Honenu Attorney Nati Rom; Photo credit: Honenu
Sunday, June 25, 2023, 13:57 The soldier detained yesterday (Shabbat) near Ateret was transferred to the GSS for interrogation last night. Initially, he was interrogated by the Central Unit of Yehuda and Shomron Police and allowed to speak with Honenu Attorney Nati Rom, who is representing him. Several hours after he was detained, the soldier was transferred to the GSS and served with an order prohibiting him from meeting with an attorney. The soldier serves in the Shomron Regional Brigade.
This morning, Honenu Attorney Adi Keidar urgently appealed to the Jerusalem District Court, and a hearing is expected to be held on the appeal in the coming hour. The soldier will also be brought to a hearing at the Jerusalem Magistrates Court.
Attorney Keidar wrote in the appeal, “The petitioner was detained in or near Ateret following the events of Shabbat in the area. In summary, since the attack in Eli, Arabs have continued to assault residents of the area by blocking roads, throwing rocks, and more. This is in the face of the willful powerlessness of the police and the army in handling the matter. They have abandoned the residents’ personal security. Yesterday, following an assault by the Arabs, a violent conflict between the sides ensued.
“If this was indeed the basis for detaining the petitioner and preventing him from meeting with an attorney, then this is a dangerous and slippery slope. What is actually happening? If the detention of the petitioner is a direct consequence of the conflict, then in this context there are no grounds to prevent him from meeting with an attorney. The crime has already been committed, and there is no future concern. Therefore, the implementation of certain clauses of law in this context was intended only for the convenience of the investigating unit to work unhindered.”
In addition to the soldier, the GSS is interrogating four other friends of the Eli terror attack victims. They are also prohibited from meeting with an attorney and their status is unknown.