After a battle with the police over the David's Tomb complex: 26 arrested

May 25, 2014   

Ahead of the Pope's visit - a battle with the police: בתום סעודת 'מלווה מלכה' המסורתית, המתקיימת מידי מוצאי-שבת במתחם קבר דוד המלך, התפתחו במקום עימותים אלימים בין המשתתפים לבין כוחות משטרה - בסיומם נעצרו 26 מפגינים. המהומה החלה כאשר קבוצת צעירים התבצרה במתחם הקבר. הצעירים קשרו את עצמם בשרשראות ברזל, ונעלו את דלתות מתחם הקבר בשרשראות. זמן קצר לאחר מכן פרצו למקום כוחות גדולים של משטרה ויס"מ, פרצו את השער המוביל אל אולם הקבר - ופינו את המתפללים מן המקום, תוך שימוש בכוח ובאלימות.

Upon evacuating the compound, a violent brawl broke out at the scene, involving about 150 young people who began attacking the police, according to the police, with stones and bottles. According to the police, several police officers were slightly injured and a vehicle was damaged.

During the clashes, police arrested 26 people on suspicion of disorderly conduct. Among those arrested was a soldier who, according to police, threatened a police officer with his weapon in an attempt to prevent the arrest of his friend.

• The roads that will be blocked during the Pope's visit • And where is parking prohibited?

• Rabbi Kook: David's Tomb for Christians? It is forbidden to pray there. • Judge reprimands police: "Protest against the Pope should be allowed""

The police said this morning in response: "At the end of the Malva Malka event in the Mount Zion area, about 150 young Jews arrived at the Tomb of David complex, began to riot and attack the police with stones and bottles. Some entered the tomb complex and barricaded themselves inside. Several police officers were slightly injured and a police vehicle was damaged. A police force evacuated the tomb complex.

""During the incident, 26 rioters were arrested, including a soldier who threatened a police officer with his weapon in an attempt to prevent the arrest of another. It's quiet at the moment. An investigation has been opened.".

The police, as mentioned, closed the compound. The midnight kollel students, who regularly study there, were forced to move to a nearby synagogue.

 Attorney Itamar Ben-Gvir said in response: "The police lied when they promised that the site would not be closed to Jewish worshippers - and this is happening now, two days before the visit. Last Friday, the court reprimanded the police and ruled that it is permissible to protest against the Pope within a distance of one hundred and fifty meters, but suddenly it turns out that the police are whining about the decision and seeking to silence the protest.".

The arrests, he said, are outrageous false arrests.

Meanwhile, the Jerusalem District Spokesperson's Office stated: "Contrary to publications distributed to the media, the Jerusalem Police are not preventing the suspects who were arrested at David's Tomb early this morning from consulting with an attorney, and have even helped them exercise this right. Immediately upon their arrest and at the request of the detainees, a request was made to the Honenu organization to send an attorney to meet the detainees.".

""Two hours later, after no attorney had yet arrived, another request was made by the area to one of Honenu's attorneys, who was again asked to send an attorney to the detainees. About an hour later (three hours after the first request), the guard at the entrance to the David area reported that an attorney from the Honenu organization had arrived, and requested that a police officer accompany him into the area.".

""Interrogator Merhav David left the interrogation room toward the entrance gate, where he was informed that the lawyer had left the scene before he arrived.".

​