Court serves released terrorist with stalking injunction

Please click here for a list of posts relating to cases in which Honenu provided legal counsel to victims of antisemitic attacks in Jerusalem.

Honenu Attorney Bleicher; Photo credit: Honenu

Thursday, November 30, 2023, 12:30 This morning (Thursday), the Jerusalem Magistrates Court accepted a request submitted by Moria Cohen for a restraining order against the terrorist who stabbed her and was released in the hostage deal. The order imposes several restrictions on the terrorist, including physical distance from Cohen and her family for the next half a year. Cohen and her attacker live in the same neighborhood.

Honenu attorneys who are representing Cohen and her family note that the security authorities could take significantly stronger measures against the terrorist, but at this stage, they had to settle for an initial restraining order approved by the Jerusalem Magistrates Court. The attorneys add that the restraining order is insufficient and they expect the security authorities and the government to ban the terrorist from entering Cohen's neighborhood and possibly all of Jerusalem. Honenu intends to continue legal proceedings as necessary to that end.

Since the publication of the terrorist's name, Cohen's Honenu attorneys have been working to ensure her safety. Honenu wrote a letter to the GOC of the Home Front Command and the Jerusalem District Police Chief asking them to issue a restraining order banning the terrorist from the Shimon HaTzadik neighborhood where Cohen resides. In an additional letter to the Prime Minister, the Defense Minister, and the National Security Minister, Honenu requested confirmation that the order would be issued. Earlier this week (Tuesday), the day after the terrorist's release, a Jerusalem Magistrates Court hearing took place at which a stalking injunction was issued.

Honenu Attorney Ophir Steiner stated after the hearing, "After we, unfortunately, did not succeed in receiving a reply from any official authority of the State of Israel or in seeing any step taken to ensure Moria's safety, we handled these initial proceedings. This was an important but preliminary step. We hope very much that in the coming days, security officials will come to their senses and take much more significant steps to ensure the safety and well-being of our client."

Honenu Attorney Chayim Bleicher added, "The government is obligated to take particular care of anyone who has made a great sacrifice in the existential war for our country. To our shame, the Government of Israel has not contacted Cohen or found a solution to the absurd situation that they have created. We are forced to try, with the limited means available to us, to prevent the murderous terrorist from reattempting to realize her intentions. At the moment, an extremely initial order that grants a minimal distance between Cohen and her attacker has been issued by the court. But we will act with all the means at our disposal to keep the terrorist away from the neighborhood and the surrounding area. We expect the Government of Israel to come to their senses and act on the matter."