Photo Credit: Basel Awidat / Flash 90
Meir Ettinger, grandson of Rabbi Meir Kahane, seen at Magistrate's Court in the northern city of Nazareth.

Are the Israeli powers that be so afraid of the name Meir Kahane, they’re willing to bury his living heir behind bars and throw away the key?

Be’er Sheva District Court Judge Israel Pablo Axelrod on Sunday morning denied a petition for a half day’s release by Meir Ettinger, who is in prison under administrative detention—without an indictment, never mind a sentence. Ettinger requested to be allowed to attend the circumcision of his first-born son, scheduled for Monday. The judge ruled that Ettinger is too dangerous to be let out, even under guard.

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As they are known to do, members of the Jewish section of the Shabak told the Ettinger family that they have no objection to his short outing, and then told the court, as did the Prison Authority, that they object to his release, even if accompanied by guards.

The Prison Authority normally permits even prisoners who are serving life sentences for murder to attend family events. Ettinger has not been accused of anything, and the only thing keeping him behind bars is a decree by Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon. This is Ettinger’s second consecutive administrative detention, still without a stitch of evidence against him.

The legal aid society Honenu said it plans to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court and demand that Ettinger be permitted his short home visit. Attorney Sima Kochav, representing Ettinger, said she was “disappointed by the decision, with a hard feeling that the related entities did not act with pure intentions, and this is a persecution of Meir Ettinger.”

Judge Axelrod’s claim to fame is his revoking in 2012 of some 500 legal demolition orders against Bedouin owned illegal structures in the Negev.

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David writes news at JewishPress.com.