Following the police’s growing use of horses in demonstrations, and as demonstrations and protests increase, we filed a petition to the Supreme Court on November 2024 in a demand to immediately ban all use of horses to break up demonstrations. The petition was filed by adv. Amnon Keren from the clinic of environmental justice and animal rights protection in Tel-Aviv university, on behalf of Let the Animals Live.
The use of horses to break up demonstrations exposes them to significant suffering. Horses are especially sensitive animals, that tend to run away when frightened. The training process they undergo in the police is meant to break their spirit and suppress their natural tendency to flee when faced with danger and distress, but does not prevent the distress itself. The training process is also unable to simulate the rough, unpredictable conditions they encounter on the field. As part of their ongoing work, the police officers who ride the horses use outdated equipment that causes pain, and handle the horses using considerable force.
In the petition, we argued that the use of horses for breaking up demonstrations is a violation of the Animal Protection Law. The police have many alternative resources for breaking up demonstrations. Furthermore, it seems the use of horses often causes the escalation of events.
After multiple extensions, in the beginning of June the police submitted its reply to the petition. The police claim that the use of horses for breaking up demonstrations is essential, and that using horses is less harmful for the protesters than other means that may be used to break up demonstrations. This despite multiple examples of injuries sustained by demonstrators when horses step of fell on them.
One accomplishment has been noted when the police acknowledged the need to amend the action operational protocol, and informed the court it will cut the horses’ consecutive action hours by half, up to three hours instead of the 6 defined by protocol today. However, the police’s reply did not mention any other restrictions, such as working the horses up to ten accumulative hours a day, and no restrictions on harsh weather conditions, or any acknowledgment to the other claims made in the petition. The petition still stands, and we await the court’s decision.
Photo: REUTERS/Amir Cohen
