Sensitive to suspect rights or populist?

The young judge who led to condemnation from Jordan

Zion Sahrai has only served about two months in the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court, but has already caused a diplomatic storm and embarrassment in the judicial system when he revoked the expulsion order of Jews who read "Shema Yisrael" on the Temple Mount. Distinguishes between Arabs and Jews

Yael Friedson

23/05/2022

Monday, 23 May 2022, 17:49 Updated: 18:56

• Share on Facebook

• Share on WhatsApp

• Share on Twitter

• Share on Email

• Share on general

• Comments

  Comments

In the video: Arrest of Jews who bowed and prayed on the Temple Mount (use under section 27A of the Copyright Law)

Judge Zion Sahrai did not have time to serve two months as a judge in the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court, and has already upset the justice system when he provoked a diplomatic storm when he revoked the expulsion order of Jews who read "Shema Yisrael" during their visit to the Temple Mount.

The decision itself was not material - a hearing on the appeal of a restraining order issued by the police.

In his decision, Sahrai quoted from an interview in which Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai to the media - an unusual thing in rulings - to argue that if a commissioner promises freedom of worship on the Temple Mount, saying Shema Yisrael can not be considered a criminal offense.

But the statement that "it is not possible to say that bowing and reciting Shema - in the circumstances of the case before me - raises a reasonable suspicion of conduct that may lead to a breach of peace, as required by law. - drew condemnation from Jordan and caused embarrassment among the justice system in front of the new judge.

More on Walla!

Despite the tension: the court ruled in favor of boys who bowed on the Temple Mount; Ben Gvir: I will go up on Jerusalem Day

To the full article

Caused embarrassment in the justice system.

Judge Sahrai (Photo: Walla !, Dun & Bradstreet)

Sahrai came to trial after a career as a private defense attorney following up on publications related to his work, so he was likely aware of the sensitivity of the decision.

One of his great achievements was in the bribery case at the Mei Avivim Corporation, where he represented one of the defendants - and Judge Michal Agmon-Gonen accepted his position and ruled that the prosecution would record the interviews to refresh witnesses.

This is a precedent-setting decision later overturned by the Supreme Court.

Sensitivity to the rights of suspects continues to accompany him even as a judge, who does not hesitate to release suspects and demand a high bar from the police to establish a reasonable suspicion against suspects.

For example, in a riot that took place last week after the funeral of Walid al-Sharif, who died after being injured in riots on the Temple Mount, Lang released suspects in riots in East Jerusalem.

Jerusalem Magistrate's Court (Photo: Reuven Castro)

The police described the incidents in the detention extension hearing as "a very serious disorderly incident, in which eight policemen were injured. The disturbance included throwing blocks from roofs, using rocks, pallets, irons and more.

The suspects claimed in their defense that they attended the funeral but not the riot, and Judge Sahrai decided to release them because the evidence does not raise a reasonable suspicion "since many hundreds of people were present, if not more so, as evidenced by a document marked on the applicant's cell phone "In the area to establish a reasonable suspicion of the power required to order their arrest. The cemetery was also attended by many more than 15 people who were arrested, while not all those present in the cemetery threw stones at the security forces."

In another Saburai decision, he ordered police to return a Glock-type pistol to a reserve officer who left it in a backpack, and the bag was lost and found by a passerby.

• news

• News in Israel

• Criminal news and law

Tags

• Court

• The Temple Mount