‘Black flag’ protesters demanding that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu resign said they intended to demonstrate outside the Prime Minister’s Residence in Jerusalem on Monday, hours after they were cleared out by the police.The demonstrators accused the police of using violence, and one of them, Roi Peleg, filed a complaint that he was injured by officers.“One of the inspectors pulled out a knife and cut me in the forehead when he came to cut the sign I was holding,” Peleg told Ynet.The organizers of the protest issued a statement saying they were permitted to be at the protest site near the Prime Minister’s Residence.“This morning at 5:40 a.m., a group of about 30 policemen, police officers and city inspectors attacked the encampment at Balfour [Street] and the demonstrators, who are permitted to be there,” the organizers said. “Without identifying themselves or presenting any [court] order, they began to violently confiscate the protesters’ private property, without an explanation as to why the property was seized. Police and inspectors removed signs hung… in coordination with police yesterday, and inspectors clashed with civilians.” MK Moshe Ya’alon (Yesh Atid-Telem) tweeted that the police action came at the bequest of Netanyahu. “By force, by violence, by intimidation, without presenting a legal order, and with a rampage that caused civilian injuries and equipment destruction, Netanyahu is trying to suppress the protest and fortify the dictatorship. It won’t help him!” he tweeted.The Jerusalem Municipality and the Jerusalem Police later issued a statement denying the claims.“This morning, again, the equipment that was placed without a permit and disturbed the peace was removed. Every allegation of use of violence has been examined and found to be false,” the statement said.The police statement said officers arrived at the site following complaints from residents of the area about noise and blocked sidewalks.Netanyahu faces charges of fraud, bribery and breach of trust.
Protesters evacuated near PM’s residence, vow to return
The demonstrators accused the police of using violence, and one demonstrator, Roi Peleg, filed a complaint that he was injured by officers.
