21:13 Update: A Supreme Court hearing has been scheduled for 8:30 tomorrow.
Yered (L) and Attorney Hajbi (R); Photo credit: Itamar Carmon
Tuesday, August 8, 2023, 20:05 This evening (Tuesday), the Israel Police informed Honenu Attorneys Avichai Hajbi and Nati Rom that they intend to file a request to appeal to the Supreme Court on the decision by the Jerusalem District Court to release Elisha Yered from remand. The court decided that the evidence against Yered is weak.
Attorney Hajbi leveled sharp criticism at the police: “The decision to request an appeal is insane. This proves that the investigating unit is not willing to accept the concept that Yered and other Binyamin residents were brutally attacked.”
Attorney Rom added: “It is simply astounding the amount of resources that the police and the GSS invest when it comes to persecuting residents of Yehuda and Shomron. The police informed us that they would appeal the unequivocal Jerusalem District Court decision to the Supreme Court.”
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.