An unprovoked attack on a Danish, pro-Palestinian peace activist on the West Bank has led to the suspension of an IDF (Israeli Defence Forces) officer and provoked a strong reaction from Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
A video, posted on You Tube, shows the officer slamming his M16 rifle into the face of the blond-haired protestor who falls to the ground before being helped up by fellow activists. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu condemned the actions of the officer in The Jerusalem Post, saying ‘this behaviour does not characterize IDF officers and soldiers, and has no place in the IDF or in the place of Israel’.
After the officer was suspended pending the completion of an investigation into the incident, the pro-Jewish settlement Yesha Council claimed that the Dane was an enemy of the Jewish state and condemned the Israeli political and military establishment for its ‘hysteria’ over the incident, saying that Israel is more concerned with its image abroad than protecting its soldiers.
The incident took place on Saturday during a cycling tour around the Jordan Valley by European, Israeli and Palestinian activists.