Criminal probe launches against 'Haaretz' writer for incitement to terror
No probe of ‘Haaretz’ itself, State freezes NGO case against him
By YONAH JEREMY BOBPalestinian incitement activity has continued unabated(photo credit: REUTERS/MOHAMAD TOROKMAN)
The Attorney-General’s Office on Thursday ordered a criminal probe of left-wing activist Jonathan Pollack for an article he published in Haaretz, calling it incitement to terrorism and violence. It also froze a private criminal-style proceeding against Pollack by right-wing NGO Ad Kan.There is no probe against Haaretz.The decision to open a criminal probe was made by Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit’s top deputy, Raz Nizri, since Mandelblit is out of the country.Nizri reached the decision after Pollack published multiple controversial pieces in Haaretz and based on allegations of violent or illegal actions he has taken.In one article, Pollack calls for Israeli citizens to “cross the lines and break the law. Despite the price, we need to join up with the teens throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails.”Pollack has also been the head of digital graphics for Haaretz.He had been in detention for more than a month, having refused to present himself to the court dealing with the Ad Kan case. He does not recognize Israel’s courts as legitimate because of what he views as unequal treatment of the Palestinians.Ironically, Pollack was released from detention because his detention was connected to the now-frozen Ad Kan case, whereas there is no basis to detain him now for the state prosecution’s new probe.Pollack’s lawyer Gabi Lasky slammed the state for keeping Pollack in detention for more than a month due to the Ad Kan case, accusing the NGO of trying to take over the state prosecution with its special private criminal proceeding.Ad Kan views Pollack as a dangerous anarchist and filed its proceeding after it believed the state prosecution was going to give Pollack a pass.
In unusual circumstances, Israel allows private citizens to seek court approval to file a private criminal proceeding if the police and the state prosecution ignore a criminal issue for which there is a strong basis to pursue.
