On January 28, 2021, we appealed to the Police Commissioner following numerous testimonies on the use of water cannons and skunk water in ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods in Jerusalem, Beit Shemesh, and Bnei Brak, in complete violation of police protocol. The appeal was written by Sivan Tahel and Attorney Reut Shaer of ACRI, alongside Yaron Jackson and Attorney Efrat Bergman-Sapir of The Public Committee against Torture.
The appeal details incidents of using water cannons and skunk water in quiet and empty streets free of disorderly conduct; spraying directly into closed structures; toward private windows and balconies; and at businesses and vehicles – all while intentionally targeting individuals unengaged in disorderly conduct, including children and infants. The description of the incidents raises grave concern that the police systematically used water cannons and skunk water as a means of enforcement and punitive measure against the entire population in the area, and to deter civilian presence in public spaces – unrelated to dispersing disorderly conduct.
The appeal also notes that use of skunk water and water cannons in this manner, violates the guiding principles put forth by a Supreme Court ruling, along with police protocol. Among other things, this means is reserved for severe public disturbances, expressed through violent resistance, and upon the anticipation of grave harm to public safety of persons or property. We demanded that penal use of this mechanism cease immediately, that the incidents in which such use took place against protocol be investigated, and to ensure the moderate and procedural execution of future use.
In reply, the police rejected our claims and justified their conduct regarding all the incidents, without relating to the detailed documentation and testimonies we presented regarding violating the law and police protocol.
In view of the severity of one of the incidents described in our appeal, we found it appropriate to contact the commissioner once more, and implore those in command to enforce the protocols. We requested that a guideline be established in which the forceful use of dangerous means such as water cannons and skunk water against civilians, remain a last resort – when the genuine risk and anticipated harm of refraining from their use, clearly exceeds the harm that may be caused as a result. We further requested the assurance that police officers who make illegal use of means of demonstration dispersal, be prosecuted or harshly addressed disciplinarily and authoritatively, and will not be permitted to come into contact with civilians.
"The violent organizational culture that belittles the health and lives of citizens among minority groups such as the ultra-Orthodox population, must fundamentally change," the petition notes. "If such a fundamental change does not occur, heaven forbid, we are liable to witness further cases wherein unrestrained police conduct will needlessly claim civilian lives."