During yesterday's 'vehicle protest' on the main roads in Israel, several unusual incidents were recorded - one of which was particularly outrageous: a car driver driving on Highway 1 pointed a gun through the window at protesters.
The police announced this morning (Thursday) that they arrested him last night for questioning with a warning at the Harel police station, and that his personal weapon was seized by the police.
But not surprisingly, the court decided today to release him to house arrest, claiming that he is not dangerous.
Judge Ariel Erlich, a judge at the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court, described the horrific act: "The respondent passed by the scene while driving his car. As he passed a group of protesters, driving slowly, he took out his gun through the open window, pointing it at the protesters. During his interrogation, he initially claimed that the gun was lowered, then claimed that it was pointed at Israel. When he was shown the video, he admitted that it was pointed at the protesters.".
Despite this, and even though the judge determined that the investigative material in the case raises reasonable suspicion of a crime and that "there is no evidence that a threat with a weapon poses a great danger" - he decided to release the suspect to house arrest.
Among the reasons for the decision: the suspect has no prior criminal record, the gun was handed over to the competent authorities, and there is no danger that he will return and threaten. However, the judge's most outrageous claim is that "the circumstances of the incident are unique.".
""The offense was allegedly committed in a situation of tension and panic, with enforcement authorities not providing a response. The blockade itself creates a serious hazard, which in itself also poses a great danger to the public, as has already been ruled by the Supreme Court. This does not, of course, mitigate the seriousness of the offense if it was committed, but it does limit the danger and allow it to be addressed as an alternative to arrest," the judge explained.
According to the judge's decision, the suspect will have to appear for questioning upon request, remain under house arrest until June 29, is prohibited from contacting anyone involved in the case, and post bail for his arrest.
MK Meir Porush responded to Judge Ehrlich's decision:
""Releasing from custody a man who pulled a gun on protest participants yesterday is essentially conveying a message of bloodletting for the Haredi public. There is no doubt that Ehrlich's inspiration stems from the approach of Judge Solberg, Attorney Miara, and Commissioner Levy, which permeates the 'gatekeepers' - the judges and police officers.".
""We saw in front of the cameras last week how the bad police, who are supposedly 'gatekeepers', beat Haredim until they bled.".
He said, "There is great concern that officials in the Ministry of Justice who are called 'gatekeepers' are also acting in the same evil, only wrapped in robes and ties and in closed rooms without cameras.".
""These and those, unfortunately, are called 'gatekeepers,' but among them there are those whose evil and hatred for Torah scholars leads them to harm the Haredi public - whether it be through beatings, whether it be through decisions, or whether it be by shedding their blood.".
