At Zini’s Direction, Shin Bet to Monitor Extremist Protests

The Shin Bet’s Jewish Division is involved in monitoring extremist protests following the attempted break-in to the home of Deputy President of the Supreme Court Noam Sohlberg. The service will compile an intelligence picture in order, among other things, to thwart future attacks on symbols of government and prevent harm to the “democratic regime’s order or its institutions,” as Shin Bet defines it. According to a report in Haaretz, the decision to assign the organization’s involvement to the division that counters non-Arab terrorism was made by Shin Bet chief David Zini. This follows recent Haredi riots, in some of which protesters broke into the homes of senior IDF officers.

Despite questioning several of the extremist protesters in recent days, Shin Bet is not involved in the investigation into the break-in at Sohlberg’s home or those involved. The investigation is being handled by the Samaria and Judea District Central Unit of the police. Because of the large number of suspects arrested in the incident, investigators from other units in the organization have been added to the case.

Meanwhile, 48 detainees who took part in the break-in at Judge Sohlberg’s home were released today, Wednesday, to house arrest. After evidence, including fingerprints, was found at Sohlberg’s home, police assess that they will be able to file indictments against some of the suspects.

As a reminder, in the attempted break-in to Sohlberg’s home last Wednesday, the protesters vandalized the house’s entrance hall, broke flowerpots and windows, and shattered the judge’s car windows. The attackers, who were protesting the arrest of Haredi draft evaders, also distributed leaflets in the street reading, “Sohlberg, take your hands off Haredi Judaism.” Sixty-five of them were detained and taken in for questioning.