The Petach Tikva Magistrate's Court rejected on Friday the police's request to extend the detention of a man who was arrested at the Yitzhar Junction protesting the demolition of a house in the town.
Judge Amit Michals also ordered the release of a boy who was also arrested at the demonstration and criticized the police who held him in custody until the court hearing. She wrote, "It would have been better if the investigating unit had ordered that the suspect be conditionally released already at the police station."
Attorney Nati Rom of the Honenu legal-aid organization, who represented the defendants, said, "Again the court scolds the police, and makes it clear that this is a case that should not have ended in an arrest and reached the doorstep of the Court. I hope that this time the police will pay attention and immediately stop this scandalous behavior."