Indictments were handed down against five defendants in the Chatmar Ephraim case in the Jerusalem District Court on Sunday morning, January 8, 2012.

Indictments were handed down against Ephraim Chaikin, Elad Meir, Akiva HaCohen, Meir Ettinger and David Eliyahu, who allegedly entered the IDF command base and destroyed vehicles and other equipment, all in an effort to prevent the removal of area outposts. They are also charged with illegally gathering military information, interfering with public employees and conspiracy to commit crimes.

It appears the prosecution has changed direction and while in the past officials planned to also charge the five of spying against the military in their effort to gather information surrounding plans to remove outposts, the indictment only mentions illegally gathering information, not spying, apparently a legal distinction between the two.

The Honenu human rights organization reports that the defendants are being charged with crimes for simply planning protests against the removal of outposts, concluding “The prosecution crosses all lines and we are now turning into Russia during its darkest days”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)