Four residents of Kiryat Arba in Judea were arrested late last night at the gas station at the city’s eastern entrance, on suspicion of “planning an attack against Arab property.”
The four were brought before a judge this afternoon, and he extended their custody until tomorrow. The police had asked for an eight-day extension, saying that during a “routine check” of the car in which the four were traveling, they found stocking caps, tear gas, matches, a cutter and a Koran.
Graffiti on some IDF checkpoints "reminds" soldiers that they should not fear legal reprisals against them for carrying out their security jobs: "Better a bad lawyer than a good cantor" - meaning, it's better to be represented in prison by a lawyer than to be represented in the cemetery by a cantor.
Police to Court: Keep Them in Prison While We Look for a Crime
Just several weeks ago, two residents of Yitzhar in Samaria were arrested under similar circumstances. Work tools and gloves were found in their car, and the police tried to link them to reprisal activities against Arabs in the region. After a full week of intensive questioning by the Samaria and Judea Police, the two were freed with no charges. The police had asked to keep them in prison until it was ascertained whether a crime had been committed the night of their arrest.
Honenu Attorney David HaLevy commented at the court hearing: “Generally, after a crime is committed, the police look for evidence and make arrests. But here the police are doing the opposite: First suspects are arrested, then the police look for a crime.”
Other Arrests This Week
Honenu reports on several others who were arrested and released this week: Two minors accused of assaulting Arabs in Jerusalem (placed under house arrest until the end of the week); a resident of Givat HaRojum, near Susiya in southern Judea; three boys in Ramat Migron; two residents of Adei Ad, near Shilo, who were released following an urgent appeal by Honenu; and a Binyamin resident carrying a knife in his car.
No word has yet been received regarding a man from Kedumim who was arrested on charges of attempting to enter Homesh, one of the four Shomron towns destroyed during the Disengagement of 2005.