On the night of Wednesday 10 Iyar and police forces raided Yitzhar and served four students of Yeshivat Od Yosef Chai, two of them minors, with administrative orders banning them from entering Yehuda and Shomron.

The two minors were served with orders banning them from entering Yehuda and Shomron for six months. One of them is allowed to enter the community of his residence in Gush Etzion. The adults were served with orders banning them from entering Yehuda and Shomron for four and nine months. All four students are prohibited from making contact with approximately 20 specific individuals. The orders are signed by IDF Central District Commander Major-General Roni Numa and Home Front Commander Brigadier-General Dedi Simchi.

The orders were issued without presenting evidence or a holding a trial and rely on ordinances for times of emergency dating from the British Mandate. Major-General Numa’s orders were issued after he was convinced that “[the order] is essential for the security of the State, the peace of the public, and maintaining public order.” Brigadier-General Simchi’s order was issued after he examined “intelligence information” which indicated “involvement with illegal activities and violence which endanger Palestinians and their property.”

Approximately one month ago the six-month order one of the recipients had previously received came to an end and he returned to his yeshiva. As is currently happening to other youths, the Shin Bet decided to issue an additional order.

Also in the raid on the night of Wednesday 10 Iyar a Binyamin resident studying in Yitzhar was detained for interrogation, at the close of which he is expected to be released and two Yitzhar residents were summoned for interrogation by the police, the reason for which is not clear.

Honenu strongly criticizes the orders: “The Defense Minister has given the impression that he is losing all connection to his own values, and does not understand how a proper government works. Yesterday he told IDF officers to say whatever was on their minds, even if they oppose the viewpoint of the elected government, in effect advocating a military coup. Today he issued more administrative orders as if there is no longer a need to present evidence, bring proof and hold a trial in Israel. Who will stop the decline down this slippery slope?”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)