The Jewish Community of Hevron sent the following letter, entitled "Sharp Protest," to Public Security Minister Landau this week:
This past Friday, Hevron resident Baruch Marzel, father of nine children, was brought before a judge. The Shai (Samaria/Judea) Police District demanded his *arrest until the end of the proceedings* but in the end "settled" for his expulsion from Judea and Samaria - including his own home in Hevron! - for six full months! All this, because during the dismantling of the Gilad Farm he was photographed pushing a policeman.
*Never before was a person distanced from his home for pushing.* But it turns out that when dealing with Yesha residents, and especially with the dismantling of the Gilad Farm, everything is permitted!
The "push" that was photographed pales in comparison to the many dozens of punches, chokings, pushings off the roof, kicks, and other grave acts of violence that the policemen without identity tags perpetrated against citizens in that same incident.
Not one of these violence policemen has yet been charged or arrested, or even ordered not to have contact with the public because of his dangerous violence. The commander of the policemen, Police Maj.-Gen. Shachar Ayalon - who ordered them to arrive without identity tags, thus giving them a dispensation to use violence - was not fired, suspended, or indicted.
All these injustices, as well as the oppressive and unequal law-enforcement, were carried out by the Police Department for which you are responsible. The police have turned into a tool to physically and violently harm Yesha residents, as well as cause harm to their basic civil rights as free people.
* We demand that you actively intervene to stop this injustice.
* We insist that you order the Shai District Prosecutors to return Baruch Marzel home to his wife and children and allow him to live as a free man. (He can be tried - but he may not be punished without a trial.)
* We insist that you demand an intensive investigation against the violent policemen at Gilad's Farm.
*We insist that you suspend Police Maj.-Gen. Shachar Ayalon for having given a blatantly illegal order equivalent to a dispensation to strike without limits at Yesha residents.
We hereby inform you that every day that Baruch Marzel is not allowed to return to his home and family in Hevron - will be a day of an open wound for the Jewish Community in Hevron, and we will see you as responsible for this wound.
Respectfully,
The Jewish Community in Hevron
This past Friday, Hevron resident Baruch Marzel, father of nine children, was brought before a judge. The Shai (Samaria/Judea) Police District demanded his *arrest until the end of the proceedings* but in the end "settled" for his expulsion from Judea and Samaria - including his own home in Hevron! - for six full months! All this, because during the dismantling of the Gilad Farm he was photographed pushing a policeman.
*Never before was a person distanced from his home for pushing.* But it turns out that when dealing with Yesha residents, and especially with the dismantling of the Gilad Farm, everything is permitted!
The "push" that was photographed pales in comparison to the many dozens of punches, chokings, pushings off the roof, kicks, and other grave acts of violence that the policemen without identity tags perpetrated against citizens in that same incident.
Not one of these violence policemen has yet been charged or arrested, or even ordered not to have contact with the public because of his dangerous violence. The commander of the policemen, Police Maj.-Gen. Shachar Ayalon - who ordered them to arrive without identity tags, thus giving them a dispensation to use violence - was not fired, suspended, or indicted.
All these injustices, as well as the oppressive and unequal law-enforcement, were carried out by the Police Department for which you are responsible. The police have turned into a tool to physically and violently harm Yesha residents, as well as cause harm to their basic civil rights as free people.
* We demand that you actively intervene to stop this injustice.
* We insist that you order the Shai District Prosecutors to return Baruch Marzel home to his wife and children and allow him to live as a free man. (He can be tried - but he may not be punished without a trial.)
* We insist that you demand an intensive investigation against the violent policemen at Gilad's Farm.
*We insist that you suspend Police Maj.-Gen. Shachar Ayalon for having given a blatantly illegal order equivalent to a dispensation to strike without limits at Yesha residents.
We hereby inform you that every day that Baruch Marzel is not allowed to return to his home and family in Hevron - will be a day of an open wound for the Jewish Community in Hevron, and we will see you as responsible for this wound.
Respectfully,
The Jewish Community in Hevron