Jerusalem Magistrate Court Judge Keren Miller ordered the release of two minors detained on the night of Wednesday, 29 Cheshvan, on suspicion of participating in a protest at the Ofra Junction against the destruction of Amona. Judge Miller imposed strict restrictions on them and explained that the reasons for the conditions are the ideological motivation of the protest and situation in the region due to the planned evacuation of Amona.

The police stated that the two minors were detained in Ofra after a protest at the Ofra Junction during which the road was blocked with rock and burning tires. Judge Miller ruled that there is not a reasonable suspicion that the detained minors had placed rocks and tires, and rather they are suspected of only participation in the protest and violating the public peace. During their interrogation, the two minors, aged 14 and 15, denied being involved with the protest.

During the deliberation Honenu Attorney Avichai Hajbi, who represented the minors, stated that contrary to the law both of them were strip-searched by the Binyamin Police and that they are due compensation from the police for undergoing such a search. Judge Miller refused Hajbi’s demand for the police representative to clarify the matter during the deliberation.

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Minors detained over Amona fliers

On the morning of Sunday 4 Kislev, detectives from the Department of Nationalist Crime in the Central Unit of the Yehuda and Shomron Police detained two minors aged 14 and 17 on suspicion of distributing fliers to border policemen and soldiers at the Tapuach Junction. The fliers call on security forces to refuse orders to destroy Amona and expel the 42 families living there.

The two minors were taken to the Department of Nationalist Crime in the Central Unit of the Yehuda and Shomron Police and interrogated on suspicion of “incitement to refuse orders”. Honenu Attorney Nati Rom, who arrived at the police station to give the minor legal counsel, said that the police interrogators refused to allow the minors’ parents to be present during the interrogation, in violation of the Youth Law. Honenu considers the detention to constitute a serious violation of freedom of expression.

“Sitting here is a 14-year-old whom policemen threatened to beat and whose parents the police have not allowed to be present during interrogation, as if he is a terrorist,” said Rom at the police station. “The police have passed all limits. The Central Unit detained a 14-year-old minor because he distributed fliers? Civilians are allowed to express their opinions even if they oppose way of thinking of the police and the High Court. The silencing of dissent must stop immediately.”

The flier which the police claim was distributed by the minors was produced in light of the preparations by the IDF and the police to destroy Amona.

Translation by Honenu of the flier’s text: “Soldier/policeman! The State of Israel has decided to destroy a community in Israel. To carry out the destruction, security forces, of which you are a part, have been chosen. This decision damages the values of the Jewish nation that have a part of us and have guarded over us for thousands of years. This decision harms many Jews. This decision harms you. You can choose not to participate in the destruction. You can be the best soldier in the real war – the war for our values and for our country. Say now to your friends and your commanders that you will not participate in fulfilling this type of order!”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)