When The Might of the State is Deployed Against the Oppressed: Thoughts on my Arrest

15 June 2014

On Friday June 15th 2014, Rabbi Ascherman, RHR’s president and senior rabbi, along with seven residents (including two minors) of Al Arakib, were arrested during a protest over the destruction of the unrecognized Bedouin village of Al Arakib. Despite protesting nonviolently, Rabbi Ascherman was beaten, punched in the jaw, during the arrest. The detainees were held for the night and released on bail the following afternoon before Shabbat. The court forbade Rabbi Ascherman from entering Al Arakib for seven days. Below was written by Rabbi Ascherman just before the start of Shabbat.

READ: More on the destruction of Al Arakib

By Rabbi Arik Ascherman

.Firstly, I and all of RHR pray for the speedy and safe return of the three yeshiva students

On Friday I wrote the words below about my arrest, the beating we took, and most importantly about El-Araqib. I sent them abroad, but it was too close to Shabbat here, and I preferred to wait until today. I also added a few thoughts, based on my Shabbat conversations with my family.


snip* WATCH: Footage of the destruction of the mosque in the cemetery of Al Arakib

http://rhr.org.il/eng/2014/06/how-nifty-helped-me-know-what-sing-in-jailurgent-al-arakib-appeal/