Description

Photos: Published by Haaretz
A protest on Route 1 connecting Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, calling for the government to reach a deal to release the hostages, in April. Credit: Moti Milrod

Protest march calling for the hostages' return, in July. Credit: Olivier Fitoussi

Police officer at an anti-government protest near the central Israeli city of Ra'anana, last month. Credit: Tomer Appelbaum

Activist Michal Deutsch being arrested by police officers, in Jerusalem, in July. Credit: Olivier Fitoussi
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The 64-year-old activist was first arrested last month at an anti-government protest he helped organize, and again this week at his home. 'Police officers entered my house? Why? If they had called, I would've arrived at the station myself,' he said

by Nir Hasson for Haaretz
Aug 2, 2024 3:23 pm IDT

Seven police officers arrived Tuesday night at the Jerusalem-area home of an anti-government activist, "Y," and arrested him, for the second time, on suspicion of being involved in a demonstration that took place three weeks earlier, during which activists blocked Israel's Route 1 and burned a tire on the road.

Several hundred residents of the Mevasseret Zion area and the so-called Jerusalem corridor communities protest weekly at the Hemed interchange on Route 1 that connects Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. 64-year-old Y, a manager at a high-tech company, is one of the protest group's leaders.

On July 7, as many demonstrations were held across Israel, Y was one of the organizers of the protest on Route 1. He set out early that morning with a group of older protesters to hang signs and banners on the Armored Corps memorial sites on the way to Jerusalem.

"My father, who passed away a few years ago, used to escort these convoys [to Jerusalem] and was wounded in the war [of 1948]. Before he died, he said this wasn't the country he hoped for. You could call this closure if you like," he told Haaretz.

"We started walking toward Route 1 when a police officer approached me and said: 'You won't stand on the road.'" According to Y, the group told the officer that all protesters would stand on the side of the road, but the former replied "no," telling Y that he would "put him in jail today."

When the protest ended, Y was arrested near his car by the same police officer. He was suspected of being among the drivers who delayed traffic on Route 1, thus allowing another protester to set a tire on fire on the road. Y was questioned by the police and released to five days of house arrest after several hours. He was also banned from participating in illegal protests for two weeks.

According to the police, Y is suspected of offenses including endangering human life on a transportation route, aiding arson, conspiracy to commit a crime and behaving in a way that could have disrupted public order.

Y appealed the release conditions through attorney Elinor Matitia from the legal aid team of the protest movement. The appeal, however, was rejected and the judge also granted the police's request to continue holding Y's phone.

This week, a day after right-wing activists, ministers and lawmakers stormed two IDF bases demanding the release of nine reservists who had been detained as part of an investigation into "suspected substantial abuse of a Palestinian detainee," the police arrived at Y's home.

"They hopped over the entrance gate, knocked on the door and said they had an arrest warrant," Y said. "Police officers entered my house? Why? If they had called, I would've arrived at the station myself," he said.

As he got ready to leave with them, the officers entered the bedroom and even instructed Y to keep the bathroom door open. In the station, he was questioned again and presented with evidence extracted from his phone. He was later released to five days of house arrest and banned from participating in illegal protests for 30 days.

"I called my 93-year-old mother when I was released. I tried to explain to her what happened in the calmest way possible. She told me, 'Be strong, I'm proud of you,'" he said.

According to the police, Y is suspected of offenses including endangering human life on a transportation route, aiding arson, conspiracy to commit a crime and behaving in a way that could have disrupted public order.

Y appealed the release conditions through attorney Elinor Matitia from the legal aid team of the protest movement. The appeal, however, was rejected and the judge also granted the police's request to continue holding Y's phone.

This week, a day after right-wing activists, ministers and lawmakers stormed two IDF bases demanding the release of nine reservists who had been detained as part of an investigation into "suspected substantial abuse of a Palestinian detainee," the police arrived at Y's home.

"They hopped over the entrance gate, knocked on the door and said they had an arrest warrant," Y said. "Police officers entered my house? Why? If they had called, I would've arrived at the station myself," he said.

As he got ready to leave with them, the officers entered the bedroom and even instructed Y to keep the bathroom door open. In the station, he was questioned again and presented with evidence extracted from his phone. He was later released to five days of house arrest and banned from participating in illegal protests for 30 days.

"I called my 93-year-old mother when I was released. I tried to explain to her what happened in the calmest way possible. She told me, 'Be strong, I'm proud of you,'" he said.