Saturday, June 25, 2022, 21:44 On Saturday night (after Shabbat), Shomron Regional Council Head Yossi Degan sharply criticized the violation of the rights of an Ariel resident who was detained after he defended a group of attacked children. He also called on the public to participate in the “Stop the Madness” protest opposite the Ariel Police Station scheduled for later the same evening.
Degan: “This is one of the most strange and shocking occurrences that we have seen. Children, Israeli citizens, went for a walk. They were attacked and threatened by Arabs with clubs, knives, and axes. And the response of the security authorities was to deprive the Ariel resident, who was attacked when he was alone with 18 children, of his rights. Let’s say they want to investigate the incident, but to deprive him of his rights? What they don’t do to members of the Mafia in this country they do to pioneers living in Yehuda and Shomron, only because of the address on their ID cards. This is a disgrace, a severe violation of human rights, and we will not accept it. The lives of Shomron residents are not cheap, and it is inconceivable that this is how a resident who was attacked with a group of children is treated.”
To recap, a group of 18 (earlier reported as 20) children aged 13 to 15 went for a walk with an adult guide just outside of the city of Ariel’s fence on Tuesday, June 21. They were attacked by dozens of Arabs armed with axes, clubs, and metal bars. The following day, the guide, an Ariel resident, went to the Ariel Police Station to file a complaint against the assailants and give testimony about the incident. To his shock, instead of taking his testimony, the police detained him and prevented him from meeting with Honenu Attorney Adi Keidar, who is representing him. As stated in a complaint filed by Keidar last Thursday, the detained Ariel resident underwent extremely harsh GSS interrogations. He was interrogated four times in less than 24 hours, deprived of sleep, and refused medical treatment. The intensive interrogations lasted for hours, including all night.
For more details of the case, click on the links below:
June 24, 2022: Ariel detainee has not yet met with Honenu Attorney Keidar
June 23, 2022: Ariel resident accused of murder after defending attacked children
June 23, 2022: MKs sign letter in support of Ariel detainee
June 22, 2022: Honenu Attorney Keidar demands to meet with Ariel detainee
June 22, 2022: MK Arbel demands answers regarding Ariel detainee
June 22, 2022: Arabs attack Jewish children near Ariel, their defender is detained