A significant development has emerged in the case of Ari Rosenfeld, the IDF warrant officer held in custody for over two months for allegedly leaking classified documents to the Prime Minister. Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar reportedly told President Herzog that Rosenfeld poses no risk of further leaks if released to house arrest, directly challenging the Supreme Court's earlier detention ruling.
Rosenfeld's lawyers present their arguments today at the Tel Aviv District Court, citing deteriorating mental health conditions and expert opinions supporting his release. The news of Bar's assessment came to light during recent meetings with President Herzog and MK Hili Tropper, though both the President's office and Shin Bet declined to comment on these private conversations.
The revelation puts pressure on the court to reconsider Justice Alex Stein's controversial detention order, which had demanded Rosenfeld prove he wouldn't leak again - a legal standard critics called impossible to meet.
In the footage, many supporters clap and cheer for Rosenfeld, who is moved by this display of support.
We hope he knows how many more tens of thousands of supporters he actually has, all hoping and praying for his immediate release and an end to this disgraceful imprisonment.
UPDATE:
Defense attorneys highlighted an apparent contradiction in the state's security concerns. While prosecutors argue Rosenfeld must remain in custody to prevent further leaks, he's currently sharing a cell with a convicted spy soon to be released.
"The prosecution demands his continued detention over fears he might leak to the Prime Minister's Office again, yet they've placed him with another security prisoner," Rosenfeld's attorney told the court.
Despite a recent Shin Bet security assessment stating Rosenfeld no longer poses a risk, Judge Alaa Masarwa ordered him to remain in custody. However, the judge demanded prosecutors address the security service's new position.
The prosecution maintained their opposition to release, citing a Supreme Court decision and claiming statements made during Rosenfeld's interrogation suggested he might repeat his actions - an assertion his defense team strongly disputed as "false."
Rosenfeld's case has attracted significant public attention since his identity was recently cleared for publication.
Eli Feldstein, his co-defendant, was released to house arrest weeks ago, but Rosenfeld languishes in prison.
With this case, the entire justice system in Israel has become a joke, and we are embarrassed and ashamed.
It's time to let Ari Rosenfled go home already. It was time to let him go months ago, and weeks ago and days ago.
But it's worse than that: Because if this is the way Israel treats its intelligence officers, who would want to work for them ever again?
JDN contributed to this article.
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