Conduct of the Petah-Tikvah police regarding protesters against Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit generated substantial public interest, since it was of unusual nature, and it had serious implications regarding fundamental civil rights in Israel. Moreover, the matter is of unique significance, since already earlier former Justice Minister, Professor Daniel Friedman testified in the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, “It is impossible that the Attorney General would say, the State is me. He cannot make up the law, he cannot shut the mouths of the entire State, not permit anybody to say his opinion...”
READ MORE: http://inproperinla.blogspot.co.il/2017/01/2017-01-22-police-commander-barak.html
Figures: Police commander Barak Mordechai - commander of the Israel Police Petah-Tikvah police station.
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OccupyTLV, January 22 - in view of police violence against Menny Naftali and others, in view of restrictions on public access to Eliezer Roi Street in Petah-Tikvah, and in view of attempts to prevent any demonstration against Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit on location, request was forwarded to commander Barak Mordechai of the Israel Police- to clarify police conduct. Copies were forwarded to the Association for Civil Rights in Israel and former Justice Minister Prof Daniel Friedman, and in wide distribution.
Following is the complete letter:
January
22, 2017
Police
Commander Barak Mordechai
Petah-Tikvah
Station Commander, Israel Police
53
Stemperer Street, Petah Tikvah
Tel: 03-9393444;
By fax: 03-9398702, and by Facebook
RE:
Notice and request for clarification in re: Petah-Tikvah police conduct and
instructions by the Attorney General regarding demonstrations against the
Attorney General in Petah-Tikvah
Your
response within 48 hours is kindly requested. Time is of the essence!
Dear
Commander Mordechai:
On
Saturday night, January 13, 2017, I was “stopped” by the Petah-Tikvah police,
under the false claim of “interference with policeman’s performance of his
duty”, after I sang in the street, alone, across from the residence of Attorney
General Avichai Mandelblit on 6 Eliezer Roi Street, Petah-Tikvah. Consequently, I was detained for hours as
part of an attempt to extort my consent, under threats, to a “Restraining
Order”, prohibiting my access to the area.
In
the weeks before that, I witnessed determined actions by the Petah-Tikvah
Police against demonstrators in the same location, mostly older people, surely
non-violent, including the use of unwarranted violence against Mr Menny Naftali
and others.
I
am also informed:
On
Friday, January 20, 2017, the Petah-Tikvah Police acted in an inexplicable
manner against 2-3 persons, including taking one of them from his home around
2:00am, after he played on the clarinet a Sabbath song at the same location
around 16:00-17:00 in the afternoon.
On
Saturday night, January 21, 2017, the Petah-Tikvah Police acted against
citizens, who were sitting in the Roladin Cafe’, and threatened them with
detention, in order to prevent them from reaching Eliezer Roi Street.
All
such incidents were documented in detail, and gained substantial public
interest, given their unusual nature and their significance relative to
fundamental civil rights in Israel.
Moreover, the matter is of unique significance, since already earlier
former Justice Minister, Professor Daniel Friedman testified in the Knesset
Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, “It is impossible that the Attorney
General would say, the State is me. He cannot make up the law, he cannot shut
the mouths of the entire State, not permit anybody to say his opinion...” [1]
Therefore:
a. I herein
notify you of my intention to arrive at Eliezer Roi Street on Saturday, January
28, 2017, around 19:00, with the intention of singing in the street, alone, or
with others.
b. In case the
Petah-Tikvah Police intents to detain me again for such conduct, I herein
request that you clarify in advance the legal foundation for such conduct by
Police.
c. According
to the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, the Attorney General may
instruct the Israel Police regarding limits on public demonstrations near the
residences of public servants. Therefore, in case there are any instructions by
the Attorney General to the Petah-Tikvah Police regarding public access to
Eliezer Roi Street, and/or regarding demonstrations against the Attorney
General near his residence in Petah-Tikvah, I herein request a copy of any such
record.
There
is no doubt that these matters pertain to the foundations of Civil Rights and
material issues regarding the legal foundation of police conduct. Therefore,
you should respond on instant inquiry within the time stated above.
Truly,
Joseph Zernik, PhD
Human Rights Alert (NGO)
OccupyTLV
CC: Israeli Association for Civil Rights, Prof Daniel Friedman, activists, wide
distribution
LINKS:
[1] 2016-06-08 Prof Daniel Friedman: The Attorney General cannot shut the mouths of the entire state, let nobody state their opinions. Committee News, Knesset Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee
