Attorney Nati Rom of the Honenu organization, representing Samaria farm owner Uriya Cohen, responded to the filing of the indictment Thursday by calling it "thin" and noting that most of the serious charges initially filed were dropped. Rom stated that the state itself acknowledges the incident began after the theft of Cohen's herd and that his client appeared to be acting to de-escalate violence, not lead it. Cohen's remand was extended until the preliminary evidence hearing in about a week and a half.
Attorney Nati Rom of the Honenu organization, representing Samaria farm owner Uriya Cohen, responded Thursday afternoon to the state's filing of an indictment against his client, calling it 'thin' and noting that most of the serious charges initially filed have been dropped. Rom's statement came after the State Prosecutor's Office submitted the indictment earlier in the day, which the defense argues exposes gaps between earlier police allegations and the actual charges.
As The Zioneer reported Thursday at 12:44, the indictment accuses Cohen of firing a warning shot during a search for a stolen herd, but drops earlier police claims that he shot and wounded an Arab assailant. Honenu has accused police of running a false campaign and concealing exculpatory evidence — allegations the organization reiterated in a background report published Wednesday evening (June 24, 22:30 Jerusalem). The Jerusalem District Court had on Monday evening overturned a magistrate's ruling and ordered Cohen held until an indictment was filed, as The Zioneer reported Tuesday at 21:54 Jerusalem.
Rom argued that the state itself acknowledges the incident began after Cohen's herd was stolen in the Huwara area, and that his client appeared to be acting to de-escalate violence, not lead it. He added that Cohen is a respected figure who received commendations from senior IDF officials for shielding tanks from drones early in the war.
Cohen's remand was extended until a preliminary evidence hearing in about a week and a half. It remains unclear whether the state will file charges against any Arab suspects in the same incident — no such charges have been reported by The Zioneer.
3 developments
- DevelopingFarm owner's advocate claims police fabricated case in Samaria herd theft incident
- DevelopingDetention extended for two Samaria farmers after they retrieved stolen flock; lawyers say case weak
- DevelopingDistrict Court overturns house arrest, orders farm owner Uriya Cohen held until indictment
- DevelopingSamaria farmer released after two weeks in custody, judge criticizes police case
Source and signal
- Internal intake