Burned an Israeli flag • sentence: 211 hours of community service

Jerusalem Magistrate's Court sentenced today (Monday) Yechiel Chazan, a resident of Meah Shearim, to 211 hours of community service, after igniting the Israeli flag on Memorial Day for the Fallen of Israel. Chazan acknowledged the deed and the parties agreed to the verdict, on the recommendation of the probation service.


Chazan admitted in the past that during the Memorial Day siren he applauded, grunted loudly and lit the Israeli flag.


Chazan was referred to the probation report, which recommended a sentence of 211 hours of community service in Ezer Metzion.

According to the indictment filed against him, Chazan participated in a demonstration held in the Meah Shearim neighborhood, and during the siren burned along with his friends an Israeli flag in protest. As a result police filed charges against him to the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court, accusing them of lack of respect for the flag, an offense punishable by up to one year in prison.


Chazan argued that the flag burning should be protected in the name of freedom of expression and there is no offense in what he did.


Attorney Yair Nehorai, who represented Chazan, brought a precedent of the Supreme Court decision, approved by the Attorney General's decision not to file the same charges against deputy mayor of Jerusalem at the time, Chaim Miller, who said: "The flag is a stick with a white and blue cloth on it".

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!