2. The latest exploits of Israel's Stasi

From Arutz 7:

Rabbi Levinger May Be Imprisoned For Civil Disobedience

The rabbi, in his seventies, may be jailed Thursday for refusing to agree to be placed house arrest after taking part in the massive coordinated country-wide civil disobedience three weeks ago.

Rabbi Levinger was arrested, along with more than 500 other protesters across Israel on the May 16th "test run" in which 40 major intersections across the country were brought to a halt by anti-expulsion protesters. Though most of those arrested were released within 24 hours, Rabbi Levinger was kept in jail for several days at the prosecution's request.

Last week, Rabbi Levinger received an order to report to the Be'er Sheva court for another hearing, which took place Wednesday. According to Rabbi Levinger, the prosecution is demanding that he be either placed either under house arrest or incarcerated, until conclusion of the proceedings against him.

"The reason is that Rabbi Levinger's acts are not criminally motivated; rather, they are ideologically motivated, thereby making him 'dangerous to the public,'" Hevron spokesman David Wilder said.

Rabbi Levinger's attorney requested that the next hearing be delayed for a week, allowing him time to study the case and prepare a response. However, the judge refused and scheduled another hearing for Thursday at 1:00 PM. Rabbi Levinger has declared that he will not agree to being placed under "house arrest" under any circumstances, meaning that should the judge accept the prosecution's demands, he will be incarcerated.

Scores of Hevron and Kiryat Arba residents have declared that if the rabbi goes to jail, they will go with him. "When a man like Rabbi Levinger is being jailed just because people look to him for truth and guidance, you know that prison has become the refuge of the honest man," said M., a resident of Kiryat Arba. "We will fill the jails and stay there as long as it takes to bring the concept of justice back into the Land of Israel."

An appeal against the judge's refusal to allow a week's postponement is being prepared for submission to the Supreme Court, but should it be denied, a large demonstration is planned for Thursday at 1:00 PM at the Be'er Sheva courthouse.

"The public is invited," stressed Wilder.

3. Israel's Stasi suffers a setback

From Arutz 7:

Police Rebuked for Unacceptable Violations of Basic Rights The Ashkelon Magistrate’s Court yesterday refused to comply with a police request to extend restrictions placed on two Sderot residents accused of seeking to monitor security arrangements for the prime minister. Not only did the court order their unconditional release, the court fined police NIS 1,000, to be paid to the suspects as a compensatory gesture.

In his decision, Justice Chaim Nachmias wrote, “I reject with both hands the request to further infringe on the basic rights and freedom” of the suspects.

Michael Simantov and Misha Sachrov were arrested about two weeks ago by police and Shin Bet agents, accused of seeking information regarding security arrangements for Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s Negev ranch. They were interrogated by Shin Bet agents for nine hours in an Ashkelon facility.

Upon their release, they were barred from meeting one-another or to appear near or meet with the prime minister for thirty days. One of the two added in the coming days, he plans to file a false arrest suit against police.

4. Adding the insult of incompetence to the injury of deportation

From Arutz 7

Agriculture Minister: Gov´t Has No Solution For Katif Farmers

Agriculture Minister Yisrael Katz says that the government has no solution to compensate Gaza farmers for their expulsion and is instead seeking to shift blame to the residents themselves.

5. Other Arutz 7 stories related to the Deportation

IDF Captain Says No to Disengagement Training Exercise

736 People Arrested in 2005 for Protest of Evacuation

Bronfman Family Member Donates $100,000 to Fight Disengagement