Kineret Rosental - a resident of Bat Ayin, daughter of Rabbi Moshe Levinger of Hevron, and a mother of 11 children - is scheduled to begin a four-month prison sentence in two weeks' time. Her crime: hitting a police horse.
The incident began six months ago when she drove up to a Jerusalem courthouse, and a police officer told her to stop. At the same time, however, another officer told her to go. Confused, she began to drive, and another policeman took out his gun and threatened to break her windshield. Now confused and frightened, she began driving quickly away, ended up hitting a traffic island - on which was standing a police horse - and the police forcibly removed her from the car. She was charged with aggravated battery, but was not found guilty. The charges of assaulting a policeman and abuse of animals, however, did stick, and if nothing changes, the mother of 11 will enter prison two weeks from now.
Esther Lior, wife of Kiryat Arba's Chief Rabbi, has asked the public to support Kineret. "Everyone involved in this story is certain that the ruling was based on political preferences. People who live here are judged differently than everyone else in this country."
If Kineret Rosental does not appeal - based on what some say is her "loss of trust in the judicial system" - it appears that only a presidential pardon can save her from prison. President Moshe Katzav can be faxed at (972-2) 567-1314.
The incident began six months ago when she drove up to a Jerusalem courthouse, and a police officer told her to stop. At the same time, however, another officer told her to go. Confused, she began to drive, and another policeman took out his gun and threatened to break her windshield. Now confused and frightened, she began driving quickly away, ended up hitting a traffic island - on which was standing a police horse - and the police forcibly removed her from the car. She was charged with aggravated battery, but was not found guilty. The charges of assaulting a policeman and abuse of animals, however, did stick, and if nothing changes, the mother of 11 will enter prison two weeks from now.
Esther Lior, wife of Kiryat Arba's Chief Rabbi, has asked the public to support Kineret. "Everyone involved in this story is certain that the ruling was based on political preferences. People who live here are judged differently than everyone else in this country."
If Kineret Rosental does not appeal - based on what some say is her "loss of trust in the judicial system" - it appears that only a presidential pardon can save her from prison. President Moshe Katzav can be faxed at (972-2) 567-1314.