Six arrested for assaulting Kohelet staff in Jerusalem

Six women were arrested on Sunday after entering the Jerusalem offices of the Kohelet Policy Forum, and verbally and physically assaulting employees.

The six trespassers were from the “Wall Breakers” organization affiliated with the mass demonstrations that have aggressively opposed the government’s efforts to remake the legal branch.

According to reports, they threatened workers at the conservative think tank that is considered the brains behind the legislative proposals being pushed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition in the Knesset. Police were called, and the six women were taken in for questioning at the Moriah police station.

One of the Kohelet employees wrote on her Twitter account that “a woman attacked me today at my workplace. She cursed and shouted and ran towards me quickly and tried to hit me. Another called my friend a ‘violent Ashkenazi’ because my friend refused to be humiliated next to her. This must not happen in a democracy. This must not happen, not happen at all. The incitement against the Kohelet Forum is dangerous—don’t ignore it, the writing is on the wall here.”

“Today, incited protesters broke into the offices of the Kohelet Forum and attacked its employees. For many minutes, they went on a rampage inside the offices, pushing and attacking the employees,” the public policy think tank said in a statement.

The organization said that it was filing a complaint with the police.

Last month, hundreds of Israeli army reservists protested outside the Kohelet offices. The Kohelet protest was put on by the Brothers in Arms reservist group.

Seven people were arrested at the Kohelet protest for attempting to block the entrance to the building. Video from the scene showed piles of cement bags and wire coil fencing along with protest signs at the front door.