Supreme Court president: Haredi rampage at justice’s home was attack on rule of law |
Chief Justice Isaac Amit on Thursday denounced the attack on Deputy Chief Justice Noam Sohlberg’s home by ultra-Orthodox rioters the night before, calling it an assault on the entire legal system and the rule of law.
Dozens of draft protesters gathered at Sohlberg’s home in the Alon Shvut settlement and shattered windows, broke flowerpots by the front door of the house, smashed the windshield of a car in the garage, and displayed a small Israeli flag with a swastika in place of the Star of David. Police arrested 62 people in connection with the incident.
In a letter to judges and other court employees, Amit extended his support to Sohlberg, who was at home with his wife, children and grandchildren during the assault, and said that efforts to intimidate judges will not work.
“The serious acts of violence directed at the deputy president [of the court] and his family are, in effect, an attack on the entire judicial system and on the rule of law in the State of Israel,” wrote Amit, together with Judge Tzahi Ouziel, director of the Court’s Office.
“Attempts to exert pressure on, intimidate, or deter judges will not affect the performance of their duties. Israel’s judges will continue to carry out their work professionally, independently, and without fear, in accordance with the law and their duty to the public,” Amit and Ouziel wrote.
They added that the judicial authority will take any action necessary to protect judges and other court staff.
The Haredi demonstrators, who were protesting efforts to draft members of the community into the army, tried to flee the scene on a bus but were stopped by police.
The 62 suspects were to be brought before a judge for a hearing on the extension of their detention later Thursday.
Police seized GoPro cameras and drones that the rioters had with them, according to a report from the Ynet outlet.
A police spokesperson, Chief Superintendent Mirit Ben Mior, told Ynet........