Second night raid in one month on Yeshivat Od Yosef Chai
Wednesday, February 25, 2015, 9:50 In April of 2014 IDF and border police forces took over the Od Yosef Chai Yeshiva in Yitzhar and turned it into a border police base. On Wednesday, June 11, 2014 Yassam (Special Forces) police attempted to create a provocation in Yitzhar, apparently in order to raise a media storm that would facilitate extending the seizure of the yeshiva. The attempt failed, however Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon extended the seizure warrant by three months. The seizure warrant has been extended several additional times and is still in effect. Currently the yeshiva is operating in temporary structures constructed adjacent to the yeshiva’s permanent dormitories – and continues to suffer from police raids. Late at night on Tuesday, February 24 large numbers of police forces raided Yeshivat Od Yosef Chai in Yitzhar. A 17 year-old resident of the Etzion Bloc attending the yeshiva was detained during the late night raid and taken to the offices of the Department of Nationalist Crime in the Central Unit of the Yehuda and Shomron Police. He was interrogated on suspicion of involvement with an incident in which the tire of an army truck was punctured. The truck was delivering equipment to border policemen who had taken over the beit midrash (study hall) of the yeshiva. Honenu attorney Adi Kedar spoke to the youth in the early hours of the following morning. The youth denied all charges and was scheduled to be brought to the Petah Tikva Magistrate court later the same morning. Honenu harshly criticizes the conduct of the police who repeatedly raid educational institutions in Yehuda and Shomron. This raid was the second in a month at Yeshivat Od Yosef Chai. Additionally on Wednesday, February 18 detectives from the Department of Nationalist Crime in the Central Unit of the Yehuda and Shomron Police detained a 14 year old boy in a raid on the yeshiva he attends in the Binyamin region. The youth was released following an urgent appeal filed by Honenu. Statement from Honenu: “The police raid on the yeshiva in the middle of the night and the detention of minors, in violation of their rights, is a serious outrage. We deplore the conduct of the Yehuda and Shomron District Police who repeatedly violate the rights of Jews. Even the criticism frequently voiced by the courts does not stop their actions. We call on all public figures on whom the responsibility to stop the misconduct of the police rests, to act immediately and without excuses.” Criticism of the Yehuda and Shomron Police by the courts is unfortunately neither a recent nor a rare occurrence. The following are links to a sampling of the numerous previous cases illustrating the situation. December 19, 2011 District court levels strong criticism at police conduct, “The police are making their own laws” July 22, 2102 Judge on mosque arson case: The evidence is weak October 11, 2012 Court accepted both appeals and released all detainees April 23, 2013 Judge stated: The detention of minors is not a means of punishment June 3, 2013 Jerusalem District Court: Police are quick to file futile appeals June 13, 2013 Court: Suspects will be released tomorrow, police conduct is negligent October 15, 2013 Court levels strong criticism at Israeli Police, GSS and rules: Boaz Albert to be released January 10, 2014 Jerusalem District Court rejects appeal, Jews detained in Kfar Qusra incident to be released May 5, 2014 District court judge criticizes police conduct concerning Yitzhar residents February 23, 2015 Judge criticized police conduct, detainee released