An Israel Defense Forces soldier who was on leave attacked a group of left-wing activists from the Peace Now movement while they were passing out flyers in Tel Aviv on Friday.

Tens of activists from Peace Now, which advocates a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, gathered at Tel Aviv's Arlozorov Train Station Friday morning and handed out stickers and flyers to people passing by. A soldier from the Israel Defense Force's Givati Bridade approached the group and began tearing down posters that the activists had put up.

Open gallery view Leftist protesters in Tel Aviv on Saturday, June 5, 2010. Credit: Nir Keidar

When the activists tried to calm the soldier down, he attacked them physically as well as with stones. Police arrived on the scene and attempted to subdue the soldier.

Asher Albo, a Peace Now activist who witnessed the attack said the soldier began to attack them while we were hanging signs.

"I told him to stop and that I am a reserve-duty soldier," Albo said. "He attacked us, threw one of the people in our group on the ground and threatened him with a rock. At a certain point, he began to throw stones at the activists."

Peace Now Secretary General Yariv Oppenheimer was present at the attack and said the movement intends to file a formal complaint against the soldier.