Israeli Ethiopian Jews clash with police in anti-racism protest

The Israeli riot police have fired stun grenades and water cannon on thousands of ethnic Ethiopian Jewish citizens in other to clear one of the most violent protests in memory in the heart of Tel Aviv.

Al Jazeera reports that the protesters, Israeli Jews of Ethiopian origin, were demonstrating on Sunday against what they said was police racism and brutality after a video clip emerged last week, showing policemen shoving and punching a black soldier.

Demonstrators overturned a police car and threw bottles and stones at officers in riot gear at Rabin Square in the heart of Israel’s commercial capital.

Israel’s Channel 2 television reports that tear gas was also used, something the police declined to confirm.

“I’ve had enough of this behaviour by the police, I just don’t trust them any more … when I see the police I spit on the ground,” one female demonstrator, who was not identified told Channel 2 before police on horseback had charged.

Al Jazeera‘s Mike Hanna, who attended the protest, said the Israeli Red Cross earlier in the evening said at least 40 people, including 23 police officers, were injured.

“All suffered light injuries to the head and upper body,” Hanna said.

Israeli police later in the evening said at least 46 officers had been injured.

It was learnt that the protest began peacefully when demonstrators brought evening rush hour traffic to a standstill for more than an hour by blocking one of the city’s main highways.