Human rights organization B'Tselem on Friday published new video
footage depicting additional light clashes between recently suspended
Lt.-Col. Shalom Eisner and demonstrators last weekend.
The skirmishes started after one of the pro-Palestinian activists bumped into a soldier on the scene with his bike.
In response, Eisner struck the activist and four others nearby.
The altercation appeared to have begun when the activists were trying to
push past the soldiers, who were preventing them from
entering a restricted area.
On Wednesday, IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz decided to dismiss Eisner from his post as deputy commander of the
Jordan Valley Brigade, after the officer was captured on video slamming
his M-16 into a Danish activist's face. The initial
video only recorded Eisner striking one activist.
According to Gantz's decision, Eisner will not be able to serve in a
command position for two years and will not take up his planned posting
in the summer as deputy commander of the Bahd 1 Officers Training
School. The decision, however, allows Eisner to remain in the IDF.
Gantz’s move was based on the findings from OC Central Command Maj.-Gen.
Nitzan Alon’s investigation into the incident, which took place on
Saturday, and found “serious ethical flaws” with Eisner’s conduct.
Alon and Gantz also discovered professional mistakes with the way Eisner
and his troops had prepared for the bicycle demonstration that was led
by Palestinian and European activists on Road 90. Eisner claimed he
had been attacked by several of the demonstrators and that he hit them
with his rifle to disperse the demonstration.
Yaakov Katz contributed to this report.