Jerusalem Judge Slams 'Double Standard' in Police Treatment of Haredi Protesters

A Jerusalem youth court has issued a strong rebuke to police over their handling of protests, highlighting what appears to be discriminatory treatment between ultra-Orthodox and anti-government demonstrators.

The criticism came during Wednesday's hearing for a 14-year-old ultra-Orthodox boy arrested during protests against Jerusalem's light rail construction.

Judge Gad Arenberg rejected police demands for harsh release conditions, including full house arrest outside Jerusalem, a 180-day protest ban, and nearly 30,000 shekels ($7,300) in combined guarantees and deposits. Instead, he imposed significantly lighter restrictions: a 60-day ban from the construction site and 6,000 shekels ($1,560) in total financial obligations.

The teen, described as an orphan by his attorney Shlomo Haddad, was accused of assaulting a female officer during Monday's demonstration. He denied the allegation, with his lawyer maintaining he merely bumped into the officer while walking on the sidewalk.

"The police's approach to protesters is not uniform," Judge Arenberg stated, pointing to stark differences in how authorities handle ultra-Orthodox demonstrations versus anti-government protests in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. "Release terms should not vary based on protesters' religious affiliation or other characteristics."

The incident occurred during wider protests against light rail construction, where police reported violent confrontations including pepper spray attacks, stone-throwing, and damage to infrastructure. Two officers were injured during the unrest.

Four adults were also arrested during the protest, with police seeking similar strict conditions for their release. Judge Arenberg reduced most of these demands, except for one detainee facing more serious assault charges. "Every protester believes they are demonstrating for an issue important to them," the judge emphasized.

Attorney Haddad argued that the case exemplifies systematic bias: "The police treat Kaplan protesters and those advocating for the release of hostages with kid gloves while taking a far harsher approach toward the ultra-Orthodox community."

The Israel Police strongly rejected accusations of selective enforcement, stating it "undermines the hard work of officers who operate day and night to ensure the safety of all citizens of Israel." They emphasized the violent nature of the light rail protests and cited a December District Court ruling that called for case-by-case evaluation of arrests regardless of "sectoral affiliation."

The police statement noted ongoing challenges with repeated disruptions at light rail construction sites, highlighting the strain on Jerusalem's police force, which is already stretched thin due to the ongoing war and security situation.

Ynet contributed to this article.