France seeks Israel's help to deal with protests

By Said Amouri

JERUSALEM (AA) – The French police have sought Israeli help to deal with the ongoing protests across France following the death of a teenager at a traffic stop, according to Israeli media on Monday.

The Israeli Police Commission received a fax from the French police to inquire about how to manage the crisis they are dealing with, The Israel Hayom newspaper reported.

The French request was unveiled by deputy head of Police Operations Division Shimon Nahmani during a hearing session held by the Knesset’s National Security Committee.

According to the newspaper, Israeli Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai ordered his intelligence and operations departments to study the protests in France and the police reaction before, during and after the teenager’s death.

There was no comment from the French authorities on the report.

France has seen a wave of violent protests since a police officer shot dead 17-year-old Nahel M. in the Paris suburb of Nanterre on June 27.

Protesters attacked shops and police forces, throwing stones and Molotov cocktails, and set fire to hundreds of buildings and cars.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar