Honenu Attys. (L to R) Rom, Keidar and HaLevi; Photo credit: Honenu
Wednesday, July 12, 2023, 16:27 On Wednesday, July 12, a hearing was held at the Central District Court in Lod on the request by the State Attorney’s Office to authorize the administrative detention of five Yehuda and Shomron residents. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant signed the administrative orders, which are for between four and six months. The residents are friends of the Eli terror attack victims and were detained after the attack. The GSS held them under harsh conditions and prevented them from meeting with an attorney for several days. Their parents came to the hearing accompanied by Honenu Attorneys Adi Keidar, Nati Rom, and David HaLevi, who are representing the detainees.
Immediately before the hearing, Attorney Keidar stated, “The request is intended only to fulfill the needs of the GSS regarding left-wing organizations and the Americans. The detainees are young men who have jobs. Some of them are married and most of them do not have a criminal record. Since the incidents in Hawara and continuing with recent terror attacks, the GSS is fixated only on finding Jewish suspects. When they don’t find any, they ask for authorization of administrative detentions that are purely punitive and completely illegal. We hope that the court will accept our claims and immediately release the detainees.”
Attorney Rom added, “The State Attorney’s Office knew that there was insufficient evidence to charge our clients and therefore put on a show before the court and made very imprecise statements about them. Indeed, after the court released them, instead of appealing to the court, the GSS corrupted the criminal proceedings and ran to the Defense Minister who signed administrative orders. We denounce the unacceptable and oppressive use of these orders that corrupts criminal proceedings.”
Attorney HaLevi further stated, “At a time when discussion of human rights and democracy is a major topic in Israel, it is highly regrettable that my clients are receiving patently undemocratic treatment. A red flag flies over the orders. The orders are arbitrary, served without a trial, without witness testimony, and for public relations purposes. We expect the court to cancel the orders or drastically reduce their scope.”