Local Security Chiefs Protest Detainee's Harsh Conditions, Demand Government Intervention

Local security coordinators, known as Rabbatzim, protested in Tel Aviv on Thursday, demanding government intervention on behalf of a detained colleague. The Rabbatz of Tal Menashe, identified as Ra'avad, stated in an interview with 103fm that the protest was a response to the Shin Bet's investigation of a Rabbatz and an IDF officer suspected of a security offense. Ra'avad specifically appealed to the Defense Minister to intervene regarding the arrest and detention conditions of the Rabbatz, whose name he could not disclose. He emphasized that while they are subject to military command and would cooperate with investigations or legal proceedings if wrongdoing is proven, the manner of arrest and the harsh conditions, including lack of access to a lawyer, are unacceptable. Ra'avad described the arrest as a "night raid" on the detainee's home, asserting that the individual is law-abiding and would have appeared voluntarily if summoned. He explained that Rabbatzim left their communities in the care of their deputies, using state-owned security vehicles for the protest, which he claimed was coordinated with the police. A letter signed by over 100 Rabbatzim from across Judea and Samaria and other regions was delivered to the Defense Minister, aiming to bring attention to the issue. The protest involved a temporary blockage of the Ayalon highways.