An Ashkelon court rejected a request from Israel Police to extend the remand of Gilad Kleiner, who was arrested earlier this week for publicly expressing support for the stabbing attack at the Jerusalem toeiva parade perpetrated by Yishai Schlisel. A teenage girl was murdered in that attack, which left five others injured. Kleiner used Facebook to get his message applauding the fatal attack out to the world.
The court explained that while Kleiner violated the terms of his first release, to refrain from using Facebook, taking his personal reality into consideration accompanied by the fact people have informed the court they will take responsibility for him, there is no reason not to send him home to house arrest and all electronic devices must be removed from the home.
Attorney Itamar Ben-Givir is representing Kleiner. He explains his client’s actions are not condoned by him and while they upset him, they are no different than when an Arab woman working in a bank expressed support for killing IDF soldiers or when the Arab community is pleased upon hearing of the abduction of soldiers. “I did not see the prosecutor file charges in those cases, not to mention no one was arrested and one gets the feeling he is being hounded and there is discrimination. We will file an appeal against the harsh restrictions surrounding Kleiner’s release”.
Kleiner, a resident of Kiryat Malachi, last week posted his message on Facebook against the toeiva community and expressed support for the stabbing attack perpetrated by Schlisel, questioning why he did not finish the job. Kleiner was arrested and released on Thursday, 14 Menachem Av with restrictions including staying off of Facebook. He violated this by posting to Facebook again, and he was arrested again.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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One Response
Business as usual for the Jews in the only democracy in the Middle East. Of course the Arabs have full freedom of expression in Israel and can dance in the streets and give out candy when their brothers and sisters bomb and murder Jews.