Dozens of residents of the southern Bedouin town of Rahat attacked police officers on Friday after they stopped a driver for traffic offenses. Two officers were injured and required hospital treatment.
The incident began after officers stopped a vehicle, the driver of which was not wearing a seat belt and had an expired license, Hebrew media reported. The driver then fled the scene, sparking a chase after the car.
When policemen eventually managed to stop the car, three passengers emerged armed with a club and rocks, and called on other residents to attack the officers.
Dozens of residents then assaulted the cops. Two men were arrested.
זה מה שקרה הערב ברחוב אל סלאם "השלום"בעיר רהט שבנגב pic.twitter.com/LDlkalDLne
— sami abed alhamed سامي عبد الحميد (@samiaah10) May 25, 2018
Video of the brawl appeared to show an officer in civilian clothing slapping a suspect in the face as the latter was led away by police. It was unclear what prompted the incident and whether it happened before or after residents clashed with the police officers.
Police did not immediately comment on the video.
תיעוד של שוטר שסוטר לעצור במהלך פעילות למעצר נהג ללא רישיון ברהט. מהמשטרה נמסר כי נהג הרכב החל בנהיגה פרועה והשוטרים אחריו. 3 הנוסעים ירדו אל השוטרים עם אבנים ואלות. השוטרים הותקפו בידי עשרות תושבי רהט שיידו לעברם אבנים.
אחד מהנוסעים נעצר בתם מאבק ושימוש בטייזר יחד עם תושב רהט pic.twitter.com/DcjqMY3I0u— ilana curiel (@ilanacuriel) May 25, 2018
“We view with great severity the attack on police officers as they came to carry out their work for public safety and enforcing the law,” police said.