Sen. Nis Guetta, the officer in charge of conducting the demonstrations in Balfour, Kfar Hayom (Wednesday) in the Rishon Lezion Magistrate’s Court on the facts of the indictment filed against him at the end of November 2020 Balfour in Jerusalem.
Police violence against protesters in Balfour. Photo: Prime Minister
Sen. Guetta, through his attorney Advocate Adi Carmeli, claimed at the court hearing that he acted in the same illegal demonstration out of fear and threat to his body as well as for fear of contracting the corona virus. He said six policemen were injured during the same violent demonstration and therefore the actions he took including repelling protesters were proportionate and reasonable.
Leaving the court hearing, as he made his way to his vehicle, a number of protesters waited for Sen. Guetta to insult him and shouted at him, “Guetta you are a criminal.” Security guards and police officers who were at the scene secured the area until he left.
In court, the senior police officer’s lawyer filed a detailed response to the indictment filed against him, claiming that the demonstration took place in violation of the law, and moving to that demonstration was evacuating a tent that actually caused harsh and violent reactions from the protesters.
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He further claimed that this was a sensitive environment – the prime minister’s house and the whole purpose of the demonstration was to provoke provocations and confront the police.
Advocate Carmeli added that the demonstration used proportionate force as it should have and not one that had passed the criminal threshold.
According to him, according to the police guidelines, incidents of disorder are not recorded on body cameras and therefore he will not be able to prove his claims with objective evidence on his behalf. Sen. Shaham has served in the police force for 25 years and at the time of the incident served as the Lt. Col. of the Zion Region.
As can be seen from the response to the indictment, the complainant in the case was the one who teased the police officer, cursed at him and called in condemnation of the police officers while calling them “zeros”.
According to him, at one point the complainant clung to the defendant to zero range, tilting his face into the defendant’s face “while shouting at him ‘zero’. .
Sen. Shaham claims that the complainant entered his work area and prevented him from performing his action as required.
Advocate Carmeli said at the hearing that they deny what is attributed to Guetta in the indictment. “We deny all the facts in the indictment,” he said. “DIP surrendered to public relations and filed an indictment in violation of the law and procedure.”