Israeli army officer brutally assaults activist

An Israeli lieutenant colonel, caught on camera hitting an unarmed pro-Palestinian activist in the face with his rifle, has been "suspended pending an inquiry". This was announced on Monday by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Israeli army officer brutally assaults activist The video - that surfaced on YouTube and was also broadcast on Israeli television - shows Lt. Col. Shalom Eisner hitting the activist - a Danish citizen - with his M-16 battle rifle. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reacted late last night to condemn the incident, and assert that "such conduct is not characteristic of IDF soldiers and commanders", and that it had "no place in the Israeli army and the state of Israel". Army chief Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz also commented on the behavior of the officer, to say that he regarded it as a serious incident: "The incident does not reflect the principles of the IDF and will be carefully investigated." The incident happened on Saturday when some 250 activist, mostly Palestinian youths from the West Bank, rode on their bicycles along the Jordan Valley in silent protest against the Israel occupation policies in that Palestinian territory. At one point they were stopped by Israeli soldiers after which a clash erupted. The soldiers were hitting activists and throwing away their bicycles. Four activists were transferred to the hospital, suffering from head and back injuries. Analysts are saying today that the incident damages Israel's image on the day when the country's government prevented the arrival of pro-Palestinian activists, who wished to enter the West Bank from Israel in order to draw the attention to the Israeli occupation. The Israeli officer hits an activits (Beta/AP Photo/International Solidarity Movement) Tanjug

Israeli army officer brutally assaults activist

The video - that surfaced on YouTube and was also broadcast on Israeli television - shows Lt. Col. Shalom Eisner hitting the activist - a Danish citizen - with his M-16 battle rifle.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reacted late last night to condemn the incident, and assert that "such conduct is not characteristic of IDF soldiers and commanders", and that it had "no place in the Israeli army and the state of Israel".

Army chief Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz also commented on the behavior of the officer, to say that he regarded it as a serious incident:

"The incident does not reflect the principles of the IDF and will be carefully investigated."

The incident happened on Saturday when some 250 activist, mostly Palestinian youths from the West Bank, rode on their bicycles along the Jordan Valley in silent protest against the Israel occupation policies in that Palestinian territory.

At one point they were stopped by Israeli soldiers after which a clash erupted. The soldiers were hitting activists and throwing away their bicycles. Four activists were transferred to the hospital, suffering from head and back injuries.

Analysts are saying today that the incident damages Israel's image on the day when the country's government prevented the arrival of pro-Palestinian activists, who wished to enter the West Bank from Israel in order to draw the attention to the Israeli occupation.