The State Prosecution has informed the lawyers representing over 60 minors charged with non-violent infractions during Disengagement protests that the charges will be dropped.
The minors in question - many of whom have since passed age 18 - have been living in a cloud of uncertainty for over two years, never knowing whether they might suddenly face a criminal trial for their ideological protest actions.
The minors whose cases are being closed were involved in the Kfar Darom synagogue roof resistance during the destruction of that Gush Katif community, as well as road-blockings in the weeks leading up to the expulsion. The Prosecution refuses to drop similar charges against those who were over 18 when they committed the alleged crimes.
MK Rabbi Yitzchak Levy (National Religious Party), speaking on Arutz-7's Hebrew newsmagazine show, said, "There should be no difference between minors and adults in this regard, and the charges against both should be dropped... Over 95% of these cases do not involve real violence, and there is no reason they should not be closed."
Levy said that legislation is in the works to close all cases of anti-Disengagement protest activities that do not involve violence, whether the perpetrators were adults or minors.
Several MKs have been involved in the efforts to drop the charges. MKs Levy, Yuli Edelstein (Likud), Otniel Shneller (Kadima), David Rotem (Yisrael Beiteinu), and David Azulai and Yechiel Amsalem of Shas were among those who met with Attorney General Menachem Mazuz on this matter.
Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann met with MKs of the National Union-National Religious Party several weeks ago, and expressed his opinion that road-blocking cases involving only disturbance to traffic should be closed.