Israel mulls charges over police teen beating
Authorities say probe into beating of US-Palestinian supports view officer could be guilty of “severe violent crimes”.
Israeli authorities say they are considering launching criminal charges against a police officer who allegedly used “excessive force without any justification” after arresting US-Palestinian teenager Tariq Abu Khdeir.
The Israeli Justice Department said in a statement on Wednesday that evidence from an investigation into the beating of the 15-year-old last week supports suspicions that the policeman could be guilty of “severe violent crimes”.
The department said the officer has been suspended from duties for 15 days while authorities consider further measures.
Khdeir, a US citizen who lives in Florida, was observing a Palestinian demonstration on Thursday while on vacation in East Jerusalem, when he was allegedly arrested by police who assaulted him while handcuffed.
He suffered a broken nose, jaw and injuries to the eyes.
The protests he attended the district of Shuafat were over the murder of his cousin Mohamed Abu Khdeir, who was kidnapped and burned to death allegedly in revenge for the killings of three young Israeli settlers last month.
Video footage of the incident has drawn international outrage, with the US demanding an investigation.
Following pressure that led to Khdeir’s release from detention, an Israeli court sentenced him to nine days of house arrest and prohibited him from visiting Shuafat again.