Israel Matzav

15-year old Israeli released from jail

15-year old Tirtza Sariel of Elon Moreh was suddenly released from jail today four months after she was arrested for the 'crime' of pouring out an Arab bucket of olives.

Her parents were notified last night that she would be brought to the District Court in Jerusalem this morning at 10:30, before Justice Noam Solberg. The case had been running until now in the lower-level Magistrates Court.

Tirtzah's next scheduled court date, as of yesterday, was several weeks from now, well after the Rosh HaShanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot and Simchat Torah holidays. Until then, she was to have remained in prison - for having fought with Arab olive-pickers.

Justice Solberg ruled today that the girl must be immediately freed from jail - but the prosecution asked for 24 hours in which to appeal the decision. Shmuel Medad, head of the Honenu civil rights organization, predicted that it was possible the request would be withdrawn shortly afterwards, and within an hour, he was proved right.

The judge said that even were Tirtzah to be convicted of the crime of which she was originally arrested for - pouring out an Arab bucket of olives - she would have sat in prison for less time than she has already been there.

Tirtzah refused to sign any papers in connection with the case, saying she does not recognize a Jewish court system that does not operate according to Jewish Law.

Tirtzah's mothe, who was present at the court hearing, told Arutz-7 afterwards, "The prosecutor, in a last-ditch attempt to save face for the Prosecution, gave a whole lecture saying that she had to be punished for not recognizing the court system. It just shows that she was in prison for two and a half months all because she has different opinions than they do!"

...

Even the prosecutor in the case said, at a recent session, that a four-month hiatus before the next session was too long for a 15-year-old girl, but the [lower court CiJ]judge said, "I'm not interested."

With all of the Arab terrorists we have to deal with today, this is what the Israeli prosecutors and court system think is important - to hold a 15-year old in jail for pouring out a bucket of olives. Shame on the prosecutors and the courts!

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:16 AM