Fighting Fire with Fire

A photo essay documents the last few weeks of unrest following the police killing of an unarmed Ethiopian-Israeli teenager.

Oren Ziv
July 12, 2019
A street vendor selling water walks past a burning car at a protest against police violence at Azrieli junction in Tel Aviv, July 2nd, 2019.
All photos: Oren Ziv

After an off-duty police officer shot and killed Solomon Tekah, an Ethiopian-Israeli teenager, in Haifa on June 30th, mass protests and riots erupted across Israel. Tekah’s killing is only the most recent incident of police violence against Ethiopian-Israelis. Less than a year ago, Yehuda Bigada was shot to death by a police officer in Bat Yam. After Tekah’s killing, activists published a list of 12 names of Ethiopian-Israelis who were killed or committed suicide after suffering from police violence in the last 20 years. Young Ethiopian-Israelis I spoke with this week say that they feel endangered every time they go out into the streets because of over-policing in their neighborhoods. They promised that this time, the protests will continue until the police violence ends and Ethiopian-Israelis receive full equality. 

Protesters hold a sign reading, “Skin color is not a reasonable suspicion” at Azrieli junction in Tel Aviv, July 2nd, 2019.
A protester throws an electric scooter toward a burning car, set aflame during clashes between Ethiopian-Israeli protesters and police at Azrieli junction in Tel Aviv, July 2nd, 2019. The car was set on fire hours after its driver tried to drive through the protest, injuring one protester. 
Protesters film the burning car during clashes with police at Azrieli junction in Tel Aviv, July 2nd, 2019. 
Plainclothes policemen arrest a young man during clashes at Azrieli junction in Tel Aviv, July 2nd, 2019. In the last weeks, police have arrested at least 200 protesters. 
Policemen stand in line at Azrieli junction in Tel Aviv as they attempt to disperse protesters who have been blocking the highway for hours, July 2nd, 2019.
Policemen arrest a protester at Azrieli junction in Tel Aviv, July 2nd, 2019.
A stun grenade explodes as police disperse protesters at Azrieli junction in Tel Aviv, July 2nd, 2019. 
Police arrest a protester during a protest at Azrieli junction in Tel Aviv, July 3rd, 2019. 
Police arrest a protester during a protest at Azrieli junction in Tel Aviv, July 3rd, 2019. 
An Ethiopian-Israeli man holds a sign during a protest in Tel Aviv, July 8th, 2019.
Protesters march in central Tel Aviv during a gathering of women and mothers protesting police violence, July 8th, 2019.
Solomon Tekah’s father (right) and other family members take part in a memorial service at his grave at Tel Regev cemetery, Haifa, July 8th, 2019.
The parents of Solomon Tekah mourn at his grave, a week after he was shot and killed by a policeman, at Tel Regev cemetery, Haifa, July 8th, 2019.

Oren Ziv, born in 1985, is a co-founder of Activestills Collective. Since 2005, he has been documenting social and political issues in Israel and in the Palestinian territories.