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Photo: TPS
Amona evacuation
Photo: TPS

Amona outpost activist convicted

Although Dor Oved was earlier acquitted by the Magistrate's Court, the District Court accepted the state's appeal that the defendant is guilty of incitement, calling for revenge: fight 'to the last drop of blood.'

The Jerusalem District Court convicted far-right activist Dor Oved of incitement to violence ahead of last year’s evacuation of the Amona outpost in the West Bank.

 

 

In the past, Oved was acquitted by the Jerusalem court, but an appeal against the decision was filed by the Jerusalem District Attorney’s Office which led to the subsequent conviction.

 

Security forces during Amona evacuation (Photo: AP)
Security forces during Amona evacuation (Photo: AP)

In February 2017, the IDF evacuated settlers who had barricaded themselves in the outpost. The evacuation became violent after dozens of youths, who were not residents of the outpost, barricaded themselves in a local synagogue.

 

During the evacuation 17 police officers and several youths were injured.

 

Slogans such as "Zionists, beware!" "Zionazism," "Refuse orders and save yourselves from Hell," "Death to the Zionists," and "Ishmael Police," were spray painted on the synagogues’ walls.

 

 (Photo: AFP)
(Photo: AFP)

 

Amona synagogue (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)
Amona synagogue (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)

 

According to the indictment, Oved wrote messages in various Whatsapp groups, threatening and encouraging acts of violence during the outpost’s evacuation.

 

“At Amona, this time around, there must be injuries —but only on the side of the accursed Zionazis,” and “We must not allow the accursed Zionists to believe that they can do whatever they want without consequences,” were some of his posts. He also included an image of the Israeli flag with an Uzi rifle superimposed alongside the phrase: “We will avenge without mercy.”

 

Hateful graffiti (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)
Hateful graffiti (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)

 

Ahead of the evacuation, the committee heading the campaign against the Amona evacuation exclusively called for non-violent opposition to the evacuation, asking that even if hit activists should not hit back. They viewed a violent campaign as not standing a chance of success and also being too overly traumatic.

 

After being convicted of incitement to violence, Oved was acquitted in June 2017, but the prosecution appealed the decision. The appeal was accepted and the acquittal overturned.

 

In her decision, Judge Hagit Kalmanaovitch wrote that the rhetoric used by the accused clearly calls for violence, seeking injuries upon his opponents and must not be ignored.

 

Violence at Amona (Photo: Reuters)
Violence at Amona (Photo: Reuters)

 

The judge also wrote that there is an inherent danger in the viral spread of inciting social media messages, easily spread by the press of a button: “The fact is that it is already ingrained and very widespread.”

 

In 2014, Oved was sentenced to one year for a “price tag” attack including hateful graffiti sprayed on the building of Peace Now activist Hagit Ofran.

 

At the time it was reported that he was also facing possible charges for threats made against the prime minster. He sent offensive and threatening letters against the release of Palestinian terrorists, from his prison cell: “If terrorists are freed … someone will get hurt. I promise, you will be the first.”

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 09.28.18, 17:43
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