Rabbi Mandelblit Urges Defense Minister Katz to Immediately Release Tal Yinon Dradik

Rabbi Yosef Mandelblit, a prominent figure and former prisoner of Zion involved in "Operation Wedding," has made a rare personal appeal to Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz demanding the immediate release of Tal Yinon Dradik. Mandelblit recalled his previous acquaintance with Katz during Katz's tenure as Agriculture Minister and highlighted Katz's past support in organizing a demonstration for Jonathan Pollard's release. He urged Katz to take a concrete step now, similar to past successful efforts, by rescinding the administrative detention order against Dradik.

Mandelblit also addressed the broader issue of administrative detention orders, noting that Katz is reportedly opposed to their use but that some actors may be circumventing his policies. He concluded by expressing respect for Katz's security work while insisting he make a phone call to free Dradik so he can reunite with his family.

This appeal coincides with a wider political effort, as 13 Knesset members and ministers, along with about 150 Likud Central Committee members, have petitioned Katz to cancel administrative detention orders against settlers in Judea and Samaria and to release Dradik.

Tal Yinon Dradik, a resident of a West Bank outpost and father of four, was detained about three weeks ago for allegedly violating an administrative detention order issued by Central Command Chief Aviv Kochavi. The order required him to remain under house arrest at his mother-in-law's home, an elderly woman with hearing impairment, without her consent. Dradik's lawyers from the Honenu organization challenged the order's legality, but he was arrested days later. Dradik has been on a hunger strike protesting the detention order, now marking 20 days, and his health has deteriorated significantly with repeated fainting episodes. Honenu has urgently requested his transfer to a hospital for medical treatment.