The Israeli police officer who was caught on camera beating an Ethiopian Israeli soldier in April will not be charged.
Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein announced on June 14 that he was closing the case, which led to violent protests by Ethiopian Israelis throughout the country. Israel Police reportedly will still discipline the officer, who was suspended shortly after the incident.
A Justice Ministry investigation found that the soldier, Damas Pakada, instigated the clash by refusing to leave an area closed off due to a suspicious object. A ministry statement said the film of the incident was reviewed carefully, including in slow motion, and showed that Pakada first pushed the policeman, who responded with force to remove the soldier. Also, the ministry said that it cannot prove the officer hit Pakada because of racism.
The officer, identified as Y in an interview in May, has insisted he did nothing wrong. — jta