Boaz Albert
Boaz AlbertYitzhar Spokesman

Boaz Albert, the Yitzhar resident who was severely tasered by Yasam forces in the course of an arrest he wasn’t resisting, on Sunday filed a complaint against the offending officers with the Police Investigation Department (PID). Albert, who is being represented by Attorney Adi Keidar of the Honenu organization, is demanding a full investigation into the use of tasers by police during the course of arrests.

Albert, a wine-maker and father of six from Yitzhar in Samaria, was banned from his home last week when the IDF issued an administrative order that he stay out of Samaria. Albert and his wife decided to ignore the order, as he would he unable to earn a living to support his family if he could not tend to his vineyard, he told Arutz Sheva, adding that no reason had been given for the issuing of the order.

Albert was dragged from his home and arrested for the crime of having come to visit his wife and children despite an administrative distancing order prohibiting him from entering the region. A video was released over the weekend showing officers violently arresting him, in front of his wife and small children, who are seen crying hysterically as their father is shocked over and over.

Speaking to Channel Two, Albert's attorney said that he hoped the PID would thoroughly investigate the violence used against his client.

“I would like to believe that the photos and video we saw will shock the justice system in Israel, as they did the citizens of Israel who saw them. I hope the PID will act without hesitation to expel from the police department the officers who acted in such a violent manner, and that the violence we witnessed will never repeat itself.”

Honenu director Shmuel Meidad said that the violence employed by police during the arrest was uncalled for and unnecessary.

“Too many times we are witness to violence by the authorities, much of it directed against residents of Judea and Samaria. I call on the heads of the police to investigate the matter thoroughly, and I am sure that in the future police will figure out how to do their jobs without excessive violence, especially when there are small children involved.”

As a result of the uproar over the arrest, Israel Police chief Yohanan Danino has ordered an immediate suspension of all taser use. He has also appointed a committee to evaluate the effectiveness of taser use in detaining arrestees.