Minister of Housing (Bayit Yehudi) Uri Ariel visited with Boaz Albert, the Shomron resident who was the subject to vicious police brutality during a recent arrest during which police used tasers without discretion. After the arrest was captured on video by family members, Police Chief Yochanan Danino announced he was suspending the use of tasers pending the outcome of an investigation into the arrest.

Albert remains distanced from his home community and the Shomron as a result of an administrative order, which is issued based on antiquated British Mandate period law. It permits acting against a person without his benefiting from due process of law. He simply is incapable of defending himself since he is not charged with a crime.

Ariel wanted to give Albert a chizuk, adding the use of such laws is contrary to Israel’s yearning to be a democratic nation. Ariel explained that he also turned to Minister of Public Security Yitzchak Aharonovich seeking an explanation for the unacceptable conduct of the Yassam police involved in the arrest.

Ariel has called for the immediate cessation of the use of administrative orders, adding if there is evidence than one should be charged with a crime under law. If there is no evidence, an administrative detention order is not an acceptable alternative.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)