Kineret Rosental, mother of eleven and daughter of Rabbi Moshe Levinger, will begin her four-month prison sentence today. 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, at which time another policeman took out his gun and threatened to break her windshield. Beginning 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 and 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.
Legal sources say that under the circumstances - no one was hurt, nor was there an intent to hurt, her family situation, and no previous criminal record - a sentence of public service should have been expected.
Mrs. Rosental refused both to appeal the verdict or to request a pardon, saying that she has no trust in the system. "An injustice has been done, and will continue to be done, and in such cases, one does not beg," she has been quoted as saying, with the backing of her husband. Her parents, however, have not lost all faith in Israel's legal processes, and have requested a Presidential pardon from President Moshe Katzav. Despite Kineret's lack of involvement, sources close to the family hint that "faxes from the public are very helpful." 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, at which time another policeman took out his gun and threatened to break her windshield. Beginning 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 and 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.
Legal sources say that under the circumstances - no one was hurt, nor was there an intent to hurt, her family situation, and no previous criminal record - a sentence of public service should have been expected.
Mrs. Rosental refused both to appeal the verdict or to request a pardon, saying that she has no trust in the system. "An injustice has been done, and will continue to be done, and in such cases, one does not beg," she has been quoted as saying, with the backing of her husband. Her parents, however, have not lost all faith in Israel's legal processes, and have requested a Presidential pardon from President Moshe Katzav. Despite Kineret's lack of involvement, sources close to the family hint that "faxes from the public are very helpful." Katzav can be faxed at (972-2) 567-1314, and Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau at (972-2) 537-7872.