Rabbi's followers: Torah above law

Rabbi Dov Lior, Chief Rabbi of Kiryat Arba and one of the leaders of the religious Zionism movement, was unexpectedly arrested Monday. The rabbi's car was stopped by police at the southern entrance to Jerusalem, where they arrested him and drove him to the offices of the National Fraud Investigation Unit in Lod. He was released after a brief hour-long interrogation, but news of his arrest caused widespread furor on the Right.

Seventeen were arrested in the demonstrations that followed, after protesters burned tires and blocked traffic at the entrance to Jerusalem and attempted to storm the Supreme Court. The police rejected any criticism, explaining that "no one is above the law." Police said the interrogation was conducted in a pleasant, courteous and businesslike manner.

The firestorm is unlikely to abate in the near future. The police also intend to arrest Rabbi Yaacov Yosef, son of prominent Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, and question him under caution. Yaacov Yosef, has endorsed 'Torat Hamelech,' along with Lior.

The arrest warrant for Rabbi Lior was issued four months ago on suspicion of incitement to racism and violence, following the introduction he wrote to the book "Torat Hamelech," on the subject of Torah laws pertaining to the killing of a non-Jew. After being summoned by the police, Lior refused to come in for questioning, and on Monday investigations division head Maj. Gen. Yoav Segalovitch instructed his detectives to arrest him.

"We don't need agreement from a Commisar'

Police sources said that out of respect for the rabbi, they refrained from putting him in the patrol car, but removed his driver from the car in which he was riding and drove him to Lod in it. "Rabbi Lior has been summoned for investigations many times but has refused to show up. We issued an arrest warrant and he chose not to come, but the investigation must be carried out," police sources said.

Rabbi Lior had time to conduct a wedding in Rishon Letzion after his arrest, and received a festive welcome upon his return to Jerusalem from hundreds of his followers. He was carried on their shoulders, and then accompanied by them to the Mercaz Harav Yeshiva. During the course of the march, one police officer and a patrolman were attacked. Both were taken for medical treatment. Police did not succeed in apprehending the attackers.

At the yeshiva, where the controversial book's author Rabbi Yitzhak Shapira was present as well, Rabbi Lior spoke about his arrest to hundreds of followers: "Torah scholars who see fit to publish a book don't need a Commissar to tell them if it is permissible or not. To accuse rabbis engaged in Torah scholarship of incitement to racism and violence is something from the world of barbarians. What do Torah scholars have to do with violence? To suspect them of such things is libel. The Torah of truth must highlight the truth. The Torah does not need [someone else's] agreement."

"We're talking about my father," Yair Lior, the rabbi's son, told Israel Hayom. "A 77-year-old man who was arrested and abducted from Jerusalem in broad daylight. This is a humiliation. This is also debasement of Torah and a collective blow to the Torah-learning public. This is an unwise, stupid, idiotic and wicked act on the part of Shai Nitzan, who has set himself the goal of undermining the religious public," he said, referring to a Deputy State Prosecutor who has been given special police protection after being threatened by right-wing extremists.

Lior added, "Even the book's authors were released after a short time, so what sense does it make to arrest someone who supported the book? This is based on pure political motives. We must protest and continue protesting. I am sorry that this hurt drivers who got stuck behind roadblocks, but things have reached the breaking point."

'This is only the beginning'

Most of the demonstrations were concentrated in the area between the entrance to Jerusalem and the Supreme Court. After the police dispersed those blocking Highway 1, hundreds of right-wing activists moved to the plaza in front of the Supreme Court. There, they waved signs saying "Don't disrespect the Torah." Meir Bertler, a leader of the hilltop youth, promised that the protests would continue over the coming days. "We will not stop until police apologize for the Rabbi's arrest," he said.

"The police treat Arab leaders with kid gloves and here they are disrespecting a great man of Israel," said MK Michael Ben-Ari (National Union). "I am making a statement and a request: Stop discriminating against rabbis and great Torah scholars. If not, then what you saw here is just the beginning."

Police blocked the demonstrators with officers on horseback and water cannons. Events were overseen by the new commander of the Zion region, Commander Nissim Edri, who began his new position a week ago. He decided not to evacuate the demonstrators immediately, but to also prevent them from blocking traffic. The demonstrations lasted over four hours.

Demonstrations also broke out in Hebron, at intersections throughout Samaria and opposite the home of Deputy State Prosecutor Shai Nitzan, who initially instructed police to open an investigation into events surrounding the controversial book. Demonstrators demanded that Nitzan be fired. Two activists who tried to enter his house were arrested and removed from the premises.

Meanwhile, 20 MKs from the Right, angered by the arrest of Rabbi Lior, signed a petition calling for the dissolution of Nitzan's team. Israel's Chief Rabbis Yona Metzger and Shlomo Moshe Amar also sided with Rabbi Lior. A statement they released expressed regret for the "severe blow to the dignity" of the rabbi. Settler leaders and the pro-settlement Legal Forum for the Land of Israel were also critical of the decision to arrest Rabbi Lior.

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