Protest Detainee Legal Support Front

The Protest Detainee Legal Support Front (Hebrew: מערך עוטף עצורים, Ma'arach Otef Atzurim) is an Israeli civil-society organization that provides legal support, advice and representation to activists detained during protests for democratic values in Israel. According to its official website, the organization offers comprehensive criminal, civil and traffic legal representation, together with legal and emotional accompaniment for detainees and their families, and states a deep commitment to protecting freedom of expression, protest and Israel's democratic character. It explicitly declares that it is non-partisan and not identified with any political party, and it operates a 24/7 donation and assistance line for arrests. The initiative began to take shape in 2020 during the Balfour protests, when a group of lawyers started providing assistance to demonstrators. It was established as an organization in January 2023, at the start of the protests against the judicial overhaul, and expanded to a nationwide operation. In 2025 it became a registered association (amuta). The organization works with around 50 volunteer lawyers who provide pro bono representation, and it cooperates with the Israel Violence project, which collects information about violence at protests and demonstrations. Its declared purpose is to give comprehensive support, advice and legal representation — criminal, civil and traffic — to activists of the protest movement for democratic values. As part of that support, it provides full legal and emotional accompaniment to detained protest activists and their families. Over the years it has broadened its legal activity to include assistance in filing complaints with the Police Internal Investigations Department (Mahash), appeals against decisions to close cases, and representation of protesters in defamation suits filed against them by police officers. It also deals with restraining orders, fines issued to protesters, struggles to renew revoked weapons licenses, cancellation of frozen reserve-duty days, and petitions to the High Court of Justice. In June 2023 a civil arm was established to handle tort and personal claims against police officers. As of May 2024 there were about 40 such claims, handled by 7 volunteer lawyers, including lawyers from major firms. Traffic lawyers also operate within the framework; as of June 2024, 6 lawyers were accompanying about 250 protesters who had received vehicle and pedestrian fines. Typically, fines for blocking a central road are around 1,000 shekels and 4 points. From the start of the protest until today, close to 2,300 detained protesters have been handled by the organization, and the release rate after at most one night in detention stands at close to 100%. According to the organization's data, only 0.8% of arrests led to any legal proceeding (as of July 2024). In 2025, after dozens of complaints against police officers were closed by Mahash without action, the organization began a campaign of personal lawsuits against police officers. Among other cases, it filed, through attorneys Gabi Lasky and Sarit Golan, a suit against Hadera police over the wrongful arrest of Yolanda Yavor, who demonstrated outside the Prime Minister's residence. In 2025 the organization also demanded that the police stop using boash (skunk) spray containing toxic substances. In June 2026 it was reported that the police would pay 624,000 shekels to protesters in a settlement agreement; the protesters were represented by lawyers from the organization. The claim concerned their arrest by police officers and a humiliating strip search. Alongside the legal support front, there is also a dedicated mental-health support network for protesters, as well as a "detainee call-up" mechanism intended to quickly mobilize activists to support detainees at police stations and courts. The organization's CEO is Smadar Lahav Evenstein. It maintains a nationwide presence and responds anywhere in Israel.

The Protest Detainee Legal Support Front (מערך עוטף עצורים) is an Israeli social organization that provides legal support to protesters against the judicial reform in Israel (2023). According to Hebrew Wikipedia, the organization began operating in 2020, during the Balfour protests, as an initiative of several lawyers. In 2023, following the protests against the judicial overhaul, the organization became institutionalized and expanded nationwide. Background: The organization is a civil initiative established to provide legal assistance to protesters in the protest for democratic values in Israel. The network, which includes about 50 volunteer lawyers providing pro bono representation, was founded in response to reports of numerous wrongful arrests during demonstrations against the government. Alongside this, a significant rise in police violence was documented. Its declared purpose is to provide comprehensive support, advice and legal representation — criminal, civil and traffic — to activists of the protest movement for democratic values. As part of the support, it provides full legal and emotional accompaniment to detained protest activists and their families, with a deep commitment to protecting freedom of expression, protest and Israel's democratic character. The organization began to crystallize in 2020 with the Balfour protests, and was established as an organization in January 2023 with the start of the protests against the judicial overhaul. In 2025 it became a registered association (amuta). It has a full nationwide deployment and responds anywhere in Israel. It works in cooperation with the Israel Violence project, which collects information about violence at protests and demonstrations. The CEO of the association is Smadar Lahav Evenstein. Activities: The organization provides accompaniment to protesters from the moment of arrest until the end of legal proceedings. Over the years it has expanded its legal activity and also deals with assistance in filing complaints to Mahash (Police Internal Investigations Department), appeals against decisions to close cases, and representation of protesters in defamation suits filed against them by police officers. In addition, it deals with restraining orders, coping with fines given to protesters, the struggle to renew revoked weapons licenses, cancellation of frozen reserve-duty days, and filing petitions to the High Court of Justice. In June 2023 a civil arm was established dealing with filing tort claims and personal claims against police officers. As of May 2024 there were about 40 such claims, handled by 7 volunteer lawyers, including lawyers from major firms in the field. Traffic lawyers also operate in the organization. As of June 2024, 6 lawyers were active in the organization, accompanying about 250 protesters who applied after receiving fines for vehicles and pedestrians. Typically, fines for blocking a central road are around 1,000 shekels and 4 points. From the start of the protest until today, close to 2,300 detained protesters have been handled by the organization, and the release rate, after at most one night in detention, stands at close to 100%. According to the organization's data, only 0.8% of arrests led to any legal proceeding (as of July 2024). In 2025, after dozens of complaints against police officers were closed by Mahash without action, the organization began a campaign of personal lawsuits against police officers. Among other cases, it filed, through attorneys Gabi Lasky and Sarit Golan, a suit against Hadera police over the wrongful arrest of Yolanda Yavor, who demonstrated outside the Prime Minister's residence. In 2025 the organization also demanded that the police stop using boash spray containing toxic substances. In June 2026 it was reported that the police would pay 624,000 shekels to protesters in a settlement agreement. The protesters were represented by lawyers from the organization. The claim concerned their arrest by police officers and a humiliating strip search. Alongside "Otef Atzurim" there is also a dedicated network for mental support of protesters, as well as a "detainee call-up" mechanism intended to quickly mobilize activists to support detainees at police stations and courts. Notable representations: In April 2023 they represented Dan Orenstein, CEO of Champion Motors, when he was arrested outside the home of MK Yuli Edelstein in Herzliya. In 2024 they began representing two of the four suspects in the launching of illumination flares near the home of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Caesarea. In 2024 they represented three women arrested after distributing leaflets with pictures of the hostages in the synagogue where Yuli Edelstein prays in Herzliya; the case was closed for lack of criminal guilt. In 2024 they began representing Noa Goldenberg, who was accused of throwing sand at the beach in Tel Aviv at Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir. In 2024 they represented Yarden Man in her trial where she was accused of assaulting Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman in a commercial center in Rehovot; at the end of the trial Man was acquitted of all charges against her.

• 2026

  Police to pay 624,000 shekels to protesters in settlement agreement; protesters represented by organization lawyers.

• 2025

  Becomes a registered association (amuta); begins campaign of personal lawsuits against police officers; demands police stop using toxic boash spray.

• 2024

  About 40 civil claims against police officers handled by 7 volunteer lawyers.

• 2024

  6 traffic lawyers accompanying about 250 protesters with vehicle and pedestrian fines.

• 2024

  Data shows close to 2,300 detained protesters handled; release rate close to 100%; only 0.8% of arrests led to legal proceedings.

• 2023

  Established as an organization with the start of protests against the judicial overhaul; expands nationwide.

• 2023

  Civil arm established to handle tort and personal claims against police officers.

• 2020

  Initiative begins during the Balfour protests as a group of lawyers providing assistance to demonstrators.

Non-partisan civil-society legal aid network defending freedom of expression and protest in Israel through pro bono representation.

1. 1Official websiteatzurimhafganot.org
2. 2Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Hebrew Wikipediahe.wikipedia.org