Shalom Eisner, Israeli Officer Who Hit Danish Activist, Removed from Post

JERUSALEM, April 18 (Reuters) - Israel's army said on Wednesday it had removed a senior officer from his post after he was caught on film striking a Danish pro-Palestinian activist in the face with a rifle.

A video broadcast across the internet and on television stations showed Lieutenant-Colonel Shalom Eisner, a deputy brigade commander in the occupied West Bank, hitting the man with an M-16 rifle during a protest on Saturday.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other leaders quickly condemned the incident which took place during a rally against Israeli roadblocks in the territory.

"It has been determined by the Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Benjamin (Benny) Gantz, to dismiss Lieutenant Colonel Shalom Eisner from his post as Deputy Division Commander on moral grounds," said a military statement in English.

Israel's Army Radio said he would remain in the armed forces but would be barred from senior command roles for the next two years.

"It's a bad feeling," Eisner told Israel Radio after receiving news of his dismissal.

Local media had quoted family and friends of Eisner saying the video did not tell the whole story and that his fingers had been broken by one of the protesters.

Human rights organisations often condemn Israeli military behavior toward Palestinians and foreign activists in the West Bank but Israel says its soldiers act with restraint.

About 500,000 Israeli settlers and 2.5 million Palestinians live in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, areas Israel captured in a 1967 war. Palestinians want the territory for an independent state along with the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. (Writing by Maayan Lubell; Editing by Andrew Heavens)