JUSTICE RULES????!!!! (I KNOW this woman!!!)

technic

Thu, Jan 26 2006, 12:04 pm

ARUTZ 7

Sodom and Gomorrah
by David Wilder
Jan 26, '06 / 26 Tevet 5766

In 1983, Deli Landau, then 19 years old, left London to live in Israel. A few years later, she married Menachem, and for over twenty years the couple has lived in Hebron. Menachem is the principal of the Kiryat Arba Religious Junior High School for boys. Deli, in her words, specializes in mops and diapers, while taking care of her eleven children. She is also a professional medic who frequently journeys in Hebron's ambulance to Jerusalem, accompanying, among others, women on their way to give birth. She also cares very much for where she lives, for her land and for her people. Not a bashful woman, Deli makes her opinion known, not only with words, but also with actions.

Last week, on her way into Kiryat Arba from Hebron, Deli was stopped at the gate by a police officer, who asked her if she was from Hebron. When she responded positively, he demanded to see her ID card.

Her response: "If you only demand IDs of Hebron residents, your motives are political."

With that, she put her foot on the gas and drove into Kiryat Arba. Moments later, a police van pulled up behind her and, speaking through a loud speaker, yelled at her to stop. She suddenly heard the policeman screaming that she had tried to run him down. An officer, peering into her car, demanded that several others hand over their Israeli IDs. When they refused, they were arrested. Deli was ordered to follow the police to the local police headquarters. There, she was charged with attacking a police officer (as opposed to attempting to run him down).

However, the primary charge against Deli Landau revolves around the issuance of expulsion orders to Hebron residents of the Mitzpe Shalhevet neighborhood a couple of weeks ago. Two uniformed officers of the Israeli Civil Administration arrived in the neighborhood at about 10:00 in the morning, accompanied by dozens of police, the riot squad, soldiers and journalists. When the expulsion forces met face-to-face with Hebron residents and supporters, a volcano erupted.

During the ensuing fracas, Deli, whose apartment borders the homes of the endangered Mitzpe Shalhevet apartments, stood on a porch and poured a pitcher of water onto people standing under her, in the road. Her goal was several police, but her aim was off, and the water splashed a few yeshiva students who got in the way.

As a result of her attempt to waste water on Israeli expulsion forces, Deli was charged with attacking police officers and rioting.

Last week, following her arrest, Deli and her 15-month-old son spent the night at the N'vei Tirza woman's prison. The next day, during a court hearing, the judge agreed to allow her to spend Shabbat at her parent's home in Jerusalem, under house arrest, until a second hearing. The prosecutor's office was demanding that she be remanded in prison until conclusion of all proceedings against her.

This week, at the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court, Judge Ilta Ziskind rendered the following decision:
1. Deli must remain under house arrest at her parent's home in Jerusalem, until conclusion of expulsion from the Mitzpe Shalhevet neighborhood.

2. Following conclusion of the expulsion, the police will be notified and Deli will be allowed to return to her home in Hebron.

3. Deli is forbidden from being anywhere else in Judea and Samaria for a year.

4. She must deposit 5,000 shekels cash and sign a bail bond for another 20,000 shekels, which will be collected should she violate the court decision, or not appear at trial.
During the hearing, the 'honorable judge' lectured Deli: "As the mother of eleven children, you should be more responsible and refrain from rioting and attacking police. Your children are liable to learn from you actions, and this is one of the reasons you must not be allowed home, to prevent your children from learning from your deeds."

What can we determine from this court decision?
1. The judge has already decided that there will be an expulsion in Hebron. (I asked Deli what will happen if, for some reason, the 'expulsion' is delayed or postponed. Her response: "Wow. I'll really be stuck.")

2. Judges know better than mothers how to educate their children.

3. Israeli courts may punish citizens despite the fact that they haven't been tried or convicted. (Exile from all of Judea and Samaria for a year! I asked Deli if she was allowed to enter Kiryat Arba to go to the doctor, post office, grocery store, etc. She didn't know.)

4. Most importantly: pouring water on a policeman is a horrific crime, to be equated with 'physically attacking police.'