IDF soldier Damas Pakada, 19, a member of the Ethiopian community, was beaten by police without provocation in an apparent racist attack.

This event angered the Israeli Ethiopian community, leading to widespread protests that turned violent at times. Pakada met with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu following the incident, which led to the dismissal of the officers involved.

Pakada has now filed a civil suit against the officers who beat him seeking 390,000 NIS in compensatory damage. The defendants named in the suit are police officer Yan Subichky and a police volunteer. The lawsuit was filed in the Tel Aviv Magistrate Court by Pakada’s attorney, Eyal Abulafiya. The lawsuit details even when Pakada had to be transported to the hospital for his injuries he was still restrained both his hands and feet. At some point the policemen agreed to release his hands to facilitate the medical treatment.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)