On the morning of Sunday 4 Tammuz, two Jewish minors were detained in Migdal HaEmek on suspicion of involvement with a nationalistically motivated incident, taken to a Shin Bet facility, and forbidden to meet with an attorney.

Honenu is representing the minors and intends to file an urgent appeal on the decision to forbid meeting with an attorney. Not allowing consultation with an attorney is a step intended for terrorists considered “ticking time bombs”, however in recent years it has been frequently used against Jewish youths suspected of property violations involving Arab property.

Honenu in a statement said: “Once again minors have been taken to an ISA facility and forbidden to meet with an attorney, an extreme step which violates their basic right to legal representation. Democratic rights in Israel are being trampled and no-one is raising even the slightest protest.

“We have already seen how Kochav HaShachar’s youth coordinator, a recipient of the President’s Award For Excellence in the IDF, was held in remand by the Shin bet for over 10 days under severe conditions as if he were the worst terrorist and then, six months later, the Attorney General’s office formally acknowledged what Honenu had asserted from the very first moment he was detained: the youth coordinator never had any connection to any violation of the law.

“This situation should make anyone who cares about citizens’ rights lose sleep. Unfortunately, it appears that the public has not yet internalized the severity of the matter.”

Details of the investigation and of the detainees are under a gag order.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)