Monday, September 17, 2018, 18:36 On Monday, September 17, the day before Yom Kippur, three Jewish youths ascended the Temple Mount and were unjustifiably detained for “disturbing a policeman in the line of duty” and “attempting to disturb the public peace”, despite the fact that they did not interfere with police work and prayed in a concealed place without disturbing anyone in their surroundings. After interrogation at the Merchav David (Old City) Police Station the youths were released.
Honenu Attorney Nati Rom, who is representing the youths, stated that they went off to the side, to an isolated place and prayed when the only people in their surroundings were the group of Jews who had ascended the Temple Mount with them. Rom: “This is an illegal method of operation and detention, which reveals severe hypocrisy. They were not detained for praying, because there is no law which forbids it, but rather for disturbing a policeman in the line of duty and attempting to disturb the public peace. These accusations are baseless and are a deliberate and serious violation of the youths’ basic human rights! The Merchav David Police know that the youths did not disturb any policemen and that they did not disturb the public peace. The police do not operate in good faith and they deviate from their authority.”
Rom added that the police improperly use the authority and power granted to them, and that the serious violation of human rights, which is in complete opposition to all international law, stems from racist motives; “It is unconscionable that on the eve of Yom Kippur we are again witnesses to the false detention of youths whose only crime is that they are Jews who prayed and realized their freedom of religion. This was a serious violation of their human rights, when surrounding them were hundreds of others who were praying and walking about the Temple Mount unhindered. This must stop. Jews also have rights and it would be best if all of the organizations that deal so much with human rights take note.”