The Israeli police have filed an official complaint against Arab Knesset member Ayman Odeh head of the Joint List accusing him of insulting one of its officers and refusing to follow instructions.
The police claimed that Odeh on Saturday verbally attacked one of its officers in the Bnei Zion Hospital in Haifa after he wanted to visit Jafar Farah chairman of the Mossawa human rights group who was injured and arrested in a protest the day before.
According to Yedioth Ahronoth website Odeh was denied entry to Farah’s room by police officers posted to guard him as they were ordered not to let the detainee receive guests.
Although Odeh identified himself as a member of the Knesset officers refused to provide him entry and treated him disrespectfully which provoked him into calling one of them “worthless.’
Last Friday during a demonstration in Haifa in solidarity with the residents of Gaza and their recent protests on the border with Israel the police attacked the participants and arrested 21 of them two of them minors who were released later.
“Police forces brutally oppressed the protest without any explanation” Odeh accused Friday. “(Premier Benjamin) Netanyahu’s government wants to silence any voice of resistance and dissent coming from here to silence any voice that embarrasses it and its actions. I am full of appreciation for the protesters tonight and the immense sacrifice of the detainees. No police brutality will succeed in silencing us.”
Among the detainees was Jafar Farah. During his detention Farah was assaulted by the Israeli police and his knee was broken.
Odeh then took to social media to express his anger asking “What is he under arrest for? Why is he shackled when he is hospitalized? And why are we being prevented from asking the doctors how is he doing?”
“Soon we will demonstrate in front of the police station against its fascist activities” he continued though stressed that the “police are only a tool in the hands of the government and its leader who lead a policy of criminal incitement against us (Arabs).”
“We will not turn our backs on our duty to our people. We will not turn back on our struggle against this criminal government” he concluded.
