Police and Border Police forces were called to a house in Givat Zeev near Jerusalem this evening, Wednesday, due to a wedding that took place there contrary to regulations.
Footage from the scene shows the police arresting one of the people who was in the house with his face bleeding following a physical confrontation. Despite the police request to leave the place some of the guests refused. Some of those present began to crowd around the police and tried to prevent them from enforcing the regulations.
Police said officers were attacked using objects and bottles. The landlady received a fine of NIS 5,000. Footage from the body camera of one of the policemen who participated in the arrest shows the celebrants ignoring the calls of the policemen. Later in the video, a policewoman is seen saying to those present: "I do not want to ruin your wedding. Only the nuclear family stays, someone who is not from the nuclear family will have to leave the place now."
In response to the incident, MK Yaakov Litzman said: "I am shocked and amazed at the harsh footage from a wedding that was destroyed tonight to the cry of the guests and those holding the event, due to severe police violence. Along with the duty to observe the guidelines, such disgraceful behavior of the police officers at the scene should not be accepted. This was a loss of control, while exerting excessive force with ruthlessness and without minimal consideration.”
“Internal Security Minister Amir Ohana, if public trust in the police is important to you, immediately appoint an investigating officer for this harsh and unnecessary incident. We will not be able to remain silent in the face of these bloody and inhuman sights, and this should not be removed from the agenda. "
Shas chairman Minister Aryeh Deri spoke after the incident in a conference call with Prime Minister Netanyahu and Minister of Internal Security Amir Ohana about the event at the Givat Zeev wedding. "The incident must be investigated and the findings are due to be published. This must not be passed over in silence," said Minister Deri.
At the end of the conversation, Minister Ohana announced that he would appoint an external examiner to thoroughly examine the events of the evening.
Corona commissioner Prof. Roni Gamzu, on the other hand, said that "the police are on a complex and difficult task in order to maintain guidelines and public health. Events such as a wedding with a mass gathering cannot be held without endangering the public. True, one must behave with restraint, but with determination to prevent infection and morbidity.”
Police said: “The policewoman who documented what was happening and asked to identify the landlady, was attacked by her, so the police had to inform her that she was being detained, and asked her to accompany them several times. At this point, the rest of the household began to rage and disturb the police, with some throwing glass oil bottles, which shattered, at them. The officers arrested one of the suspects as he resisted arrest and attacked them, meanwhile slipping on the oil, and both were hit by the glass shards.”
“The police wrote a ticket for the landlady and transferred the suspect to the police station, where an MDA team was called in to provide him with medical treatment.
“Unfortunately, in the last hour, completely distorted details about the case have been circulated on social media in an attempt to discredit the police and discredit their activities, instead of condemning the person who violated the regulations, did not obey the police's instructions and attacked them. We take very seriously any attempt to harm police officers who perform their duty legally for the sake of public health,” police responded.