The parents of a group of teenagers who have been arrested on suspicion of involvement in a rock-throwing attack on a car that killed Aisha al-Rawbi are accusing the Shin Bet security agency of employing illegal interrogation tactics against their children.
Investigators say the attack, which took place in October, targeted a Palestinian car, causing it to veer off the road and crash. Al-Rawbi, from the Arab village of Badi and a mother of eight, suffered a fatal head injury. Her husband, Aykube, survived.
It is unclear if all five teens are suspected of being the direct perpetrators of the attack. According to the Shin Bet security agency, the breakthrough in the investigation was made possible in part by intelligence gathered near the scene of the attack.
On Monday, the parents of four of the five young suspects held a press conference at which they asked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to intervene and stop the investigation.
Attorney Chai Haber, who is representing some of the teens on behalf of the Honenu organization, which provides legal advocacy for settlers and right-wing activists, said at the press conference: "Unchecked, unjustified pressure is being applied here."
Earlier, the parents met with Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked and shared their concerns with her. Upon hearing of the meeting, chairwoman of the left-wing Meretz party Tamar Zandberg said, "The New Right has different standards for Jews and Arabs."
Two of the suspects, who were arrested Saturday night, were slated to meet with their attorney for the first time on Tuesday.
At the press conference, the parents also voiced harsh criticism of the Shin Bet's interrogation tactics. The mother of one of the suspects said, "They just snatched him from the house. I begged to say goodbye to him and give him a kiss, and they didn't let me. They didn't let him take socks or his tefillin [prayer phylacteries]."
The mother of D., another suspect who was arrested on Saturday, said, "Yesterday [Sunday], the judge told us in court that he [D.] complained he was being abused, that they were spitting in his face. I'm asking you – protect the rights of these boys. Netanyahu, stop the madness."
D.'s father also appealed to Netanyahu: "We demand that you stop this torture."
The Shin Bet on Monday refuted the parents' allegations.
"The claim voiced that the suspects were 'snatched' is ridiculous. The suspects were arrested on the authority of arrest warrants issued legally, prior to the arrest, and immediately after their arrests, their families were notified.
"The law allows suspects to be kept from meeting with a lawyer for the first six days of their interrogation since they are suspected of a major terrorist act.
"That procedure has stood up to judicial scrutiny and has been approved by the courts. The suspects were checked and no complaints were made to the Shin Bet medical officials or to the court during the remand hearings. While in custody, the Shin Bet met all the detainees' religious needs, including prayer items and clothing and the possibility to worship.
"During the court discussions about the suspects in the magistrate's court and the district court, the suspects made no claims whatsoever about their physical or mental conditions, or about how they were treated by any of the officials involved in the interrogation," the Shin Bet said.
President Reuven Rivlin spoke in defense of the Shin Bet on Tuesday.
Speaking at a swearing-in ceremony for judges, Rivlin said, "The Shin Bet is on the front lines these days."
"We must refrain from irresponsible attacks on people whose job it is to protect and defend the security of Israel against threats from home and abroad. The Shin Bet is legally charged with protecting the safety of the citizens and residents of the country. I know the people there and know that the safety of Israel and its citizens is their only goal," Rivlin said.
