Honenu Attorney Nati Rom; Photo credit: Honenu
Monday, July 17, 2023, 19:17 Three Yehuda and Shomron residents were detained for interrogation this morning (Monday), and initially, they were told that they would be taken to court. However, many hours later, they still had not been brought to a hearing, and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant signed administrative detention orders of three, four, and six months for them. These detainees join five others who were detained under orders signed by Yoav Gallant after the terror attack in Eli several weeks ago.
Approximately two weeks ago, two of the residents who were detained today were released from a previous detention by the court that rejected a request by the police to extend their remand. One of the detainees is engaged to be married in approximately two weeks.
Honenu sharply criticized the order: “The government that purports to be totally right-wing is breaking records for the number of administrative orders served to the best of their voters. Concurrently, terror attacks are at a high. The security forces are tough, but only with Jews. This is an utter disgrace.”
Honenu Attorney Nati Rom, who is representing two of the detainees, stated, “A short time after the detainees were released by a judge, the GSS and the Yehuda and Shomron Police approached a different judge and asked him to issue an order ex parte. This morning, we were told that a court hearing would be held as is customary in criminal proceedings. However, for many hours, they led us on with unclear answers, and the charges were not specific.
“It is not clear when the Defense Minister had the time to adequately examine the case before he signed the administrative orders. Yehuda and Shomron residents continue to suffer heavy-handed treatment. Unfortunately, the system is devoted to opposing them rather than cooperating with them against the enemies of Israel. Administrative orders were designed to provide a response to terrorists who want to kill Jews and destroy Israel, and not for any other cases,” added Attorney Rom.
Attorney Shalom Ben Shabbat, who is representing another detainee, added, “Regrettably, the government that calls itself ‘completely right-wing’ is taking a senseless and drastic step against the best citizens as if they were ‘ticking time bombs’. To the heart of the matter, the Yehuda and Shomron Police and the Defense Minister chose a very faulty way to harm someone against whom there is no evidence and treat him as if he were involved in the crime attributed to him. We hope to prove in court that the police acted improperly.”