Thousands of social justice marching as Saturday night’s universal draft rally was taking place, were surprised once again to see again a military Hummer in the streets of Tel Aviv.  As they marched to Habima Square a military Hummer truck with surveillance equipment, was on the scene and the demonstrators chanted slogans against occupation and for democracy. The vehicle, known in the IDF as “Raccoon”, or by its English name “Stalker”, was introduced in 2001 and is mainly used in the Palestinian occupied territories. The large field vehicle is equipped with advanced data collecting systems, including radars with night and day identification capabilities, long-range cameras and monitoring systems.

The “Raccoon”, last Saturday in Kaplan Street (Photo: + 972)

MK Dov Khenin (Hadash) submitted a query questioning the government’s use of a military surveillance vehicle against peaceful protesters. He has yet to receive an answer. The police also deployed undercover officers – or more accurately, semi-undercover – who videotaped the protest and broadcast it in real time to their headquarters.

Related:

                 Social justice protesters block several streets in Tel Aviv

              Army surveillance tool deployed to record social protests in Tel Aviv