Behor Shitreet, the Israel Police Minister, reported today an investigation of police action in the recent rioting in Haifa had produced no justification for police firing at a drunkard which touched off the day-long disturbance.
The rioting, in which 11 police and an unknown number of North African immigrants were wounded, led to appointment of a special commission to investigate the outbreak. Originally a three-man group was named by the Cabinet and subsequently enlarged to five men by the Knesset, Israel’s Parliament.
The commission will open hearings Tuesday with Judge Moshe Etziony presiding. The other members are Yaacov Klebanov, a member of the Knesset, Rabbi Abu Chaitzra of Ramleh, Prof. S. Eisenstadt, chairman of the Hebrew University sociology department, and Ram Saloman, an attorney.
The hearings, which are expected to last several days, will help clear up many misunderstandings that have developed recently giving the impression that the police are too energetic in their action in matters that can be settled by a tactful approach. They will also clear up the false impression prevailing among North African immigrants that the police authorities are prejudiced against them.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
