Shilo Junction
See here for a list of posts connected to the case.
Wednesday, January 6, 2021
14:24 Shilo residents harassed at police barricade
On the evening of Tuesday, January 5, a quiet demonstration was held at the Shilo Junction by adults and youths in protest of the death of Ahuvia Sandak, z”l. Many security forces, including Yasam (Special Forces) policemen, dozens of border policemen, two police cars and also soldiers, were present at the site to maintain order.
Shilo residents returning home from the direction of Ariel and Jerusalem were stopped at a police barricade. Every few minutes, as the policemen saw fit, they allowed one car to pass. All of the other cars, both Jewish and Arab, were directed to the road leading to Ma’aleh Levona.
Drivers stuck in the traffic jam attempted to verify with the policemen the reason for the barricade. One driver succeeded in receiving a reply from one policeman who explained that there was a protest at the intersection and the police were concerned that the youths would injure them, even though they were Shilo residents. However many Shilo residents who were eyewitnesses said that the youths did not stand in the road or try to block traffic at any stage of the protest.
Gavriel, a Shilo resident: “I came from the direction of Ariel, returning home to Shilo. I was in my car with my wife and baby. The rest of our children were at home, without a babysitter. We were stuck at a police barricade near Eli. I got out of the car, identified myself as a Shilo resident hurrying home to his children and I asked to continue driving. The policeman, who appeared pleased by my inconvenience, told me ‘You’re from Shilo? Until the Shilo Junction has been cleared of all Jewish protesters, you’ll stay here. Tell your friends to clear the intersection.’”
Gavriel continued: “From the policeman’s manner of speech and the contemptuous look on his face, I felt how the policeman enjoyed taking revenge on Shilo residents and harassing them. When the policeman finally started to free up the intersection he allowed one car to pass, and then for no reason waited two minutes before allowing another car to go. After every single car he waited for two minutes.”
Even a transport vehicle that left Eli in the direction of Shilo to pick up nurses who work at the Sha’arei Tzedek Hospital was delayed by the policemen at the barricade.
Shimson, a Shilo-area resident, attempted to clarify with the police the reason for the barricade: “I asked the policeman if something had happened. He answered that there was a protest at the intersection and that it was dangerous. I told the policeman that I didn’t understand the connection. Were they [the police] punishing us? I’d been driving for two weeks already at the same hours on roads with protests. There was no danger. In response the policeman told me, ‘You want to protest? So protest. No problem. But there are consequences.’
“In standard Hebrew it’s called collective punishment. In our area it’s simply ‘price tag’.”
17:51 Why haven’t the injured youths testified?
Over two weeks have passed since the death of Ahuvia Sandak, z”l, in a police car chase and the Police Investigation Unit (PIU) has not yet summoned the youths who were injured in the chase to testify about the incident. Other than the policemen involved with the chase, the youths were the only eye witnesses and therefore their testimonies are significant to the investigation and clarification of the incident. Immediately after the incident, when the youths were hospitalized, they said that the policemen had rammed their car.
Already on December 27, 2020, six days after the incident, Honenu Attorney Menashe Yado reported to the (PIU) that the youths who had been released from remand had been added to the complaint as crime victims with regards to the ramming accident and that it was not clear why they had not been summoned to testify. The news media has already publicized a statement from one of the youths describing how after the accident, while they were still at the scene, one of the policemen made a vulgar and flippant remark about how the youths’ car had been rammed.
Honenu Attorney Menashe Yado: “There are directions of operations that have not been advanced and crucial investigative actions that have not been taken. Summoning the youths to lodge an official complaint is one such action.”
20:24 Demonstrations, Day 17
Demonstrations are continuing and will take place this evening at dozens of locations throughout Israel. The demonstrators are calling for an external investigative committee into the death of Ahuvia Sandak, z”l, in a police car chase in the Binyamin region and for the Central Unit of the Yehuda and Shomron Police to be closed.
In the Shomron, dozens of drivers participated in a caravan of cars which ended with a demonstration at the Tapuah Junction. Severe disruption of traffic was reported in the area.
At this time demonstrations are taking place in Ariel, Netivot, Nof Ayalon, Jerusalem, Ma’aleh Adumim, Karkur Junction, Kiryat Arba, and other locations.
Netivot; Photo credit: Free use
20:24 Netivot
20:26 Ma’aleh Adumim, demonstration
A demonstration is taking place opposite the home of a Central Unit of Yehuda and Shomron Police detective in Ma’aleh Adumim.
21:25 Harassment of Shilo area residents continues
The Israeli Police are continuing to harass Shilo residents. Due to a protest at the Shilo Junction, policemen have blocked Shilo residents from leaving their community, even though the traffic at the junction is passing as usual. The residents have dubbed the police conduct a “price tag” incident in retaliation for the demonstrations following the death of Ahuvia, z”l.
Honenu Attorney Nati Rom, who is a Shilo-area resident, leveled criticism at the police: “This was a price tag incident carried out by the police. The Israeli Police have blocked the exit from Shilo to residents as an act of revenge for the protests over the past few days. And I though that I’d already seen everything.”
Kiryat Arba; Photo credit: Hadas Levin
21:32 Kirkur Junction; Photo credit: Elisha Gitler
21:35 Demonstration at the String Bridge, Jerusalem
21:37 Kiryat Arba