Honenu Attorney Moshe Poleski; Photo credit: Honenu
Thursday, December 5, 2024, 9:04 The Jerusalem Magistrates Court released the eight Yehuda and Shomron residents who were detained yesterday (Wednesday) at the destruction of an outpost near Itamar in the Shomron. Police and Civil Administration forces destroyed several structures at the site, including a house being used for a beit midrash (religious study hall). The detainees were suspected of damaging Arab property. At the hearing, the police requested a six-day remand extension. The court denied the request and released the detainees. Honenu Attorneys Nati Rom and Moshe Poleski are representing the detainees.
Honenu Attorney Nati Rom; Photo credit: Honenu
Attorney Rom stated, “The court released the detainees and sharply censured the security forces for carrying out detentions while lacking sufficient evidence. The ‘evidence’ also included mendacious eyewitness testimonies. We are unfortunately accustomed to false detentions resulting from law enforcement authorities being excessively motivated to produce results and make headlines. The police must remember that fundamental civil freedoms are not a luxury. Detention is justified only when necessary, and must be based on evidence, not on one’s heart’s desires.”
Attorney Poleski added, “During the hearing, the charges against my clients, including arson, were proven to be unfounded. Additionally, the false testimony of a soldier was revealed. The soldier attempted to associate the site of my clients’ detention with other incidents that had occurred at a different site. It is very puzzling that a minor incident of, at most, jostling, escalated to detention and a court hearing. The police should have briefly questioned my clients, and then released them, since they are youths who do not have criminal records. The police have lost their way, and are carrying out groundless detentions. The recklessness of the law enforcement authorities must be stopped.”