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Large police contingents gathered in central Tel Aviv. Social justice activists protested the previous day's arrests. "(E)xcessive force" confronted Leef and others. A dozen or more arrests were made.
Democratic rights were spurned. Police called legitimate rights illegal. Haaretz said dozens of peaceful protesters were arrested. Police targeted them violently.
On June 24, Haaretz headlined "Violence sponsored by the state," saying:
"We can only hope that the attempt to forcibly silence the social protest won't succeed. But the police's illegitimate action reveals system-wide contempt for the foundations of Israeli democracy.""The inability to come to terms with legitimate protest is another worrisome stage in the government's disparaging approach to protecting democratic society."
Over the weekend, police "acted violently." People demonstrated against excessive force, arrests and injuries.
They're entitled to confront them forthrightly. Free societies don't tolerate brute force. Democratic rights are inviolable.
Police "must immediately change (their) outlook and behavior toward legitimate acts of protest."
Haaretz contributor Gideon Levy said "Israelis must put a stop to the political police. Something very bad" is happening. Once loved police are now hated. Once temperate, they're now violent.
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