Israel mulls charging policeman who beat Palestinian teen

Jerusalem, July 10 (IANS) Israel is considering charges of "severe violent crimes" against a policeman who harshly beat a Palestinian youth in Jerusalem, the justice ministry said Wednesday.

Last week a video showed that the policeman was badly beating 15-year-old Palestinian-American Abu Khdeir, while another police officer was holding the teen down.

"Apparent evidence was found supporting the guilt of the police officer suspected of severe violent crimes, committed after the minor was arrested and handcuffed," Xinhua quoted the ministry as saying.

Israel's Police Investigations Department has decided to consider bringing criminal charges against the police officer, and instructed that he be summoned to a hearing at the department.

"The suspect has been banned from his police duties for 15 days," it added.

Abu Khdeir was arrested last Thursday when clashes in East Jerusalem erupted after his second cousin, 16-year-old Mohammed Abu Khdeir, was murdered by Jewish far-right activists.

According to the ministry, Abu Khdeir was arrested after allegedly being identified by the police as taking "an active part in riots, while masked and carrying a slingshot".

On Sunday, the court ordered the police to release him and send him to house arrest.

The case has stirred a wide international attention, incurring a condemnation from the US State Department that demanded Israel to conduct "a speedy, transparent and credible investigation and full accountability for any excessive use of force".