Knesset Member Moshe Abutbul sent an urgent letter Tuesday to National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir following the arrest of Moshe Steiner, a 21-year-old ultra-Orthodox man who was transferred to military police custody after providing testimony at the Lahav 433 national crime unit.
In his letter, Abutbul argued that police conduct in the case represents "crossing a red line and a serious violation of the police commissioner's commitment to the Haredi public." Copies were also sent to the police commissioner and justice minister.
The lawmaker warned that the incident could damage trust between the ultra-Orthodox community and police, potentially causing citizens to avoid sharing information or filing complaints. "If this conduct continues, Haredi citizens will refrain from approaching police and reporting crime, something that could, G-d forbid, cost lives," Abutbul wrote.
Summoned as Witness, Arrested by Military Police
Steiner, from Bnei Brak, previously studied at the Mir Yeshiva in Rechfeld and currently studies at a yeshiva in Beit Meir. He is a relative of Rabbi Eliezer Yehuda Finkel, head of the Mir Yeshiva.
The night before appearing at the unit, Steiner said he had been summoned to Lahav 433 on suspicion of espionage for Iran. Following this claim, he consulted with an attorney before arriving at the unit's offices.
However, upon arrival at Lahav 433, Steiner was actually asked to provide testimony as part of an investigation the unit was conducting. After completing his testimony, an officer escorted him to the parking lot, where military police personnel were waiting and placed him under arrest.
Steiner was subsequently brought to trial and sentenced to 20 days in military detention. Attorney Menachem Shtauber has joined his legal team and is now representing him.
Following publication of the arrest circumstances, Abutbul contacted Ben-Gvir demanding intervention in the case. His main argument is that using a police summons to transfer a citizen to military police custody will deter people from appearing at police stations even when needed to provide testimony or report a crime.
