The letter to Shabak Chief David Zini

Tuesday, November 10, 2026, 17:22 On last night’s (Monday) broadcast of the program The Patriots on Channel 14 (Israel), Deputy Commissioner Avishai Mualem — former commander of the Yehuda and Shomron District Investigations and Intelligence Unit — testified about the methods used by the Shabak’s (GSS) Jewish Division. He described the forging of “paraphrases” (summaries of intelligence material) and the fabrication of intelligence against Jewish residents of Yehuda and Shomron in order to secure their administrative detention, even though they are innocent.

In the wake of this testimony, 15 residents of Yehuda and Shomron currently subject to severely restrictive administrative restraining orders have, through attorneys from Honenu, appealed to the head of the Shabak. They are demanding that the orders be canceled.

The letter states: “In recent years, the use of administrative orders against us — the residents and pioneers of Yehuda and Shomron — has risen dramatically. About two years ago, Defense Minister Yisrael Katz ordered a halt to the use of administrative detentions. Unfortunately, the Central Command continues to issue alternative administrative orders that impose severe sanctions without a trial, without evidence, without due process, and without any real opportunity to defend ourselves.

“It has been reported repeatedly, including recently, that these orders rely on intelligence materials and forged ‘paraphrases’ produced by the Shabak. These materials are intended to incriminate and frame us even though we have done nothing wrong. For that reason the orders are even more illegitimate.

“Unfortunately, we are treated differently and in a discriminatory manner. Although there is no evidence against us and we do not stand trial, our freedom is taken away with no practical way to prove our innocence. These orders are unacceptable and carry a strong smell of political persecution. For some reason, this draconian tool is used only against us.”

The letter concludes with a demand that Shabak Chief David Zini stop the use of administrative orders.

Honenu Attorney Moshe Poleski said: “Time and again we represent clients who state that they have had no involvement in any violent activity and have no idea why severe administrative restrictions have been placed on them. Neither they nor their attorneys have any effective way to challenge the allegations against them in a proper legal process, as is normal in a democratic country.

“It is important to emphasize that in the vast majority of cases, the allegations do not even involve serious offenses that caused bodily harm or loss of life. The time has come for the State of Israel to operate like a Western democracy, in which restrictions on suspects are imposed only through a fair process that gives them a genuine opportunity to confront the claims made against them.”