Rabbi Zamir Cohen issued a sharp and emotional appeal to Israeli police officers on Thursday morning, comparing the use of force against protesters to discarding a Torah scroll, according to a video circulated by his office. The message comes amid ongoing controversy over police handling of protests.
Rabbi Zamir Cohen, a prominent religious figure and head of the Hidabroot organization, released a video statement Thursday morning directly addressing Israeli police officers. In the message, Cohen forcefully criticized the use of force against protesters, saying it was "like throwing a Torah scroll." The statement arrives amid a controversy over police conduct during recent protest dispersals, which drew condemnation from United Torah Judaism MK Meir Porush on Wednesday. Porush had called on Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai and involved officers to resign, comparing police tactics to those used in Turkey and Iran, as The Zioneer reported. Cohen's appeal adds a prominent religious voice to the public debate, framing the issue in stark moral and Jewish terms. The video has been widely shared on social media. The specifics of which incident or protest Cohen was referencing were not detailed in the statement.
- DevelopingUTJ MK Meir Porush calls for police chief and officers involved to resign over protest dispersal
- DevelopingUTJ MK Meir Porush accuses police of violent protest dispersal unworthy of Jewish or democratic state
- DevelopingJournalist Yotam Zamir accuses police of excessive violence against Haredi protesters
- DevelopingPolice forcibly clear protesters blocking road in Israel
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