'A tempest in a teacup'

Shin Bet arrests two Sderot residents on suspicion of gathering information reagrding Sharon's security arrangements; suspects released after questioning
By Efrat Weiss and Shmulik Haddad

SDEROT - The Shin Bet and Israel Police arrested two Sderot residents Tuesday suspected of gathering information regarding security arrangements at Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Sycamore ranch in the Negev.

A third Sderot resident, who had worked as a security guard for a private company hired to protect the ranch, was also questioned on suspicions of transferring security information to the two suspects.

The three were released after nine hours of questioning, but restraining orders barring them from going near Sharon were placed on them.

Shin Bet officials said security forces would act severely against those planning to illegally act against the prime minister.

'A conspiracy'

One of the suspects, Moshe Shachor, is a 30-year-old father of four who is known for organizing local right-wing protests.

"They took me to a holding facility in Ashkelon and I was surprised to discover it was a Shin Bet investigation," Shachor told Ynet.

"I didn't have any idea what they were talking about, and then they told me they had obtained a small excerpt from a conversation. They (the police) based their conspiracy theory on this."

He claimed the investigators later apologized and said, "it's worth our while to arrest. We are worried about national security."

"It took them nine hours to investigate me in order to understand that this is drivel," Shachor said. "It's all part of the pressure the prime minister is under, and it also explains the strange suspicions against us."

He said he was not concerned about administrative detention because he knew all along he was innocent.

"We are ready to continue and fight and do all we can to prevent the disengagement, while abiding by the law," Shachor said.

'A tempest in a teacup'

About 50 Sderot residents gathered at the local police station and conducted the evening prayer service in solidarity with the suspects.

"Here we are with 50 other Sderot residents who are protesting and nothing is happening to us," Shachor told Ynet following his release. "This is the first time I have ever been arrested by the Shin Bet."

His wife told Ynet the arrest was nothing more than "a tempest in a teacup" and just another Shin Bet ploy to act against those who oppose the scheduled pullout.

The second suspect, Michael Simantov, said he also knew all allegations against him would be refuted.

"They (security forces) are under immense pressure because of the disengagement," he said. "Each kippa-wearing citizen has become a suspect…I was surprised when they told me what I had been suspected of."

Simantov claimed the arrests were an attempt to stop anti-pullout protesters from demonstrating against the "cursed plan."