Israel Police on Sunday responded to criticism over a video from Saturday's mass protest in Tel Aviv showing a mounted police officer repeatedly hitting a woman with a baton.

According to police, orders were given to disperse the demonstrators, who were illegally blocking the Ayalon Highway. The protesters were warned that force would be employed if they refused to clear the highway.

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"Two protesters waved protest signs and a flagpole at the head of a police horse in a way that endangered the horse, the rider, and themselves. The mounted officer pushed the protester away using reasonable force from the horse," the Israel Police spokesperson said in a statement. Photographic evidence was also provided of another horse they said was wounded by protesters using wooden poles for signs and flags on the Ayalon Highway.

The protester seen in the video, Yael Reuveni, told Channel 12 News that "the police officer was looking for someone to take his frustration out on. He found the weak link, and that's where he chose to focus, to block me and hit me."

Video: Use under the terms of Israel's Intellection Property Law, Article 27a

"I work with horses as a therapist," said Reuveni. "The last thing I would do is attack a horse. I held a cardboard sign in front of me to protect myself from the horse after it stepped on my leg, and the police officer continued to hit me with his baton."

The video, published on social media, caused a strong reaction, with Israel Police Chief Yaakov Shabtai on Sunday ordering Tel Aviv District Chief Ami Eshed to investigate the incident.

Labor Chairwoman Merav Michaeli wrote a letter to Shabtai, calling the incident an "outrage" and urging the police commissioner to "act with any means to make sure the incident is taken care of severely and that these sorts of incidents are not repeated."

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has defended police actions during the ongoing mass demonstrations against the government's judicial reform initiative, said on Sunday that the incident was disturbing and that he would demand clarification about the incident from Eshed.

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"At the same time, I strongly condemn the shocking calls of incitement that were heard towards the police such as 'Nazis,' which cause the denigration of the Holocaust, along with serious damage to police horses, and I call on the prosecutor's office to prosecute the instigators and lawbreakers," the minister said.

Reprinted with permission from JNS.org

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An internal FBI bulletin warned that Trump supporters are planning armed protests that may start later this week and extend through President-elect Joe Biden's Jan. 20 inauguration, officials said.

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"Armed protests are being planned at all 50 state capitols from Jan. 16 through at least Jan. 20, and at the US Capitol from Jan. 17 through Jan. 20," the bulletin said, according to one official.

The FBI issued at least one other bulletin before the riots last week. On Dec. 29, it warned of the potential for armed demonstrators targeting legislatures, the second official said.

"While our standard practice is to not comment on specific intelligence products, the FBI is supporting our state, local, and federal law enforcement partners with maintaining public safety in the communities we serve," the bureau said in a statement.

"Our efforts are focused on identifying, investigating, and disrupting individuals that are inciting violence and engaging in criminal activity."

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According to the police, the woman began kicking the officer and punching him in the face. She also reportedly refused to identify herself and resisted arrest.

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Several thousand protesters took part in demonstrations nationwide on Thursday, demanding that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu resign. Police arrested three participants on suspicion of disturbing the peace, assaulting police officers, and violations of the law. In addition, police handed out over 100 fines to protesters who violated public health regulations – among other things, for not wearing masks and being more than 1,000 meters from their homes.

One protester was lightly wounded from police pepper spray.

Police said that "The protesters decided to flagrantly break the law and hold illegal marches along main traffic arteries for hours, without any prior coordination with the police – trampling the COVID regulations. They marched for kilometers, close together, some weren't wearing masks, and they ignored instructions from the police."

This tweet from Kan News shows a clash between protesters and a civilian. 

תיעוד: עימות בכפר סבא בין מפגינים לבין אדם שעצר את מכוניתו לידם, ולטענתם פעל נגדם באלימות@ittaishick pic.twitter.com/nVBNUbKy55

— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) October 8, 2020

However, the Israel Police announced Thursday that it had completed the groundwork that would allow the anti-government protests to continue in accordance with Health Ministry regulations.

The Knesset passed a law last week allowing the government to declare a special week-long state of emergency to limit participation in assemblies because of the pandemic. The government then declared the state of emergency, limiting all public gatherings to within a kilometer (half a mile) of a person's home.

Netanyahu has said the restrictions are driven by safety concerns as the country battles a runaway pandemic, but critics and protesters accuse him of tightening the lockdown to muzzle dissent.

Since the restriction was approved last month, tens of thousands of Israelis have staged protests on street corners and public squares near their homes against the government's perceived mishandling of the coronavirus crisis and its economic fallout.

On Thursday, a protester painted the Hebrew word "Go" – an increasingly popular slogan among anti-Netanyahu protesters – in large letters across Rabin Square in Tel Aviv.

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"They are creating noise with insane, unprecedented backing from the media. In 2011 there were hundreds of thousands [of protesters], here there are barely enough to represent a quarter of a Knesset seat, and they're getting round-the-clock coverage. The link to coronavirus is incidental. There are repeated calls for murder," Netanyahu said.

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The prime minister went on to say that "the total enlistment by media outlets is characteristic of non-democratic regimes, and a danger to democracy."

"They are giving legitimacy to threats of murder and violence that come up not only on Facebook, but also at the demonstrations themselves. Opposition leaders, especially [Yesh Atid leader] Yair Lapid are giving this full legitimacy, rather than warning against incitement," Netanyahu said.

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The poll was conducted among 505 adults from a representative sample of the Israeli population and had a margin of error of 4.4%.

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According to the poll, the Likud would secure 33 seats, followed by Yesh Atid-Telem, which was projected to win 17 seats. Blue and White was projected to win 12 seats, as was Yamina.

The poll predicted 16 seats for the Joint Arab list.

When it came to the Haredi parties, the poll predicted nine and eight seats for Shas and United Torah Judaism, respectively. Yisrael Beytenu would win only eight seats, the poll showed.

The poll projected the Labor party, Derech Eretz, and Gesher all hovering near the minimum electoral threshold of 3.25%.

Seven percent of respondents who voted for the Likud in the last election said they would vote for Yamina, and 34% of respondents who voted for Blue and White said they would support Yesh Atid-Telem.

Respondents were also asked who they thought was best suited to serve as prime minister right now. Despite the wave of protests, Netanyahu was the most popular choice, with 33% of respondents saying he was the best choice for prime minister. Another 13% said Yair Lapid was the best candidate; 12% said Naftali Bennett was the best choice for the job, and 11% picked Gantz. Nearly one-third (31%) did not know who was best suited for the job of prime minister, or named other officials.

WATCH: #JerusalemProtests: i24NEWS Defense Correspondent @DanielTsemach's camera knocked down by members of the far-right extremist group 'La Familia' as they ran past him pic.twitter.com/I6Dza1eRmN

— i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) July 30, 2020

The poll also asked respondents what they believed was the reason for the protests being held outside the Prime Minister's Residence in Jerusalem and other locations nationwide. Only 19% said the demonstrations were a response to the economic fallout of the coronavirus crisis.

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Twenty-six percent said that the demonstrations were an expression of opposition to the prime minister. Nearly half (49%) of respondents said they thought that both economic distress and opposition to Netanyahu were the motivation for the protests.

Respondents did not agree with the protesters' claim that the protesters are non-violent, but did agree that the police were treating the demonstrators too harshly. Over half (52%) of respondents characterized protesters' behavior as "violent" or "very violent," compared to 27% who said that the protests were balanced. Only 12% of respondents described them as "quiet" or "very quiet." An analysis of the responses showed that the more right-wing respondents were, the more they were likely to characterize the protests as violent.

When it came to the conduct of the police, respondents appeared to sympathize with the protesters, with 44% saying that the police were reacting too violently. Another 30% said that the police responses were appropriate and only 12% saying that the police were too easy on the protesters.

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Cohen's message read: "We are in the midst of an ongoing national police mission, one that is important and complicated. As the police force of a democratic, law-abiding state, we are obligated to preserve the delicate balance between allowing legitimate protests and cracking down on those who break the law. As professionals, we are obligated to restraint and containment," Cohen stated.

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The acting police chief discussed violence perpetrated against police officers by protesters on Tuesday, and said, "There is the law and there is a way to protest. Along with the rights of the demonstrators, there is an obligation to uphold the rights of the public and the citizens. There is no place for attacks on representatives of the government, on institutions, or against property, and there is certainly no place for unchecked rampaging.

"In the past two days … you, the police, have conducted yourselves admirably, with determination, professionalism, and bravery. Some of you were even wounded during violent protests and continued to function alongside your comrades."

Cohen said that some of the demonstrators "exploited our willingness to allow legitimate protests, and were very violent with police and civilians as they rioted and blocked roads. We will now allow riots, roadblocks, or violence. We will continue to be careful about proportionality and in differentiating between those who want to protest, as is their legal right in a democratic state, and those who incite to and perpetrate violence."

Cohen warned police that the protests were not over and they would face "additional challenges." He said he trusted the police force to continue acting professionally and sent his wishes for a speedy recovery to the wounded.

Earlier Wednesday, the father of Solomon Tekah, a young Ethiopian Israel who was fatally shot by a police officer in Kiryat Haim on Sunday, sparking the current protests, called on activists to avoid violence.

"I want to thank the Israeli people for their support of us. I'm asking the demonstrators not to use violence, and I am calling on the police to behave with restraint and tolerance. I can't have my son back, but we want there to be a fair trial and a just legal system. Let my son be the last, and no more children be killed," David Tekah said.

Meanwhile, new chairman of the far-Left Meretz party Nitzan Horowitz said Wednesday in a Facebook post that Tuesday's protests were "mild compared to what happened," referring to police violence against the community.

"Everyone should support these protests because it's not only for the Ethiopian community; it's a fight for our freedom to live in this country without fear," Horowitz wrote.

"This protest could not be more justified. But there are already those who are calling it 'wild and dangerous.' They do the same for every protest, by the way. Always. Because they simply can't stand protests and want everyone to keep their heads down," Horowitz continued.

Horowitz said that the people who were "wild and dangerous" were the "police who fired without reason, who beat civilians."

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The official IRNA news agency on Wednesday carried a statement from the Intelligence Ministry saying security forces confiscated arms and explosives from "safe houses" kept by people arrested during the protest that swept the country in late December.

The demonstrations were fueled by anger at the lackluster economy and corruption. Some demonstrators called for the overthrow of the government.

Clashes broke out at some of the protests, and at least 21 people were killed. Iranian security forces arrested some 3,700 people.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has accused the U.S., Israel and other foreign powers of inciting violence to try and overthrow the Iranian regime.

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