A Samaria farmer arrested two weeks ago after going to retrieve his flock and being attacked by dozens of Arab rioters was released to house arrest by the Petah Tikva Magistrate's Court on Monday. Judge Menachem Mizrahi criticized the police investigation, noting that no shell casings were found, no ballistic testing was conducted, and police acknowledged no one was actually wounded — contradicting earlier claims that the farmer shot and injured an Arab assailant. The Honenu organization's attorneys hailed the ruling as "expected" and said the case would likely end in acquittal. Police announced they will appeal.
A Samaria farmer arrested on June 8 after going to retrieve his stolen flock and being attacked by dozens of Arab rioters was released to house arrest on Monday, following two weeks in custody. The Petah Tikva Magistrate's Court ruling came after Judge Menachem Mizrahi sharply criticized the police investigation: no ballistic evidence was found, no shell casings were recovered, and a police representative admitted that no one was actually wounded — contradicting earlier claims that the farmer shot and injured an Arab assailant. The Honenu organization, which represented the farmer through attorneys Nati Rom and Asaf Gonen, hailed the decision, stating it was "expected" and that the case would likely end in acquittal. The judges' remarks also noted that the available video does not clearly show the suspect firing. Police announced they will appeal to the district court.
As The Zioneer has reported, two Samaria farmers were initially detained after the incident near Huwara; one was released earlier to house arrest on June 17, while the second remained in custody and has now been freed. The broader legal battle follows a pattern of police pursuing charges against Jewish residents who act to protect their property and livestock, while activists and local leaders have criticized law enforcement for what they say is a disproportionate focus on Jewish settlers rather than the Arab rioters who attacked them. The case remains open pending the appeal.
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