Ofer - Acquittal, Disturbances (demonstrations)

Demonstration or disturbance of law and order?

Translation: Marganit W.

Plea bargain:

Judge: Lieut. Col. Zvi Heilbronn

Defense: Atty. Gaby Lasky

Defendant: Muhammad Amira

On 14.4.17, Muhammd Amira, a teacher from Na’alin, one of the leaders of the non-violent struggle against the separation fence and the confiscation of land, took part in a demonstration.

When the demonstration was over, at a distance of 80 meters from the point of dispersion, he came across a military ambush and tried to run away. A BP policeman shot a sponge round at his nape, injured him and then arrested him. Amira was taken to Hadassah Hospital, where he was handcuffed to a bed. He was later released on bail.

Today a plea agreement was presented to the court with one clause: the offense of “public disturbance”.

The penalty is two months probation with the condition that during one year he does not commit the violation for which he was convicted in this case.

A 3000-shekel bail posted earlier will be returned.

The prosecutor called the agreement lenient, angering the attorney who reiterated that Amira had been injured by the Border Police.

The judge asked Amira if he had anything to say, and the latter said: I agreed to end the process because I am a teacher and I didn’t want my students to miss classes. In addition, I want to stress that I was in my own village, where I am allowed to participate in a non-violent protests.

The judge countered: Contrary to the defendant’s assertion, the legislator has forbidden demonstrations both in Israel and in the [Occupied] Territories, especially when they are aimed at security forces. Such disturbances of the peace tend to degenerate into violent offenses and more severe disturbances.

So we ask again, is this to be called a non-violent demonstration or a disturbance of law and order?