IsraelĀ should investigate and hold accountable members of the security forces who used excessive force against demonstrators on July 15, 2013 in two Israeli cities. Five witnesses told Human Rights Watch that police used excessive force against demonstrators protesting a draft law that would facilitate the forced displacement of thousands of Bedouin residents of Israelās southern Negev region.
Mounted police, border police, and riot police violently dispersed nonviolent demonstrations in Sakhnin, in northern Israel, and riot and border police beat demonstrators in Beer Sheva, in the Negev, witnesses told Human Rights Watch. At least three protesters from Sakhnin and two from Beer Sheva were hospitalized. In Sakhnin, demonstrators said, security forces attacked the protest using mounted police and teargas. Video footage viewed by Human Rights Watch corroborates their statements. Israeli news media reported that eight security officers were ālightly injuredā during the protests.
āSecurity officials literally trampled on Israeli citizens who were demonstrating peacefully on July 15,ā saidĀ Joe Stork, acting Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. āIf those responsible for unjustifiably injuring protesters go unpunished, it would send a dangerous signal that Israeli authorities will not tolerate peaceful protests.ā
Protest organizers called on Israel to withdraw government-proposed legislation to resolve the status of tens of thousands ofĀ Bedouin citizensĀ of Israel who live in villages that IsraeliĀ authorities do not recognize as lawful. Israelās parliament approved a first draft of the legislation, known as the āPrawer Lawā after the official who drafted an earlier version, on June 24. Israeli officials have estimated that carrying out the law would forcibly displace 30,000 Bedouin from āunrecognizedā communities, moving most of them to government-planned townships. Rights groups estimate that up to 40,000 Bedouin could be displaced.
