Auerbach Crazy Leaders & Activists Arrested in Isru Chag Police Wave of Arrests

Israel Police spokespersons report that in a predawn wave of arrests in a number of cities around the country; 28 leaders and activists of the Crazy Auerbach Peleg Yerushalmi faction have been arrested. 

The raid took place on isru chag in Eretz Yisrael Pesach, as police, Yassam commandos, border police and detectives armed with arrest and search warrants arrived at homes and offices of the suspects. 

In some cases, documents and computers were confiscated. The streets of chareidi areas of Yerushalayim were abuzz with people during the predawn hours as police vehicles arrived in Meah Shearim, N’vei Yaakov and other communities.

Targeted in the arrests were senior Peleg Newspaper officials as well as faction leaders. Some of the charges include incitement (referring to faction’s ‘Peleg’ affiliated newspaper) while others will face charges related to the many illegal protests nationwide in recent weeks as well as assault against chareidi soldiers as well as police during the recent protests. There are also charges of threatening and attempting to extort senior officials in large Israeli companies by newspaper officials in an effort to get them to advertise.

Also in custody are operators of the ‘Kav HaMa’avak’ (the faction’s hotline phone) as well as faction leaders and organizers.

About 250 police were involved in the operation and arrests were made in Yerushalayim, Bnei Brak, Beit Shemesh, Modi’in Illit, Ashdod, Rechasim, and Hadera. Some of the suspects are being questioned by officers in the 433 Unit, Israel’s equivalent of the FBI.

Among those taken into custody are; HaPeles Editor Nati Grossman, Assistant Editor Yeshayahu Wein, Shmuel Yavrov, Shraga Yavrov, Shmuel Elyashiv, Moshe Viner, Yisrael Tropper, Mordechai Krauss, and Shabtai Fein. Menachem Carmel was injured.

A protest followed the arrests made in Bnei Brak. Stormy protests are expected during the day in response to the widespread police action.