Police probing YouTube clip comparing police to Nazis

Clip compares special patrol officers to Nazi soldiers; video believed to have been produced by far-right elements.

By YAAKOV LAPPIN
israel police beating people_311 (photo credit: Screenshot)
israel police beating people_311
(photo credit: Screenshot)
The Israel Police have launched in investigation into a videoclip that was uploaded on YouTube last year comparing the force’s Special Patrol Officers (SPOs) to Nazis.
“Why are SPOs called Nazi? Spot the differences,” is the title of the video.
The clip is believed to have been produced by far-right elements.
It alternates between Holocaust- era footage of Nazi brutality towards Jews and scenes of Israeli police hitting people who appear to be settlers.
A national investigation unit will be heading the investigation, Police Insp.-Gen.
Yochanan Danino said in a letter.
Danino said he viewed the film in a severe light, adding that he vehemently rejected any attempt to target police officers carrying out their duties and attempts to delegitimize his officers.
He ordered the head of the investigations and operations branch, Cmdr. Yoav Seglovitch, to launch an immediate investigation into the clip.
The Human Rights Organization of Judea and Samaria said in a statement that it was “forbidden” to compare Israel Police officers to Nazis.
“At the same time, the person who edited the shocking clip had footage at his disposal documenting cruel and severe violence,” said Orit Struk, head of the organization.
“Therefore, alongside the shock that comes from the very comparison, the new police commissioner should watch... the clips documenting the authentic and criminal violence of his officers, and be shocked by the violence of the officers,” Struk said.