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Ultra orthodox kids look on at tires set alight by anti-disengagement demonstrators in Jerusalem on Monday. (AP)
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05/18
Haaretz |
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| By Israel Insider staff and partners May 18, 2005 |
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Charges were filed in the Tel Aviv District Court on Wednesday against at least five right-wing activists for trying to block roads in protest of the disengagement plan.
Three of the activists, Rabbi Mordechai Levinstein from the Homesh Yeshiva, Elitsur Levinstein, and Avraham Levkowitz from Elon Moreh, were charged with trying to set a car on fire in order to block the Ayalon Highway.
The indictment states that the suspects obtained the vehicle two weeks ago and loaded it with flammable objects. However, they did not succeed in starting the car and were then caught. The three have been charged with endangering lives and conspiring to commit a crime.
Charges were also filed against Esther Eliezer and Eve Cohen, both from Netanya, for setting a tire on fire on Monday as part of the large-scale blocking of intersections and highways throughout the country.
According to the indictment, Eliezer and Cohen were about to set fire to additional tires and toss them onto the Coastal Road. They have been charged with intentionally endangering lives, for which the maximum penalty can reach 20 years.
According to a release from the Hebron Press Office, a defense lawyer at the Beer Sheva court -- which released seven of ten people arrested at the Beer Sheva road block on Monday -- the detainees' bus was stopped illegally while driving on the road to Beer Sheva, an incident which was followed by a massive rock attack by area Bedouins that the police did nothing to stop.
When the judge asked the prosecutor if these facts were correct, he acknowledged that they were. When the judge asked him what the prosecution's demands were, he allegedly answered, "we want fingerprints."
"What, that's all? For that we need a hearing to continue their imprisonment?," responded the defence lawyer.
Turning to the defendants, he asked, "are you willing to be fingerprinted?" When they answered positively, the judge decreed, "fingerprints and they're free to go."
Jerusalem police on Wednesday arrested right-wing activist Itamar Ben Gvir. Officers searched his car and handed him over to West Bank police for investigation. Ben Gvir said in response that the arrest is part of a conspiracy against him. Authorities have repeatedly tried, unsuccessfully, to make charges against him stick.
According to Arutz Sheva, a total of 561 protesters were arrested. A few dozen were released Monday evening, and 230 people were released on Tuesday during marathon sessions in courts around the country. Most of those released received only light restrictions, such as a ban on being present at demonstrations for a number of days. Some have been ordered to remain under house arrest or to post bail.
About 100 have had their remand extended for between one and five days. Forty have been indicted on charges such as "endangering a vehicle on a roadway" and "attacking a policeman." The accused denied all such charges.
Arutz Sheva reported that 80 people could have been released with restrictions, but chose instead to remain in jail rather than accept any limitations.
Remarkably, sixty people, most of them youngsters, still refuse to identify themselves. Many came to demonstrations without identification or cell phones. Some, when asked to identify themselves, answered "I am a Jew from the Land of Israel" -- the same response that Jewish resisters against British rule gave.
Arutz Sheva reported that among the nearly 200 still in prison, more than half are minors, and 70% are male. The conditions of the detainees vary from prison to prison. In some cases, they have been left without food and restrooms for 12 hours, and in others, they were left handcuffed for eight hours. The youngest prisoner, a 12-year-old girl, was left alone in the Petach Tikvah police station overnight, and slept on a bench. Last night, she also slept in the station -- despite the fact that she identified herself and agreed to restrictions on her release.
According to some arrested, the conditions at the Ma'asiyahu jail in Ramlah -- where detainees wrote "Sharon, Hitler is proud of you" on one of the walls -- are comparable to a five star hotel. A special new wing was added onto the jail, specifically for prisoners arrested due to opposition to the Sharon expulsion plan. Conditions include a new wood bed and mattress, complete with sheets, a towel, soap, shampoo, a new toothbrush and toothpaste. Food is specially prepared and is under the supervision of the 'Badatz' kashrut standards. Prison cells face a huge courtyard and are open from five in the morning until ten at night. Prisoners can participate in Torah classes in the Torah study hall, walk around, read, or sleep. Bathing facilities are available all day. A lawyer is 'on premises' and is available at all times to deal with prisoner complaints.
In Jerusalem, remand extensions were considered for 150 detainees, in Be'er Sheva for 40 detainees, and in additional courts in the central region for 75 detainees.
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