Jerusalem Court Upholds Restriction Order Against Settler, Demands New House Arrest Location

The Jerusalem District Court ruled on Sunday that the administrative restriction order issued by Central Command Chief Avi Blot against settler Tal Yinon Dardik will remain in effect. However, the IDF must designate a new location for Dardik's house arrest after the court found it unlawful to require him to stay at his mother-in-law's home without her consent. This decision rejected Blot's appeal seeking to uphold the original order as issued.

The case has sparked public controversy following Defense Minister Israel Katz's announcement last week about the appointment of the next Central Command chief, linking the decision to policies on administrative restrictions in the West Bank. Katz expressed anger over Blot's appeal against Dardik.

Judge Avraham Rubin ruled that the need for the restriction order itself is undisputed, citing intelligence indicating a real security threat from Dardik. The full house arrest was deemed reasonable and proportionate. However, the court emphasized that the state cannot force someone to host the detainee against their will, invalidating the condition requiring Dardik to stay at his mother-in-law's residence.

The court instructed Central Command to issue a new order with different conditions or an alternative house arrest location. Dardik may appeal any new order to the appeals committee. To allow the IDF time to set new terms, the court delayed the ruling's enforcement until August 11 at 11:00 a.m. While the state lost the appeal, the court affirmed the restriction order's security justification and ordered its modification rather than cancellation.