Welcome to Israeli Democracy

Talk - and it's jail for you.

Here.

Settler activist charged for complaining to prosecutor - at his home

A right-wing activist was detained on Tuesday after coming to the home of Deputy State Prosecutor Shai Nitzan to complain about a restraining order that bars his brother from the West Bank. In an unusual step, police prosecutors indicted him a day later. [Ynet claims two arrested. His wife, too?]

The indictment charges Elhanan Gruner, of the settlement of Yitzhar, with trespassing and making threats.

...Gruner arrived at Nitzan's home in Jerusalem's Ramot neighborhood Monday evening, accompanied by his wife. The indictment submitted to the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court says that Gruner threatened and mocked Nitzan, telling him, "You should be ashamed of evicting Jews from their homes."

Gruner accused the prosecutor of "barring my brother, Ariel Gruner, from his home in Judea and Samaria [the West Bank], and now ... of barring others from their homes."

Gruner also allegedly threatened Nitzan's children, telling them, "You should be ashamed of having such a father."

...Nevertheless, Nitzan told the police when questioned that he did not feel threatened by the confrontation.

Police asked the court to extend Gruner's remand until the end of his trial, arguing that the severity of his acts was exacerbated by the fact that he committed them "out of ideological motivations and because of his faith, and it is no coincidence that he specifically chose Nitzan as a target."

...Winograd ordered Gruner released on condition that he make no contact with Nitzan for six months and stay 300 meters from his home or place of work. However, the activist will remain in custody while police appeal his release to the Jerusalem District Court.

Read Hebrew? Go here.