In recent years, particularly amid the violent suppression of protests against the judicial reform, public trust in the Israel Police has been lost. This is the culmination of a long process that went as far as appointing a convicted felon as the minister in charge, but began long before that, when police violence was directed at Israel’s “backyard,” and then seeped into society at large. The web series “Blue Marks,” produced by Akevot Institute, focuses on this violence through conversations with representatives of communities that are in constant conflict with the police and with retired senior police officers. In six episodes, the series tries to understand when and why the Israel Police lost the public’s trust, and why it continually fails when interacting with people who have mental health issues, members of the Jewish-Ethiopian community, members of the ultra-orthodox community and others.
Director: Matan Ben Moreh
Blue Marks looks at police violence in Israel through conversations with former senior police officers and representatives of communities that are in constant conflict with the police. In six episodes, the series tries to understand when and why the Israel Police lost the public’s trust, and why it continually fails when interacting with people who have mental health issues, members of the Jewish-Ethiopian community, members of the ultra-orthodox community and protesters.
6 episodes
The first episode of Blue Marks revisits the history of policing in Israel and around the world, as it seeks to understand how the Israel Police was shaped and what organizational culture it developed. Two former senior police officers offer opposing perspectives about the level of police violence in Israel but ultimately reach the same bleak conclusion - public trust in the police is gone.
Runtime: 15 minIn the second episode of the series, ACRI’s Freedom of Protest Coordinator, Sivan Tahel describes how the Israel police forces employ different tools depending on the community they are engaging with. Tahel highlights the lethal methods used in interactions with individuals with mental health issues, which have resulted in six deaths at police hands in recent years.
Runtime: 11 minThe third episode of Blue Marks focuses on the Israel Police’s treatment of the Jewish-Ethiopian community. The death of Yosef Salmasa after a particularly violent arrest spurred the establishment of Imahot al Hamishmar (Mothers on Watch), a movement that protests wherever police violence and racist profiling are used. The group warns: When a large, powerful group ignores police violence against a minority, that violence will end up reaching it too.
Runtime: 8 minFor decades, protests by the ultra-orthodox community have been a touchpoint for police violence. Episode 4 of Blue Marks tries to uncover why the police are so heavy-handed with this community, whether these practices endanger the lives of protestors, and how all this is connected to the Meron crowd crush.
Runtime: 10 minThe past two years in Israel have been turbulent, marked by countless protests and demonstrations, as well as violence. Episode 5 of Blue Marks focuses on efforts to document, report, and analyze violence during the protests by both police officers and civilians. The information collected not only provides data for the media and decision-makers but also helps provide medical, legal, and mental health assistance to victims of violence.
Runtime: 11 minEpisode 6 of the series traces how the collapse of the police unfolded and explores whether it can be rehabilitated, and what needs to happen for Israel to have a functioning police force.
Runtime: 12 min