Police arrest newlyweds’ friends at Sheva Brachot celebration

Monday, July 9, 22:26 Five youths were detained this evening at the Shelah Junction near the community of Mevo’ot Yericho, Honenu reports. The youths were detained on suspicion of violating a closed military zone order banning entry to Area A by entering, with a group of friends, the ancient Na’aran Synagogue in Yericho.
This evening a post-wedding Sheva Brachot celebration was held in the Na’aran Synagogue. The bride and groom and their friends said that during the celebration border policemen in a Jeep arrived on the scene. According to the celebrators the border policemen ignored them and did not request that they leave the synagogue.
After a short while the border policemen informed them that police forces were on their way to the site. In response the celebrators packed up and left.
When they reached the Shelah Junction near Mevo’ot Yericho, the police forces arrived. Six out of the group of 15 youths were detained on suspicion of violating a closed military zone order prohibiting entry to Area A and the rest were distanced from the site. After a short time one of the detainees was released and the five other detainees were taken to the police station.
According to the detainees, even though they had not caused any disturbances, the police conducted themselves violently during the detention.
Honenu attorney Adi Kedar is handling the case.
Honenu reports in response that, “We have not heard of closed military zone orders being enforced when the anarchists come every week to harm IDF soldiers [near the village of Bil’in], in violation of such orders. The selective enforcement shows the obsession that the State has against the Jewish population of Yehuda and Shomron.”