Kfar Darom youth taken into custody
Protesters who had barricaded themselves in the settlement's synagogue and on its rooftop taken into police custody; will spend the at prison in Beer Sheva
Four buses transporting dozens of Kfar Darom youth protesters who had barricaded themselves in the settlement's synagogue and on its rooftop arrived Thursday evening at the Beer Sheva prison, where they will spend the night.
The detainees, ranging from ages 11 to 21, will be placed in the Dekel prison, a wing of the Beer Sheva prison, established specially to hold pullout prisoners.
Additional buses are expected to arrive from other areas in Gush Katif during the night.
Concerned parents from around the country arrived at the prison in search of their children.
Dekel Prison Chief Superintendent Yossi Cohen greeted the parents outside in order to answer their many questions.
He told them to return home, as all the children who had arrived at the prison would spend the night under investigation. He said children who would identify themselves following questioning would be able to call home.
"It seems that 14-year-old minors who have no prior criminal record and who did not aggressively assault policemen will be released," Cohen said in response to the parents' question of what would happen to their children.
"Whoever does not identify themselves will not be released and will remain in custody until he does so," he said.
'Jews from the land of Israel'
Those who were arrested during the day but did not arrive at the prison, were released. Each of the detainees received water and drinks. However, they refused to eat and most refused to identify themselves, saying they were "Jews from the land of Israel."
Only a small group of parents who arrived at the prison knew for certain their children had been among those barricaded on the rooftop of Kfar Darom's synagogue.
One father from Petah Tikva told Ynet his son had sent him a message Wednesday night asking him advice regarding what he thought would be the best place for him - inside the synagogue or on the roof.
"I was asleep at the time and could not advise him to stay inside," he said. "After he went up on the roof he could no longer get down. The leaders told the youngsters at the synagogue they would not use violence, what later turned out to be untrue."
The father said the children were misled and brainwashed.
The youngsters are to have their detention extended Friday morning at a magistrates court especially established in the prison.
Cohen advised the parents to return in the morning with a lawyer, and personal belongings, should the Prison Service allow it.
