The dati leumi camp is sharply divided as many leaders, including rabbonim, feel the suspects being held and subjected to torturous ISA (Israel Security Agency – Shin Bet) interrogation in the Duma arson case are scapegoats for the government. They feel that clearly the government lacks evidence against them, which is why they are detained and incarcerated by administrative orders, for they lack the evidence to charge them with a crime.

Now, after over three weeks of reportedly harsh and unacceptable interrogation tactics, the key suspect has admitted to his actions and reenacted the attack for interrogators.

However, not everyone in that camp agrees. Counted among those giving his total backing to the ISA (Israel Security Agency – Shin Bet) is Bayit Yehudi party leader Minister Naftali Bennett. Bennett has come under fire for recent remarks in which he give absolute backing to the ISA, telling the public he does not differentiate between Arab and Jewish acts of terror. Many expected Bennett to condemn the handling of these suspects, who have not been permitted to meet with an attorney for weeks, yet Bennett surprised many when he stood firmly behind the ongoing interrogation by the ISA.

Bennett on Wednesday, 11 Teves, accentuated his position in his address to the BaSheva Newspaper Directorate Conference, in which he warns these people and their actions threaten the future of the state. He adds that person responsible for the nation must assume this responsibility and stop viewing themselves as individuals but acting for the good of the nation. Bennett accused those involved in the Duma arson, which claimed the lives of three members of a PA (Palestinian Authority) family, of trying to destroy the State of Israel as we know it, to destroy its government institutions and religious Zionism. He asked his audience “Bottom line, do you believe Itamar Ben-Givir or Ayelet Shaked”, obviously trying to cast a shadow of doubt on Ben-Givir’s integrity.

Responding to Bennett was attorney Itamar Ben-Givir, who represents one of the suspects in custody. He questions how leaders like Bennett prefer to remain silent, apparently unwilling to accept the fact that one of the suspects has already tried to end his life due to the harsh conditions and interrogation. Ben-Givir added “Unfortunately the ISA is taking advantage of the naiveté of the ministers of Bayit Yehudi because of the fact they are unfamiliar with the situation. I suggest to Minister Bennett and Minister [of Justice] Shaked to speak with detainees whom have already been released”.

Ben-Givir warns all the right-wing cabinet ministers that today it may be one of the so-called ‘hilltop youths’ but tomorrow, it can just as easily be a person from Efrat or Alon Shvut and the next day from Ra’anana. “In the eyes of some of the ISA interrogators, the hilltop youths are the enemy and their parents are the parents of terrorists, their neighbors of the hilltop youths are neighbors who endorse terrorism. We must not remain passive in light of this behavior but cry out for such an outcry is most disruptive to the Jewish Unit of the ISA.

Adding credibility to Ben-Givir’s statements, Honenu director attorney Avi Kedar sent an angry worded letter to Bennett, in which he explains he has first-hand information which backs up the harsh allegations stated by Ben-Givir pertaining to the torture of the Duma suspects. He warns Bennett that his failure to speak out today may lead to a Duma-2 and Duma-3, adding to date, the ISA has never denied the harsh allegations leveled at the security agency regarding violence and torture of the detainees. Kedar expresses his shock over Bennett’s reaction to the allegations.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)