Lawmakers voted 14-0 on Wednesday evening to approve the first reading of a bill barring police use of “Skunk,” a foul-smelling liquid, on protesters.

The legislation, sponsored by United Torah Judaism MKs Moshe Gafni and Yaakov Asher, is intended to ensure that police water cannons used to disperse demonstrations will only fire clean water without the addition of any substance, including color and odor.

Sprayed out of a high-pressure water cannon truck, the putrid liquid is often used on Haredi anti-draft demonstrators and Palestinians in the West Bank, but has also been rolled out against anti-government protesters in recent years.

The makeup of the substance is shrouded in mystery and relevant authorities have declined to disclose its exact ingredients. Some of those who have been sprayed with the substance reported skin irritation, shortness of breath and headaches.

The bill, which is also supported by opposition lawmakers, stipulates that police take video of the use of such cannons and save it for three years, providing it upon request to anyone who claims to have been injured — although law enforcement would be allowed to request a court order to withhold such documentation if its release would harm an ongoing investigation or public safety.

“Although police procedures regulate the use of water cannons in order to prevent unnecessary harm to people, over the years protesters and passersby have been harmed due to the use of water cannons in their surroundings,” the bill’s explanatory notes say.

ההפגנה סמוך למעון רה"מ נמשכת: המשטרה נעזרת במכת"זית כדי לפזר את המפגינים pic.twitter.com/fGu5yl1LWe

— כאן........

© The Times of Israel