Rabbi Yitzchak Shapira, the rosh yeshiva of Ohd Yosef Chai Yeshiva in Yishuv Yitzhar, who was summoned for questioning is being remanded on Wednesday. Authorities add the rabbi was summoned for questioning three days earlier, but only decided to appear on Tuesday.

Police of the Shai District questioned Rabbi Shapira in connection to the arson attack against a Kafr Yusuf mosque in December 2009.

According to report, Rabbi Shapira was not cooperative and did not respond to questions posed by police. As a result, he was transferred to an ISA (Israel Security Agency – Shin Bet) facility in Petach Tikvah and he will be brought before a court on Wednesday, at which time the Shin Bet will request he remain behind bars.

Media agencies are reporting that authorities “suspect” the rabbi had prior knowledge of the planned attack, opting to remain silent. Authorities believe he knows the identity of the people who perpetrated the arson attack.

Rabbi Shapira told the media the charges against him are simply untrue and he denies and involvement in the attack. He accuses “someone” of launching an all-out war against Yitzhar and all its residents.

Defense attorney Adi Keidar insists the rav is innocent and he is being subjected to false arrest and unreasonable conditions without cause.

On Tuesday, several tens of the rav’s talmidim accompanied by MK (Ichud HaLeumi) Dr. Michael Ben-Ari protested against the rav’s incarceration outside the Petach Tikvah detention facility.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)