier, an Ethiopian, by a member of Israel Police in Holon.

It should be added that policeman was suspended and Police Chief Yochanan Danino announced the officer is going to be ousted from the department. The chief condemned the actions of the officer in the harshest of terms, promising such behavior cannot and will not be tolerated on the force.

Nevertheless, members of the Ethiopian community in Israel feel they are too often targets for police brutality and generally nothing is done to protect their rights.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Thursday night called for calm at the demonstration being held in Jerusalem. “I strongly condemn the beating of the Ethiopian IDF soldier and those responsible will be held accountable. However, no one is allowed to take the law into their own hands. The immigrants from Ethiopia and their families are dear to us and the State of Israel is taking many steps to ease their integration into society. We will continue to do so in the next government as well”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)