Nisso Shaham: The Blood-Thirsty Xenophobic Jerusalem Police Commissioner

When hearing about terrible police brutalities against Jerusalem Kanoim (zealots), or clearly false charges against them, most wonder: how can this be true? You often think and hear the argument: This can’t happen in a democratic country! How come these police aren’t charged? If this would be happening, we would have another Abu Ghraib outcry… Enter into the story Nisso Shaham’s history, and everything is brutally understood. Here are parts of a Jerusalem Post piece – by a writer who doesn’t conceal her disdain to the zealots - on Shaham’s clear bias and tirades against Haredim, and how he enticed his subordinates to butcher them. The courts, instead of at least admonish him, attacked those who complained against him.

During the 2005 pre-disengagement mass-rally in Kfar Maimon, then-Negev District commander Shaham shouted for all to hear: “I want arrests, and I tell you to use water cannons unconditionally. Don’t call me. Go for the water cannons. I know these haredim. Shit upon them. They should burn. Don’t reassess – use water cannons and clubs. Hit them hard on the lower parts of the body. Work as you know how. I’m an expert in handling these haredim.”

Shaham proceeded to boast before the entire watching nation that he was braver than his own superiors, who had advised him not to charge into Kfar Maimon.

Shaham’s reply: (I omit two sentences of terrible graphic sentences - OP) “Now go tell your buddies… not just a few beatings. I’m telling you all this to spare you the need to seek authorization.”

When a group petitioned the court to block his appointment as Jerusalem’s Deputy Police Chief, the court condemned the petitioners for “seeking to ostracize a valued police officer because of one slip of the tongue, for which he tendered apology.” The petitioners wondered what the reaction would have been had Shaham’s expletives been directed at Arabs rather than haredim.

The writer is also responding to the outcry, as if the Haredim got out-of-hand and endanger Israeli society:

“They aren’t the greatest danger to our societal fiber because they essentially reside outside our society – to the extent of even refusing any welfare services from the state they abhor… Offensive placards always proliferated in Natorei Karta (calling this neighborhood NK, is an inaccurate generalization – OP) neighborhoods, but yesteryear’s mainstream was amused by the exotica and didn’t elevate it to existential-menace proportions.

“Proportions are paramount. It’s dangerous to blow things out of all proportion or, conversely, to lose our collective sense of proportion by pooh-poohing vituperative prejudice. Supposed upholders of legality like vulgar Shaham make political hay by self-servingly inflaming communal strife. They do well for themselves out of making things worse for everyone else.”

Caution: If you live in Jerusalem or surrounding areas, don’t email or save this article on your computer. During the last week three were arrested because their computer was linked to emails containing a pashkevil on Shaham, showing him in Nazi Garb. If you forward this article, Shaham may send his officers to you as well. I bag you not to get into trouble, and it would be even better to delete your browsing history not to get on his radar.

Do you know of any other democratic country where you house can be searched for emailing a Pashkevil? Do you know any other place since… – no, I won’t name it - where a police officer can openly rant against Haredin and still rise in rank?

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