A special police unit, which usually battles violent Palestinian rioters, has been tasked with enforcing health regulations meant to curb the spread of coronavirus. Patrolling mainly Haredi neighborhoods, Jerusalem's security forces find themselves under daily physical and verbal attack.

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The number of coronavirus infections in the Haredi neighborhoods and city have been among the highest in the country since the start of COVID-19 outbreak in Israel, prompting lockdown on cities of Bnei Brak and parts of Jerusalem.

Jerusalem police officers on duty ( Photo: Amit Shabi )





The chief of Police Central District's Yasam Unit, Chief Superintendent Ronen Hazot, says enforcing health regulations is a task just as difficult as the unit's "regular" work. "I get eggs and rocks thrown at me, I'm already used to it," said the 44-year-old father of three.

The Yasam unit is Israel Police's Special Patrol Unit, which specializes in riot and crowd control, and other special operations. The unit numbers some 240 police officers, including cavalry, motorcycle and drone units.

Chief Superintendent Ronen Hazot, the chief of Police Central District's Yasam Unit ( Photo: Gil Yochanon )

Lately, the unit has been called upon to deal with riots in the capital's ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods, with some of its residents ignoring and staging mass protests against the government's health restrictions.

One of the main COVID-19 hotspots has been the neighborhood of Mea She'arim, where police officers are constantly confronted with stern resistance upon entering the quarter, which includes rocks, metal bars, glass bottles and with vicious slurs.

Chief Superintendent Ronen Hazot overseeing police officers on duty ( Photo: Amit Shabi )

"I try to ignore the name-calling," said Hazot, referring to the ultra-Orthodox protestors calling them "Nazis" during riots and interventions. "It makes me feel bad, but we try to rise above it."

Regarding an incident last week, where a nine-year-old girl has suffered burns from a stun grenade, Hazot said he deeply regrets the incident but the police forces are doing their utmost to avoid harming the innocent civilians.

Jerusalem District's Yasam Motorcycle Unit patrolling the capital's streets ( Photo: Amit Shabi )

The Justice Ministry has since then opened an internal probe into the matter.

As to whether enforcement in the Palestinian East Jerusalem is stricter than in the Jewish area of the city, Hazot said the Jerusalem District as a whole is very "dynamic".

"We do not treat any population in a more hostile manner," he said. "Every place will have its small and violent contingent that will violate the public order. When it is broken, we will use the power [to enforce it] given to us by law."

"Any officer who exceeds his authority – will be taken care of accordingly," he added. "If we see cops using excessive force, we take them back and restrain them."