The trial of Y., a beggar at the Western Wall, lasted five years and 20 hearings, but the judge did not see eye to eye with the police's accusations of a violation of the Law on the Protection of the Holy Places, but on the contrary: he hinted that there is someone behind those criminals and taking the consequences their labor, and ordered to forward his decision to the commissioner so that the phenomenon of begging is dealt with accordingly.
Y. was accused of being caught twice at the entrance to the men's plaza at the Kotel, asking and receiving alms.
At the Peace Court in Jerusalem, he claimed that he should be acquitted because of the protection of justice, in view of "the selective enforcement that is taken against me, when dozens of alms collectors reach out every day at the Western Wall and other holy places, and they have never been brought to justice."
In addition to this, Y. emphasized that he did not collect alms and did not lend a hand - "What's more, giving charity is one of the cornerstones of Judaism, and preventing this possibility results in an injury to religious and spiritual feelings."
"Check the phenomenon".
Alms collection, photo: Reuters
Judge Muhammad Haj Yahya acquitted Y., and stated: "It was not proven beyond reasonable doubt that there was interference with the supervisor or harassment of those present - the two alternative elements added in the amendment to the law."
"definite exploitation"
In his decision, the judge also discussed the issue of "collecting alms in the public space, which has become a widespread phenomenon that has spread to undesirable districts, especially near settlements in Arab society, and the police must check whether the pickpockets are not being exploited."
According to him, "Prisoning at intersections is carried out by people who are on the fringes of society, perhaps street urchins, and sometimes also illegal residents. It must also be assumed that this robbery is done while clearly taking advantage of their weaknesses and their lack of awareness of the immediate dangers lurking for them, otherwise it is not possible to explain the The actions of children less than 10 years old running between cars at intersections on major thoroughfares."
Therefore, Judge Haj Yahya concluded, "It can be assumed, to the heart's content, that this phenomenon indeed 'bears fruit' on its side - but it is doubtful whether these necessarily reach the same unhappy population that stands at the intersections."
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