Judge orders anti-government activists jailed for dumpster fires freed to house arrest after 7 weeks

Activists who were arrested for setting fire to recycling bins and a car near the Prime Minister’s residence attend a court hearing at the Jerusalem District Court, October 26, 2025. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
Activists who were arrested for setting fire to recycling bins and a car near the Prime Minister’s residence attend a court hearing at the Jerusalem District Court, October 26, 2025. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

Four anti-government activists detained for setting fire to dumpsters near the prime minister’s residence have been ordered freed to house arrest.

The decision is handed down by Judge Mordechai Borstein in the Jerusalem District Court, rejecting state prosecutors’ argument that the defendants pose a danger to the public.

The defendants — Lt. Col. (res.) Amos Doron, 60, Shmuel Reuveni, 57, Eyal Giller, 54 and Mark Foigel, 57 — were charged last month in court with arson, causing property damage and obstructing justice.

They underwent an examination by the probation service, which found that there is no danger in releasing them to supervised house arrest.

The judge further reasons that the return of the 20 living hostages back to Israel two weeks ago has created different political conditions, lessening the chance they will repeat the offense at future protests.

State prosecutors asked for and were granted a request for a 48-hour stay of execution, so they can appeal the court’s decision.

Two of the suspects were arrested on September 3, the day of the incident, while the others were arrested two weeks later, and they have all remained behind bars since then. The extended detentions of the defendants has sparked protests among fellow anti-government activists.

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