Shefi Paz, the social activist against infiltration and illegal immigration, and bereaved mother Merav Hajaj, mother of Lieutenant Shir Hajaj who was murdered in the attack at Armon Hanatziv and an activist in the "Choose Life" forum, refused to appear Tuesday morning for a hearing in their case in the "vandalism of EU offices" affair due to claims of selective enforcement by the police and the State Prosecutor's Office against right-wing activists.
Meirav Hajaj and Shefi Paz refuse to enter the discussion // Photo: Avi Cohen
In a letter submitted to the judge this morning by their lawyers Itamar Barkai and Ari Shammai, Hajaj and Paz wrote: "Week after week we watch with amazement the attitude of the law enforcement system towards violators of law and order as part of the protest against the reform, and week after week we are struck by the shocking realization that there is one law for left-wing demonstrators and a completely different law for anyone defined as a right-wing activist.
Hajag and Paz outside the courthouse,
From September 2019 to July 2022, we received, jointly and separately, a series of indictments for vandalism, conspiracy to vandalize real estate, damage to property, trespass and conduct likely to disturb public peace."
The graffiti in the offices of the European Union,
Paz and Hajaj added: "The sections dealing with vandalism related to, among other things, spraying graffiti in Neve Sha'anan's drug addicts' garden, on an abandoned tin slab on the fence of a drug den, on the door of the EU offices, on the road in front of the home of the Supreme Court justices, and on Iskurit in front of the home of Justice Esther Hayut.
All requests for protection from justice were rejected.
"Selective enforcement is a crime" Protest outside court, photo: Avi Cohen
In the meantime, new laws have been established on the ground. Graffiti is allowed. It is allowed to block roads. It is permissible to start bonfires on Ayalon. It is permissible to break into Kohelet's offices. It is allowed to disrupt train traffic. It is permissible to block Ben Gurion Airport. It is permissible to tie a knot in public. It is permissible to besiege the Prime Minister's House. It is permissible to persecute elected officials. It is permissible to provide live ammunition for enemy propaganda. It is permissible to threaten civil war."
In conclusion, the activists wrote: "In light of the outrageous injustice, the crime of selective enforcement, and the Attorney General's explicit statement that 'there is no effective protest without harassment and disturbing public order,' we demand the immediate cancellation of the indictments pending against each of us individually and collectively, the expungement of all convictions that have already been ruled out, and an end to the despicable crime against law and justice. Or, alternatively, indict every left-wing protester arrested on the same counts. Until then, we refuse to be part of the appearance of a fair trial, and therefore we will no longer appear for hearings in proceedings against us. Not today or any other day."
According to the police, in September 2019, graffiti were spray-painted at the entrance to the EU offices in Ramat Gan. Among other things, it read, "EU get out" and "German money kills Jews."
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