Recently a policeman ruined a bar mitzva celebration in Jerusalem by detaining one of the members of the family in order to take him to a warning discussion with a Shin Bet coordinator. Honenu Attorney Menasheh Yado is of the opinion the detention was illegal and therefore filed a complaint with the Old City Police Commander and also demanded to know whether or not the Old City Police is backing the policeman and with what authority the policeman carried out the detention for the purpose of a discussion with the Shin Bet.
Attorney Yado wrote that a youth arrived at the entrance to Har Habayis with his father and two brothers, on the day of one of the brother’s bar mitzvah. Knowing that he was distanced from Har Habayis, the youth did not try to ascend. He stated that a policeman stationed at the entrance to Har Habayis called out to him and informed him that he was permitted to ascend Har Habayis on that day and therefore requested that he enter the inspection station. When the youth approached the inspection station the policeman informed him that he was being detained and taken in for interrogation.
The youth was taken to the Old City Police Station, where he was not interrogated but was spoken to by a Shin Bet coordinator who told him that his activity on that day with regard to Har Habayis was legal and that the Shin Bet demands that his actions remain legal. The youth was released but the family’s celebration was marred by the baseless detention.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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One Response
The problem here is that every policeman and “security service” employee from the lowliest who may have been on the job just a week or two to the heads of the police and the Shin Bet, regard themselves an untouchable and able to harass and menace ordinary citizens without cause. There is n o concept of citizens rights in Israel. The only understanding the police have of the word “right|” is that I am always right. Until that changes through action by the courts, i.e. in this case locking up the police concerned to send a strong message about what is permitted in a democratic society – which is the test the courts apply when arabs complain – , nothing will change.