Dozens of demonstrators protested outside the house of Avi Dichter, chief of the Shabak (General Security Service), in Ashkelon last night. They protested what they see as the Shabak's harsh treatment of brothers-in-law Yitzchak Pass and Mati Shvo, who are serving two-year sentences for "illegal possession of eight bricks of dynamite." The two were originally accused of membership in a terrorist organization, but as predicted by their attorney Naftali Wurtzberger, the "mountain yielded only a mouse," and they were convicted only of the lesser charge.
The protestors demand that Shvo and Pass, who live in Maon and Hevron, respectively, be granted benefits equal to others imprisoned for similar crimes. "Even actual murderers, after serving a quarter of their sentence, are allowed 48-hour furloughs with their families," said Elisheva Federman, wife of recently freed administrative detainee Noam Federman. "But Yitzchak Pass and Mati Shvo have not been allowed out even once, even though they have been in prison for a year. The Shabak has targeted them in an attempt to intimidate the Jews of Hevron. The fact that they have not been given normal furlough privileges is a clear sign that the Shabak plans to have them serve their entire sentence without parole, despite their good behavior."
Protesters got as close as police would let them to Dichter's house. They held signs reading, "Not enough that his daughter was killed?" and "Shalhevet was murdered - let her father at least see the rest of his family." The signs referred to the murder of Yitzchak Pass' baby daughter Shalhevet by an Arab sniper in Hevron three years ago.
Some of Dichter's neighbors came out of their homes to find out what the protest was about, and some were supportive of the demonstrators. A few shouts of "We're with you" were heard from vehicles passing through the luxurious coastal neighborhood.
"I came here tonight," said protester Michael Pollack, "because, no matter what they claim Pass and Shvo planned to do, my government does not have the right to treat them as though they are somehow more of a threat than arch-criminals who are routinely given the benefits denied to these two men. I made Aliyah [immigrated to Israel] to live free in the Land of Israel, and I am sick and tired of the Shabak acting as a secret police - throwing Jews in jail on trumped up charges motivated by politics with no regard for civil liberties - while our enemies laugh."
The protestors demand that Shvo and Pass, who live in Maon and Hevron, respectively, be granted benefits equal to others imprisoned for similar crimes. "Even actual murderers, after serving a quarter of their sentence, are allowed 48-hour furloughs with their families," said Elisheva Federman, wife of recently freed administrative detainee Noam Federman. "But Yitzchak Pass and Mati Shvo have not been allowed out even once, even though they have been in prison for a year. The Shabak has targeted them in an attempt to intimidate the Jews of Hevron. The fact that they have not been given normal furlough privileges is a clear sign that the Shabak plans to have them serve their entire sentence without parole, despite their good behavior."
Protesters got as close as police would let them to Dichter's house. They held signs reading, "Not enough that his daughter was killed?" and "Shalhevet was murdered - let her father at least see the rest of his family." The signs referred to the murder of Yitzchak Pass' baby daughter Shalhevet by an Arab sniper in Hevron three years ago.
Some of Dichter's neighbors came out of their homes to find out what the protest was about, and some were supportive of the demonstrators. A few shouts of "We're with you" were heard from vehicles passing through the luxurious coastal neighborhood.
"I came here tonight," said protester Michael Pollack, "because, no matter what they claim Pass and Shvo planned to do, my government does not have the right to treat them as though they are somehow more of a threat than arch-criminals who are routinely given the benefits denied to these two men. I made Aliyah [immigrated to Israel] to live free in the Land of Israel, and I am sick and tired of the Shabak acting as a secret police - throwing Jews in jail on trumped up charges motivated by politics with no regard for civil liberties - while our enemies laugh."