Courts release Givat Gal detainees, AG’s office objects

Tuesday, June 21, 2016, 14:38 The Jerusalem Magistrate Court released the Givat Gal detainees on condition of a ban on entering Yehuda and Shomron and the Jerusalem District Court added the condition of house arrest. The Attorney Generals’ office is continuing to insist that they remain in remand until the end of proceedings. Honenu Attorney Yehuda Shoshan expressed strong criticism: “The Attorney General’s office is taking a harsh stance with the detainees despite the decisions of the [Jerusalem] Magistrate and District Courts to release them.”
During the demolition of a house in the hilltop community of Givat Gal near Hevron late at night on Monday, June 13, policemen violently detained two protesters. One of the detainees is a 37-year old married Givat Gal resident and father of four children who does not have a criminal record. The other detainee is a 21-year old local yeshiva student. Honenu Attorneys Yehuda Shoshan and Adi Kedar are representing the two detainees.
At a court deliberation on Tuesday, June 14 the yeshiva student stated that he was severely beaten by a policeman and the police admitted that he sustained many injuries, which were photographed and reported to the Police Investigation Unit. Honenu Attorney Yehuda Shoshan described the situation and presented evidence to Judge Gabai Richter, showing how the head of the Kiryat Arba Local Council, Malachi Levinger, was beaten by policemen, apparently the same policemen who beat and detained the two detainees.
On Wednesday, June 15, the Attorney General’s office announced to Jerusalem Magistrate Court that they intend to serve the two detainees with an indictment. Jerusalem Magistrate Court Judge David Shaul Gabai Richter extended the remand of the two detainees until Friday, June 17, in order to facilitate filing an indictment.
On Friday, June 17, the Attorney General’s office filed an indictment accusing the Givat Gal resident of throwing a rock which injured a tractor driver, who was demolishing a house in the community, and accusing the yeshiva student of shoving a border policeman. Both of them deny all charges.
On Monday, June 20, Jerusalem Magistrate Court Judge Sharon Larry-Bavli ruled that the two detainees be released on condition of a ban on entering Yehuda and Shomron until the end of proceedings. The condition separates both of them from their families and their places of residence. The Attorney General’s office filed an appeal with the Jerusalem District Court, which held a deliberation on the case on the morning of Tuesday, June 21. Judge Arnon Darel partially accepted the appeal and ruled that both detainees be under complete house arrest outside of Yehuda and Shomron until the adult probation service gives an expert opinion on their cases. The judge did not accept the demand for remand until the end of proceedings. The Attorney General’s office demanded a delay in carrying out the decision to facilitate considering an appeal to the Supreme Court. Judge Darel delayed the release of the detainees by 48 hours, during which the Attorney General’s office must announce its decision.