Right-wing activist, Hebron resident and attorney Itamar Ben-Givir scored another judicial victory against Israel Police. Police will have to pay 10,000 NIS to a “Return to the Mountain” (חוזרים להר) organization activist who was falsely arrested on Independence Day, detained overnight and subjected to a humiliating search.

The complainant, who was a minor at the time, was taking part in an event organized by the organization, which promotes return to Har Habayis. At some point a policeman believed the youth violated the restrictions set forth for Jewish visitors and decided to take him in to the station. When the young man’s bag was searched police found “Kahana was right” and “Free Har Habayis” stickers. The young man was then subjected to a humiliating search. Ben-Givir was called and in an urgent petition to a court, an order was issued for his immediate release. Police nonetheless did not comply with the order until morning.

The complainant was seeking 25,000 NIS in damages, claiming his rights were violated.

“Attorney Ben-Givir commented on the verdict, “I hope that the case at hand as well as many others that ended awarding damages against the police and/or officers will direct the operation of Israel Police. There is no place for a degrading body search and abusive treatment of detainees and certainly they should have to comply with the decision of the Court ordered the immediate release of the young man. While I understand that most Israel Prison Authority officers who were on duty at the time were not awake, if a judge could get up to hear the petition and I myself ran from courthouse to courthouse to file the appeal, there is no reason wardens will not comply with the judge’s decision ”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)