Honenu Attorneys Keidar (L) and Rom (R); Photo credit: Honenu
Monday, September 15, 2025, 17:12 The Petah Tikva Magistrates Court released the five Yehuda and Shomron residents detained by the GSS at a demonstration opposite a GSS facility. The residents were protesting the persecution by the GSS of Yehuda and Shomron residents. This release follows the similar decision by the court at the end of last week to release the detainees, but which was overturned by the district court. Honenu Attorneys Adi Keidar, Nati Rom, Avichai Hajbi, Asaf Gonen, and Daniel Shimshilashvilli are representing the residents.
On Sunday (yesterday), journalist Avishai Grinzaig revealed that a meeting took place at the end of last week between the police and the GSS regarding the detainees. Grinzaig also revealed that at the meeting, the security forces stated that they have no evidence incriminating the detainees, and therefore, the residents could not be put on trial. Following the revelation, Attorney Rom, on behalf of all the attorneys representing the residents, demanded that the court immediately release them. The court agreed to their demand today.
The attorneys issued statements after their clients were released.
Attorney Keidar: “This disturbing case further revealed the extreme and ugly interrogation methods of the GSS. There was a particularly vengeful aspect, because the site of the protest was a GSS facility. The GSS removed all restraints and held protesters under false detention for a prolonged period of time. In the course of representing our clients, we met courageous magistrate judges, and, in contrast, district judges intimidated by the GSS. It seems that the GSS continues to do as they please.”
Attorney Rom: “From the start, the various judges who ruled in this case expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of the investigating unit – with the remand and interrogation conditions, with the unusual remand requests, and with the use of practices that were not appropriate for the alleged crimes. It is sad that what is permitted for left-wing protesters is not only forbidden to those on the right-wing, but results in interrogations similar to those of terrorists. One of the judges noted that the GSS had used methods that she had not seen even in the Nukhba terrorists’ cases on which she ruled. We would like to see officials among the law enforcement authorities drawing the correct conclusions from this case and rethinking the policies which promote unjust persecution of innocent individuals who may not be on the ‘correct’ side of the political map.”
Attorney Gonen: “After an uncompromising battle, including draconian orders that were issued with the intent to restrict our steps, the court accepted our arguments with regard to the nature of the incident. The court agreed that no substantial evidence incriminating the detainees had been collected.”
Attorney Shimshilashvilli: “Today, in an unequivocal decision, the court confirmed what we claimed from day one: The detention was completely unjustified. We thank the judges who released the detainees. However, one must not ignore the many unjust and discriminatory decisions that were handed down in the framework of the case, including those taken by Supreme Court justices, who, in effect, failed in their duties and, once again, proved the need for reform of the justice system, and the sooner the better.”