Honenu Attorneys Rom (L) and Hajbi (R); Photo credit: Honenu
Tuesday, August 15, 2023, 15:48 Earlier today, Jerusalem Magistrates Court Judge Amir Shaked released Indor to house arrest. Indor was seriously injured in an attack by dozens of rioting Arabs near Oz Tzion. He opened fire in self-defense and was subsequently detained. The police appealed the decision to the District Court, and a hearing was held later the same day.
At the District Court hearing, Judge Ron asked the police why a specific operation was not carried out. A police representative responded: “The entire Yehuda and Shomron Police, with all of its units, have stopped everything. They are all working on this case.”
Judge Ron rejected the appeal. The police decided this time not to file a request to postpone carrying out the decision. Honenu Attorneys Avichai Hajbi and Nati Rom represented Indor at both the Magistrates and District Courts hearings.
Yehiel Indor’s serious head injury; Photo credit: Free use
After the hearing, Attorney Rom stated, “After countless appeals and negligent work by the police, we hope Indor will return to his family and begin convalescing. We sincerely hope that everyone who suspected him of murder and damaged his good name will make amends and divert their enthusiasm, police forces, and legal teams to the many attackers who injured Indor and his friends.”
Attorney Hajbi added, “We are pleased that the Jerusalem District Court released Yehiel Indor and ruled that the Magistrates Court decided correctly. There is no reasonable suspicion that Yehiel Indor committed murder. Our only demand is that the Arab attackers be arrested, and to that end, that the investigating unit invest the same effort that they did in pursuing Indor.”
Background
On Friday, August 4, shortly before the onset of Shabbat, near Oz Tzion in the Binyamin region, dozens of Arab rioters attacked a Jewish shepherd and local Jewish residents who came to his assistance. The incident began when the Jewish shepherd left Oz Tzion to graze his flock in the area between Oz Tzion and the nearby Arab town of Burqa. Several Arabs approached and threatened him. The shepherd, who felt that he was in danger, summoned other Oz Tzion residents who came to stay with him and prevent the situation from deteriorating.
Dozens of Arabs armed with clubs, fireworks, and large rocks surrounded the Oz Tzion residents. The Arabs launched fireworks directly at the residents and hurled the rocks at them from point-blank range, endangering their lives. The residents called the army and civilian security forces for help. One resident (Yehiel Indor) was hit in the head with a rock and seriously injured. With his remaining strength, he opened fire with his legally-owned personal weapon to defend his life. Several other residents were slightly injured. According to media reports, one of the Arab rioters was killed. Elisha Yered, who transported Indor to an ambulance, and Indor were detained.