BBC News; "Israeli troops beat Hebron police"

[Englander]

Tuesday, 5 April, 2005, 15:28 GMT 16:28 UK

Israeli troops have beaten and detained at least four unarmed Palestinian policemen in Hebron, reporters say.

The Israelis had asked the Palestinians to leave the area, news agency photographers at the scene said.

The Palestinians apparently refused, prompting the Israelis to beat, kick and butt them with rifles.

An unnamed Israeli military official told the Associated Press news agency the Palestinians were not allowed to be in the area and had refused to leave.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4413637.stm


Also at Haaretz;

IDF, Palestinian police clash in front of TV cameras in Hebron

Thu., April 07, 2005

Israel Defense Forces troops beating five unarmed Palestinian traffic police in Hebron yesterday were captured on tape by a TV camera crew, and the images of the Palestinian police being thrown to the ground and dragged off was broadcast around the world.

An Israeli military official present at the scene said on condition of anonymity that the Palestinian policemen were not allowed to be in the area where the beating took place, and that despite repeated demands for them to leave, they refused. Asked why the soldiers assaulted the policemen, the military official said, "If they don't want to come with us nicely, then we will take them not so nicely."

An Associated Press photographer who witnessed the incident said the incident began when about 12 Israeli soldiers approached the policemen and ordered them to leave the area. When the policemen refused, the soldiers began to remove them by force, at times beating them, dragging one policemen on the ground while kicking him, and hitting another on the head with the butt of an M-16 rifle. One Palestinian policemen was seen with a swollen red eye, and another with blood dripping from his mouth.

After beating some of the policemen, the soldiers shackled them and hauled them away in an army jeep. The incident prompted dozens of Palestinians to throw rocks and bottles at the soldiers, who responded by firing tear gas and stun grenades into the crowd. At least three protesters were treated for tear gas inhalation by Palestinian medics.

Hebron's Palestinian police chief, Awni Samara, said the policemen were in the Palestinian-controlled area of city and were not violating any agreements with Israel. "We are here to serve our people, and what the Israeli army did today is an indication that they do not want peace or stability in the area," said Samara

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/561474.html