Israeli sources reported on Tuesday morning that two inspectors of Be’er Sheva Municipality were arrested on Monday for assaulting a Palestinian street vendor in the city. The Palestinian man filed a complaint against the two.An Israeli online daily reported that the street vendor was illegally residing in Israel; he filed a complaint that the two inspectors beat him near the Zoological Park, and left him there. He was found injured later on by an Israeli police patrol.
The Israeli media source added that the police managed to identify the attackers and arrest them.
The inspectors denied the charges and said that they only attempted to confiscate the seller’s supply of shoes since he is illegally selling in the Be’er Sheva Central Market.
The police requested an extension of the remand of the inspectors and arrested the Palestinian street vendor; he will remain in remand until the investigation is completed and most likely will be charged for illegally entering and selling in Israel.
The Isreali online daily said that officials at the municipality stated that the inspectors are part of a unit that enforces regulations against illegal selling. The unit is known as “Ashalim” and its members are police officers and city inspectors.
The municipality added that the two were on their own during their patrol and that no other inspectors were involved in the incident.
