12 feb 2017
Al Mezan Center For Human Rights slammed on Sunday the Israeli Supreme Court for upholding a request from the Israeli prosecution to increase the prison sentence of Al Mezan’s client—Palestinian prisoner, Jihad Khalid Abu Hadaid, 28—from six years of imprisonment to eight.
Al Mezan Center for Human Rights condemned the increase in prison term in a case built on the torture of the defendant, and called on the international community to intervene.
On 25 July 2014, during Israel’s bombardment on the Gaza Strip codenamed “Operation Protective Edge”, the Israeli forces launched a ground invasion into the area of Al Fukhari, Khan Younis, and arrested Abu Hadaid, among others, a statement by Al Mezan Center read.
In his affidavit to Al Mezan, Abu Hadaid described the use of torture and other cruel and degrading treatment during his arrest and interrogation by Israeli security forces and authorities.
Abu Hadaid stated that he was beaten; forced to sit in direct sunlight for several hours; during interrogation his hands were cuffed from behind while he was seated in a “stress position” on a small chair; he was verbally abused; and he was kept in solidarity confinement for several days.
In one verbal threat, Abu Hadaid was told by Israeli authorities that his house would be attacked; his home was later attacked by the Israeli air force. Abu Hadaid was prevented from meeting with a lawyer for 21 days after arrest.
Al Mezan asserted that the level of coercion used against Abu Hadaid resulted in a forced confession, which must not be used as evidence in court.
“A confession obtained under means of torture, including enhanced interrogation techniques, or other forms of duress is considered a forced confession under international law,” Al Mezan warned. “The ruling issued by the High Court is dependent on a confession by torture and, as a serious miscarriage of justice, amounts to a serious violation of international law and blatant disregard for justice principles.”
The ruling further violates article (5) of the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, article (10) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, article (14) of the International Covenant on Civilian and Political Rights, articles (11,12,13, and 14) of the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners relating to the conditions in which Abu Hadaid is kept, and the Convention against Torture relating to the absolute prohibition on torture and ill-treatment.
Al Mezan called on the international community to uphold its moral and legal obligations toward Palestinian prisoners and detainees held by Israel and to exert pressure on Israel to respect international law, in particular the absolute prohibition on torture and ill-treatment and the principles of justice.
Al Mezan Center for Human Rights condemned the increase in prison term in a case built on the torture of the defendant, and called on the international community to intervene.
On 25 July 2014, during Israel’s bombardment on the Gaza Strip codenamed “Operation Protective Edge”, the Israeli forces launched a ground invasion into the area of Al Fukhari, Khan Younis, and arrested Abu Hadaid, among others, a statement by Al Mezan Center read.
In his affidavit to Al Mezan, Abu Hadaid described the use of torture and other cruel and degrading treatment during his arrest and interrogation by Israeli security forces and authorities.
Abu Hadaid stated that he was beaten; forced to sit in direct sunlight for several hours; during interrogation his hands were cuffed from behind while he was seated in a “stress position” on a small chair; he was verbally abused; and he was kept in solidarity confinement for several days.
In one verbal threat, Abu Hadaid was told by Israeli authorities that his house would be attacked; his home was later attacked by the Israeli air force. Abu Hadaid was prevented from meeting with a lawyer for 21 days after arrest.
Al Mezan asserted that the level of coercion used against Abu Hadaid resulted in a forced confession, which must not be used as evidence in court.
“A confession obtained under means of torture, including enhanced interrogation techniques, or other forms of duress is considered a forced confession under international law,” Al Mezan warned. “The ruling issued by the High Court is dependent on a confession by torture and, as a serious miscarriage of justice, amounts to a serious violation of international law and blatant disregard for justice principles.”
The ruling further violates article (5) of the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, article (10) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, article (14) of the International Covenant on Civilian and Political Rights, articles (11,12,13, and 14) of the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners relating to the conditions in which Abu Hadaid is kept, and the Convention against Torture relating to the absolute prohibition on torture and ill-treatment.
Al Mezan called on the international community to uphold its moral and legal obligations toward Palestinian prisoners and detainees held by Israel and to exert pressure on Israel to respect international law, in particular the absolute prohibition on torture and ill-treatment and the principles of justice.
Israeli ministers have made a renewed attempt to ban the Muslim call to prayer being broadcast through mosque loudspeakers, Israeli media reported Sunday.
The Israeli Ministerial Committee for Legislation has approved a draft of the bill which will go to a preliminary vote in the Knesset, according to the Israeli Channel 7.
After the law earlier met opposition from Ultra-Orthodox Jewish lawmakers over concerns about how it might also affect Jewish religious practices, the revised draft makes the ban applicable from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.
It further allows the Israeli police to summon muezzins and imams to questioning and to subject them to criminal proceedings and financial penalties.
The bid was expected to be discussed last Sunday. But the move was delayed for unidentified reasons.
Palestinians have rejected the law on account that it deprives Muslims of their right to freedom of religion.
The Israeli Ministerial Committee for Legislation has approved a draft of the bill which will go to a preliminary vote in the Knesset, according to the Israeli Channel 7.
After the law earlier met opposition from Ultra-Orthodox Jewish lawmakers over concerns about how it might also affect Jewish religious practices, the revised draft makes the ban applicable from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.
It further allows the Israeli police to summon muezzins and imams to questioning and to subject them to criminal proceedings and financial penalties.
The bid was expected to be discussed last Sunday. But the move was delayed for unidentified reasons.
Palestinians have rejected the law on account that it deprives Muslims of their right to freedom of religion.
7 feb 2017
Israeli Supreme Court on Tuesday issued orders to raze 17 housing units in the random outpost, West Tapuah, which is built on private Palestinian land in Yasuf town east of Salfit.
Head of the Yasuf council, Hafeth Abdul Halim, said that 14 Palestinian people appealed six years ago to the Supreme Court demanding the demolition of the illegal outpost build over 100 dunums of their lands.
He pointed out that the outpost separates 3,000 dunums away from their owners' residence places, saying that settlers used to plant and graze sheep in those lands. They cut the old trees that were previously planted by Palestinians, he added.
The court ruled that Israeli authorities have until June 2018 to evacuate and raze 17 homes in the outpost of West Tapuah. The Palestinian owners of the lands appealed to the court in this regard, he pointed out.
Head of the Yasuf council, Hafeth Abdul Halim, said that 14 Palestinian people appealed six years ago to the Supreme Court demanding the demolition of the illegal outpost build over 100 dunums of their lands.
He pointed out that the outpost separates 3,000 dunums away from their owners' residence places, saying that settlers used to plant and graze sheep in those lands. They cut the old trees that were previously planted by Palestinians, he added.
The court ruled that Israeli authorities have until June 2018 to evacuate and raze 17 homes in the outpost of West Tapuah. The Palestinian owners of the lands appealed to the court in this regard, he pointed out.
The Israeli Knesset on Monday passed a law legalizing the expropriation of privately owned Palestinian land.
Critics warned that the move would mark the first step toward the annexation of parts of the West Bank, while paving the way for possible future prosecution of Israel for war crimes.
In a late-evening vote, MPs ignored warnings from opposition lawmakers and the UN and passed second and third readings of the Regularization Bill, which will legalize illegal settler outposts scattered around the occupied West Bank.
The so-called Regulation Bill went before lawmakers at the Knesset and received 60 votes in favor opposed to just 52 against in its third reading.
International law views all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem as illegal for they are built on private land on which Palestinians have claims.
In the run-up to the law’s passage, Palestinian and Israeli critics described it as a land grab and said it would be viewed as a step toward the annexation of parts of the West Bank.
Earlier on Monday, Nicky Mladenov, the UN’s special coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, warned that the law would “have far-reaching legal consequences for Israel and greatly diminish the prospects for Arab-Israeli peace”.
The vote comes at a pivotal time for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the calculus for which has changed since the swearing in last month of Donald Trump, who has promised to be the most pro-Israel US president ever and named supporters of the settlements as his Israel advisers.
In the debate leading up to the vote, Isaac Herzog, the center-left opposition leader, warned that the law could open the way for prosecutions of Israel for war crimes at the International Criminal Court.
“The train leaves from here [and] will only stop at The Hague,” Herzog said in remarks quoted by the Israeli paper Haaretz before the vote. “Its cars will carry international indictments against Israeli and Jewish soldiers and officers. This indictment will be signed by the prime minister of Israel.”
Herzog also said the legislation amounted to “de facto annexation”.
Avichai Mandelblit, Israel’s attorney-general, warned Netanyahu before the vote that he deemed the bill to be unconstitutional and was not prepared to defend it if it was challenged before Israel’s Supreme Court.
The UN in December passed a resolution condemning settlements and demanding that Israel halt illegal settlement activity immediately.
Critics warned that the move would mark the first step toward the annexation of parts of the West Bank, while paving the way for possible future prosecution of Israel for war crimes.
In a late-evening vote, MPs ignored warnings from opposition lawmakers and the UN and passed second and third readings of the Regularization Bill, which will legalize illegal settler outposts scattered around the occupied West Bank.
The so-called Regulation Bill went before lawmakers at the Knesset and received 60 votes in favor opposed to just 52 against in its third reading.
International law views all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem as illegal for they are built on private land on which Palestinians have claims.
In the run-up to the law’s passage, Palestinian and Israeli critics described it as a land grab and said it would be viewed as a step toward the annexation of parts of the West Bank.
Earlier on Monday, Nicky Mladenov, the UN’s special coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, warned that the law would “have far-reaching legal consequences for Israel and greatly diminish the prospects for Arab-Israeli peace”.
The vote comes at a pivotal time for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the calculus for which has changed since the swearing in last month of Donald Trump, who has promised to be the most pro-Israel US president ever and named supporters of the settlements as his Israel advisers.
In the debate leading up to the vote, Isaac Herzog, the center-left opposition leader, warned that the law could open the way for prosecutions of Israel for war crimes at the International Criminal Court.
“The train leaves from here [and] will only stop at The Hague,” Herzog said in remarks quoted by the Israeli paper Haaretz before the vote. “Its cars will carry international indictments against Israeli and Jewish soldiers and officers. This indictment will be signed by the prime minister of Israel.”
Herzog also said the legislation amounted to “de facto annexation”.
Avichai Mandelblit, Israel’s attorney-general, warned Netanyahu before the vote that he deemed the bill to be unconstitutional and was not prepared to defend it if it was challenged before Israel’s Supreme Court.
The UN in December passed a resolution condemning settlements and demanding that Israel halt illegal settlement activity immediately.
6 feb 2017
The United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov, raised concern over “the scheduled vote on the so-called Regularization Bill as it would enable the continued use of privately-owned Palestinian land for Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.”
"If adopted into law, it will have far reaching legal consequences for Israel and greatly diminish the prospects for Arab-Israeli peace," he warned.
The bill has been deemed unconstitutional by the Attorney General of Israel and is in contravention of international law, according to his statements.
Mladenov urged “Israeli legislators to reconsider this move," stressing that settlements are illegal under international law and, as outlined in the Middle East Quartet report, "present one of the main impediments to peace.”
All core issues should be resolved between the parties through direct negotiations on the basis of relevant UN Security Council resolutions and mutual agreements, he stressed.
"If adopted into law, it will have far reaching legal consequences for Israel and greatly diminish the prospects for Arab-Israeli peace," he warned.
The bill has been deemed unconstitutional by the Attorney General of Israel and is in contravention of international law, according to his statements.
Mladenov urged “Israeli legislators to reconsider this move," stressing that settlements are illegal under international law and, as outlined in the Middle East Quartet report, "present one of the main impediments to peace.”
All core issues should be resolved between the parties through direct negotiations on the basis of relevant UN Security Council resolutions and mutual agreements, he stressed.
5 feb 2017
The Israeli high court of justice on Sunday approved the postponement of a court verdict ordering the demolition of illegal housing units built by Ofra settlers on Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank.
Nine housing units were scheduled for demolition in the illegal settlement of Ofra, east of Ramallah, on February 8, 2017 in compliance with a court order issued in 2015.
According to the Agence France Presse (AFP), court documents issued by the Israeli ministry of justice asserted that Jewish settlers from Ofra had filed a request with the high court asking for delaying the demolition of their housing units for three months at the pretext of finishing preparations for moving to other homes.
However, the high court only gave them until March 5th to evacuate the units before removing them.
In a related context, the Israeli Knesset on Monday intends to bring for a final vote a bill calling for retroactively legalizing thousands of settlers’ housing units in the West Bank.
Nine housing units were scheduled for demolition in the illegal settlement of Ofra, east of Ramallah, on February 8, 2017 in compliance with a court order issued in 2015.
According to the Agence France Presse (AFP), court documents issued by the Israeli ministry of justice asserted that Jewish settlers from Ofra had filed a request with the high court asking for delaying the demolition of their housing units for three months at the pretext of finishing preparations for moving to other homes.
However, the high court only gave them until March 5th to evacuate the units before removing them.
In a related context, the Israeli Knesset on Monday intends to bring for a final vote a bill calling for retroactively legalizing thousands of settlers’ housing units in the West Bank.
2 feb 2017
Israeli Ministerial Committee for Legislation is scheduled to discuss on Sunday an adjusted form of the bill that proposed banning Adhan, the Muslim call for prayer, over loudspeakers, Israeli radio said on Thursday.
The new bill excludes the use of horns to announce the commencement of the Jewish Sabbath, the Israeli holiday, according to the broadcast.
The Committee had approved the bill, but it was not tabled for voting at the Knesset due to reservations from Jewish religious parties.
Meanwhile, Israel Hayom Hebrew newspaper pointed out that the new bill only bans Muslim call for prayer in the night hours, adding that the law includes the imposition of fines on people who refrain from implementing it.
The new bill excludes the use of horns to announce the commencement of the Jewish Sabbath, the Israeli holiday, according to the broadcast.
The Committee had approved the bill, but it was not tabled for voting at the Knesset due to reservations from Jewish religious parties.
Meanwhile, Israel Hayom Hebrew newspaper pointed out that the new bill only bans Muslim call for prayer in the night hours, adding that the law includes the imposition of fines on people who refrain from implementing it.
1 feb 2017
Following the Israeli decision to remove the “Amona” illegal colonialist outpost, in the occupied West Bank, the government of Benjamin Netanyahu decided to build more than 3000 units for Jewish settlers, on illegally confiscated Palestinian lands.
The decision was officially announced by the office of Israel’s Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, in which it confirmed the approval of the 3000 units, in direct coordination with Netanyahu.
2000 of the approved illegal colonialist units have been designated for “immediate construction,” while the rest are in various stages of planning.
Lieberman, who himself is a colonialist settler living in Nokdim illegal colony, said that approximately 2000 units were “ready for marketing,” while the rest are in final stages of approval.
The Expansions were approved in the following illegal colonies
1. Alfie Menashe, central West Bank, 700 units.
2. Beit Arye, northern West Bank, 650 units.
3. Beitar Illit, west of Bethlehem, 650 units.
4. Oranit, Qalqilia – northern West Bank, 200 units.
5. Nokdim, south of Bethlehem, 150 units.
6. Givat Zeev, northwest of Jerusalem, 150 units.
7. Karnie Shomron, near Qalqilia in northern West Bank, 100 units.
8. Shilo, north of Ramallah, 100 units.
9. Metzudot Yehuda, northeast of Bethlehem, 100 units.
10. Kfar Eldad in Gush Etzion bloc, south of Bethlehem, 80 units.
11. Shavei Shomron, west of Nablus, 70 units.
12. Nofim, near Salfit, 50 units.
13. Efrat, south of Bethlehem, 30 units.
Lieberman said that the new approvals were part of what he called “restoring life to normal status in the West Bank, as the settlers need more homes,” and added that the decision was a continuation of last week’s approval of 2500 units.
The decision was made while the Palestinians continue to lose their lands for these colonies, including agricultural areas, and are unable to expand their communities, in various parts of the West Bank, including Jerusalem, in addition to being isolated from their orchards and farmlands, behind the Annexation Wall.
All Israeli colonies in the West Bank, including those in and around occupied East Jerusalem, are illegal under International Law, and the Fourth Geneva Convention, to which Israel is a signatory and a constant violator.
The decision was officially announced by the office of Israel’s Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, in which it confirmed the approval of the 3000 units, in direct coordination with Netanyahu.
2000 of the approved illegal colonialist units have been designated for “immediate construction,” while the rest are in various stages of planning.
Lieberman, who himself is a colonialist settler living in Nokdim illegal colony, said that approximately 2000 units were “ready for marketing,” while the rest are in final stages of approval.
The Expansions were approved in the following illegal colonies
1. Alfie Menashe, central West Bank, 700 units.
2. Beit Arye, northern West Bank, 650 units.
3. Beitar Illit, west of Bethlehem, 650 units.
4. Oranit, Qalqilia – northern West Bank, 200 units.
5. Nokdim, south of Bethlehem, 150 units.
6. Givat Zeev, northwest of Jerusalem, 150 units.
7. Karnie Shomron, near Qalqilia in northern West Bank, 100 units.
8. Shilo, north of Ramallah, 100 units.
9. Metzudot Yehuda, northeast of Bethlehem, 100 units.
10. Kfar Eldad in Gush Etzion bloc, south of Bethlehem, 80 units.
11. Shavei Shomron, west of Nablus, 70 units.
12. Nofim, near Salfit, 50 units.
13. Efrat, south of Bethlehem, 30 units.
Lieberman said that the new approvals were part of what he called “restoring life to normal status in the West Bank, as the settlers need more homes,” and added that the decision was a continuation of last week’s approval of 2500 units.
The decision was made while the Palestinians continue to lose their lands for these colonies, including agricultural areas, and are unable to expand their communities, in various parts of the West Bank, including Jerusalem, in addition to being isolated from their orchards and farmlands, behind the Annexation Wall.
All Israeli colonies in the West Bank, including those in and around occupied East Jerusalem, are illegal under International Law, and the Fourth Geneva Convention, to which Israel is a signatory and a constant violator.
