A young man who was badly beaten during a protest in Amona was granted NIS 35,000 compensation for a resulting disability.
Binyamin Frankel, a young Land of Israel activist, arrived in Amona in early 2006 to protest the planned destruction of several Jewish homes. Before the day was over, Frankel was airlifted to hospital with injuries sustained when he was beaten by a police officer – injuries that left him with disabilities that doctors believe will be permanent.
This week, more than three years later, the government has been ordered to compensate Frankel for his disability. The Netanya Magistrates Court awarded Frankel NIS 35,000.
Frankel argues that he was viciously attacked by policeman David Edry, despite the fact that he was protesting non-violently and had not resisted arrest. Edry beat him with a baton, hitting his neck repeatedly, Frankel says. He required hospital care, and was later determined to have a 10 percent disability due to the incident.
Edry has also been charged with attacking protester Yehuda Etzion, who was trampled as Edry rode through the crowd on horseback. Etzion suffered injuries as well. In addition, policeman Edry has been accused of beating a young protester who stood next to Frankel; that protester has filed for damages as well.
Frankel attempted to bring criminal charges against Edry, but the case was closed due to lack of evidence. Frankel was not deterred, and chose to continue his struggle, receiving help in identifying Edry from the Yesha Organization for Human Rights.
The Yesha Organization for Human Rights has been involved in several cases stemming from the violent suppression of the Amona protest, and has helped those who say they were beaten by officers to identify their attackers and file charges.