No representatives of the Defense Ministry or the Public Security Ministry were present Tuesday morning, when the Knesset's Knesset Committee met to discuss the arrest and rough treatment of Member of Knesset Michael Ben-Ari during a recent demonstration in Yitzhar. Dr. Ben-Ari (National Union) required hospital treatment for injuries suffered at Yitzhar, when he tried to intervene on behalf of youths who were detained for protesting the government's uprooting of outpost communities in Judea and Samaria.
A letter sent to the committee by the Chief of Staff's office said, "The Israel Defense Forces expect the elected leaders of the public not to contribute to incitement and to act according to instructions and directions given by security forces." A number of Members of Knesset protested the absence of the officials. MK Aryeh Eldad, also of the National Union, said the security establishment was showing contempt for the Knesset and noted that at issue was the immunity of a Knesset Member from prosecution.