The Jerusalem District Court on Sunday rejected an appeal on behalf of three chareidi women who were ordered to distance themselves from the Jerusalem IDF Induction Center by the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court. The three were arrested for their activities outside the center last week, as reported by YWN-Israel.

As a result, the women, who are part of the ‘Chomosaiyich’ (חומותייך) organization, may not continue their work, standing directly outside the center and trying to persuade females not to serve in the IDF.

An officer in Israel Police decided to distance the women from the induction center by 200 meters for a period of 15 days. The Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court distanced them for 180 and they appealed that ruling to the Jerusalem District Court.

The court stated, “The purpose of the demonstration and the protest can be held from a distance of 200 meters, beyond the fact that the demonstrations near the recruiting center constitute a disturbance and a threatening event for the girls entering the recruiting center”.

On the other hand, it was argued that their behavior was not an offense of incitement to avoid military service, since they only reported to young women who came to the draft office about their rights to be exempt from military service.

Therefore, the court held that there is conduct that is liable to violate public safety and to encourage fraudulence to justify imposing the restriction of expulsion from the recruitment office.

The court ruled that “this is a proportionate condition, intended to prevent repetition of offenses and breach of public order, and which does not violate the right to protest and express the opinion of the appellant”.

In response to the court ruling, attorney Nadav Gedalyahu, who represents the petitioners is quoted telling Kikar Shabbos News “The decision is erred in its essence. No one lied or cheated. We are weighing an appeal to the High Court of Justice”.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)