After Bayit Yehudi Chairman and Education Minister Naftali Bennett came out in support of the Shabak in debate over the treatment of the Jewish detainees in the Duma arson case, now Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, from Bennett’s party, declared that the Shabak investigation is being conducted according to the law. Shaked visited and toured the offices of the Civil Administration, Military Prosecution, and Land Registry on Tuesday to gain a thorough familiarity with the units and their activities. Srugim noted that the last time a justice minister had visited those offices was in the 1990s.
The minister referred to the raging debate in Israel regarding the interrogation of suspects in the Duma case, saying: “These are difficult times for many families and for the people of Israel. Since complaints about the investigation started arriving, I have been in contact with the AG, the State Prosecutor and the head of Shabak, to make sure that red lines are not being crossed. Each procedure is conducted under the close supervision of the judiciary and according to the law.”
Shaked added: “It’s important that the public be aware that the three detainees have seen a lawyer, and their medical state is fine. I was told that they are checked regularly by a doctor. In addition, I am told that, contrary to the claims and publications, there has not been a suicide attempt made by one of the detainees.”
Head of the Civil Administration, Brigadier General David Menachem, explained the activities of his unit, its complexity and its main activities. “There is no doubt that the Civil Administration is one of the stabilizing factors in Judea and Samaria, in addition to security forces,” he said.
As to the visit itself, Shaked said, “I am grateful to the Civil Administration for the enlightening tour. I learned a lot about the work of the Civil Administration, and I am very glad to be here. I wonder how not a single justice minister has visited here since the 90s, given the importance of the issues the unit is dealing with.”
She continued: “I attribute great importance to the role of the Military Prosecutor in the Civil Administration. One of my goals, as minister, and the ministry’s objective is to improve the service provided to the citizens in these regions. I was presented with data on the slow progress of cases at the initial registration committee. We will work shoulder to shoulder in order to improve the service provided the citizens. A lot of good changes can be implemented to streamline these processes, and I hope that we’ll maintain our cooperation.”