Israeli police this week briefly detained five members of a grass-roots settlers movement on suspicion of incitement and distributing illegal documents.
Police issued the detention orders Monday, after searching the homes of the five men, all of whom belonged to Zo Artzeinu, or This is Our Land, a group that organized recent countrywide protests against Israel’s ongoing negotiations with the Palestinians.
The five, who included Zo Artzeinu leaders Moshe Feiglin and Shmuel Sacket, were released on bail.
Police Minister Moshe Shahal said security forces were acting under instructions from Attorney General Michael Ben-Yair, who called on them to investigate whether the movement was breaking the law.
Shahal also told reporters that he saw no need to ban the group, which he described as a “very extreme, but very weak organization.”
But, he added, “they are certainly preaching for acts against the law.”
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
