Kinneret Rosental - resident of Bat Ayin, daughter of Rabbi Moshe Levinger of Hevron, and 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. Her confusion now turned to panic, she started driving quickly away and ended up hitting a traffic island - on which was standing a police horse. The police forcibly removed her from the car, placed her in hand- and leg-cuffs, and she was charged with aggravated battery. Mrs. Rosental was acquitted of this charge, but found guilty of assaulting and interfering with a policeman and abuse of an animal. If nothing changes, therefore, 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 Kinneret. "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 Kinneret 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, and Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau at (972-2) 537-7872.
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. Her confusion now turned to panic, she started driving quickly away and ended up hitting a traffic island - on which was standing a police horse. The police forcibly removed her from the car, placed her in hand- and leg-cuffs, and she was charged with aggravated battery. Mrs. Rosental was acquitted of this charge, but found guilty of assaulting and interfering with a policeman and abuse of an animal. If nothing changes, therefore, 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 Kinneret. "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 Kinneret 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, and Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau at (972-2) 537-7872.