Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir ordered the police to refrain from using water cannons in demonstrations by the haredi public, Channel 13 News reported on Tuesday.
According to the report, the heads of the Israel Police said that there is logic in this directive, and as such the use of water cannons in the demonstrations held by haredim and residents of Judea and Samaria will be stopped, just as was done in the demonstrations on Balfour Street in Jerusalem a year and a half ago and in those against the legal reform in Tel Aviv.
The turning point for Minister Ben Gvir came on Monday, during haredi demonstrations on Geula Street in Jerusalem, when the police were documented using violence against the demonstrators.
When the local police forces were prepared to use a water cannon in that demonstration, Minister Ben Gvir ordered the command staff at the police to investigate why violence was used against the demonstrators, which ultimately led to the water cannon being taken out of use.
In essence the minister received a kind of "promise" from the leadership of the police that they would no longer use this tool, but only as a last resort, in a life-threatening situation.