The Jerusalem District Attorney submitted an indictment against Rabbi Shalom Dov Wolpo (66) and his assistant, Shabtai Weintraub (42), residents of Beitar Ilit and Kiryat Malachi respectively, to the Jerusalem Magistrates Court on Tuesday. The two were accused of inciting Israel Defense Forces soldiers to disobey orders to evacuate settlement outposts. The unusual indictment was issued with the approval of Attorney-General Yehuda Weinstein. Attorney Zohar Giat of the prosecution claimed in the indictment that in November of 2009 Wolpo and Weintraub issued "hero of Israel" certificates to two soldiers who had brandished a sign at a military ceremony saying, "The Shimshon Battalion will not evacuate [the West Bank settlement] Homesh." In addition, Wolpo and Weintraub allegedly gave the soldiers' families envelopes with money for their act, and each soldier was allegedly offered 1,000 shekels ($288) for each day they would spend in military prison as a result of their disobedience. Wolpo called the indictment a "violation of his right to free expression, intended to silence the Right ahead of the next expulsion."
Rabbi indicted for inciting soldiers to disobey orders
Jerusalem District Attorney submits indictment against Rabbi Shalom Dov Wolpo and his assistant, Shabtai Weintraub, for allegedly inciting IDF soldiers to disobey orders to evacuate settlement outposts • Wolpo: Violation of right to free expression.
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