Two 16-year-olds accused of attacking police officers will remain in prison until trial, High Court Justice Asher Grunis ruled Monday. A District Court had ordered police to find an alternative to jail due to the suspects' ages.
The two minors allegedly joined a large group of men from the Israeli Arab city of Taibe in rioting against the Cast Lead operation in Gaza. They are accused of participating in an illegal gathering and throwing rocks at officers.
Police asked that the two be kept in jail until their trial, a request that the local Magistrates Court accepted. Defense attorneys appealed to the District Court, which overturned the lower court's ruling, leading prosecuting attorneys to in turn appeal to the High Court.
In his verdict, Grunis explained that “the special period we're in” made it necessary to keep the two suspects in prison. “When I say 'special period,' I mean the disturbances taking place throughout the country,” Grunis clarified. Dozens of riots and attacks had been reported as Israeli Arabs protested the IDF campaign in Gaza.