Following the kidnapping of the three youths in Gush Etzion on Thursday night 14 Sivan, a group of Betar Illit residents went out to protest near the entrance of the city on motzei Shabbos Parshas Shelach 5774. According to police reports several youths threw rocks at Arab cars passing by and two youths, aged 14 and 16, both residents of Betar Illit, were detained. The youths were taken to the Hebron Police Station and the following morning were brought to the Jerusalem Magistrate Court where the police requested a 48-hour remand extension.

Honenu attorney David HaLevi, who represented the youths, pleaded that the identification of the detainees as the youths who threw the rocks lacked proof. According to the police representative an IDF officer identified the youths, but a few hours later they were detained by a different policeman. According to HaLevi it is impossible to prove that the two youths threw rocks because there were many protesters at the site.

Judge Mordechai Kaduri decided in the end to order the two youths released to house arrest until Tuesday, 19 Sivan.

“We reason that the police rushed to carry out detentions even though the evidence against the youths was weak to the point of being nonexistent,” stated Honenu attorney David HaLevi, who represented the youths.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)