Open letter from Miriam Dardik
Monday, August 3, 2026, 16:02 Tal Yinon Dardik has been on a hunger strike for 29 days, since his detention under an administrative order signed by Central Command Chief Major-General Avi Bluth. Today, Dardik’s wife, Miriam, sent an open letter to the heads of the local authorities in Yehuda and Shomron. calling on them to urge Major-General Bluth and Defense Minister Katz to end the use of administrative orders against residents of Yehuda and Shomron.
Miriam Dardik wrote: “My husband, Tal Yinon, has been detained for over a month under a draconian administrative order, and has been on a hunger strike in prison for 29 days. My husband’s life is now in danger! Just this morning, his body temperature was recorded at 34°C and his heart rate at only 42 beats per minute. Administrative orders of this kind are issued only against us, the residents of Yehuda and Shomron. There is no trial, no evidence is presented, no investigation is conducted, and no indictment is filed. My husband does not know what he is suspected of, and has no way to prove his innocence – of which he and his family are firmly convinced. I ask you to act urgently with Central Command Chief [Major-General Bluth] and the Defense Minister to put an end to this harassment that is subjecting all of us to a difficult ordeal.
“We are not willing to be second-class citizens. My husband is fighting not only for himself, but for the rights of all Yehuda and Shomron residents. As public leaders in Yehuda and Shomron, what is required of you at this time is leadership that will put an end once and for all to this blatant discrimination. In anticipation of the imminent redemption,” Dardik concluded her letter.
This morning, a specialist doctor examined Dardik on behalf of his family to assess his deteriorating medical condition. The visit to the detention facility was coordinated and approved by the Israel Prison Service.
Approximately one week ago, Defense Minister Yisrael Katz ordered the cancellation of the administrative order against Dardik , following a decision by the Yehuda and Shomron Appeals Committee that the order was not applicable. Contrary to Minister Katz’s position, Major-General Bluth and the Attorney General’s office appealed the cancellation decision to the Jerusalem District Court. Honenu strongly criticized the appeal: “Major-General Bluth has chosen to fight the elected echelon. Now, not only are rights being trampled, but Israeli democracy and the proper governmental order are being undermined. We call on Minister Katz to exercise his authority and not allow bureaucrats to run the country.”
A number of rabbis, Knesset members, and public figures have spoken out in defense of Dardik and criticized the use of administrative orders against residents of Yehuda and Shomron. Yesterday, Rabbi Uri Sherki called for Dardik’s release: “If Tal Yinon Dardik is suspected of criminal offenses, then put him on trial. In any case, continuing his detention is immoral and constitutes blatant discrimination against the residents of Yehuda and Shomron compared with any other Israeli citizen. This reeks of persecution, and immediate action must be taken to release him.”