Netanyahu Meets With Ethiopian Soldier Following Violent Protests

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday hosted Damas Pakedeh, the Israeli Ethiopian soldier who was assaulted by police officers last week, in his Jerusalem office. Netanyahu praised Pakedeh for his hard work in the IDF and in his university studies, adding that the police would investigate the videotaped incident in which police officers used excessive force against him. He also praised Pakedeh for declaring his opposition to violent riots which rocked Jerusalem last week and Tel Aviv on Sunday evening following largely peaceful protest marches against the actions of the Israeli police and what many Ethiopian community leaders describe as longstanding racism against them by the police as well as other organs of the government and society in general. Netanyahu was scheduled to meet on Monday with community leaders as well as officials in several relevant government agencies to address the situation. Read More