9 sept 2013
Israeli troops on Monday evening assaulted two Palestinians in Hebron, local activists said.
Israeli soldiers, stationed at the entrance to Shuhada street in the center of Hebron, "brutally attacked Mufeed Sharabati before they detained him," Youth Against Settlements said.
They also assaulted Imad al-Atrash, who was taken to Hebron's public hospital, the group said.
Youth Against Settlements spokesman Issa Amr said that earlier Monday Israeli soldiers had raided Sharabati's home, which is undergoing construction work.
The Israeli forces prevented the entry of building materials to the house and ordered laborers to stop work.
After a long discussion, the soldiers agreed to allow the construction materials to be brought into the home on the condition that Sharabati demolished a recently-built bathroom.
"Sharabati had no choice but to demolish the bathroom, but after he finished the soldiers refused to allow construction material into his house as agreed," Amr told Ma'an.
"Instead they mocked him and heated argument developed between him and the soldiers who assaulted him viciously before they detained him," he added.
Israeli soldiers, stationed at the entrance to Shuhada street in the center of Hebron, "brutally attacked Mufeed Sharabati before they detained him," Youth Against Settlements said.
They also assaulted Imad al-Atrash, who was taken to Hebron's public hospital, the group said.
Youth Against Settlements spokesman Issa Amr said that earlier Monday Israeli soldiers had raided Sharabati's home, which is undergoing construction work.
The Israeli forces prevented the entry of building materials to the house and ordered laborers to stop work.
After a long discussion, the soldiers agreed to allow the construction materials to be brought into the home on the condition that Sharabati demolished a recently-built bathroom.
"Sharabati had no choice but to demolish the bathroom, but after he finished the soldiers refused to allow construction material into his house as agreed," Amr told Ma'an.
"Instead they mocked him and heated argument developed between him and the soldiers who assaulted him viciously before they detained him," he added.
Palestinian factions and private institutions in Nablus organized a rally in support of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli occupation jails on Monday. Dozens gathered at Shuhada roundabout in central Nablus and raised photos of prisoners especially those on hunger strike and the sick. They also hoisted signs calling for more support for prisoners and for their release.
Participants said that the issue of prisoners was not being adequately dealt with on both the official and popular levels despite the Israeli jailers’ practices against them.
They urged Palestinian institutions concerned with prisoners along with official and popular circles to intensify their efforts in this regard and to expose the Israeli practices against the hunger striking prisoners.
Participants said that the issue of prisoners was not being adequately dealt with on both the official and popular levels despite the Israeli jailers’ practices against them.
They urged Palestinian institutions concerned with prisoners along with official and popular circles to intensify their efforts in this regard and to expose the Israeli practices against the hunger striking prisoners.
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) carried out arrests on Sunday night, in several cities in the West Bank. Director of Ahrar Center for the studies of prisoners and human rights, Fouad Khuffash, said that 10 youths were arrested in the town of Beta as military forces stormed the town, and added that violent confrontations erupted between the citizens and the Israeli patrols.
Ahrar center stated that the soldiers assaulted of a number of detainees before transferring them to a military checkpoint near the town.
The ten youths from the town of Beta have been released before dawn Monday after being questioned at Za'tara checkpoint, their families told Ahrar center.
In the city of Nablus, the IOF also arrested two other young men.
Meanwhile, Palestinian Prisoner Society (PPS) reported that the Israeli forces arrested at dawn Monday a young man from the town of Beit Rima near Ramallah, after raiding and searching his home.
The IOF also arrested in the town of Beit Doha, to the west of Bethlehem, two young men; and transferred them to an unknown destination.
In al-Khalil, the Israeli soldiers re-arrested the liberated prisoner Ayat Youssef Mahfouz, on the pretext of trying to stab a soldier. She was released a few weeks ago after more than a year of detention in Israeli jails.
Ahrar center stated that the soldiers assaulted of a number of detainees before transferring them to a military checkpoint near the town.
The ten youths from the town of Beta have been released before dawn Monday after being questioned at Za'tara checkpoint, their families told Ahrar center.
In the city of Nablus, the IOF also arrested two other young men.
Meanwhile, Palestinian Prisoner Society (PPS) reported that the Israeli forces arrested at dawn Monday a young man from the town of Beit Rima near Ramallah, after raiding and searching his home.
The IOF also arrested in the town of Beit Doha, to the west of Bethlehem, two young men; and transferred them to an unknown destination.
In al-Khalil, the Israeli soldiers re-arrested the liberated prisoner Ayat Youssef Mahfouz, on the pretext of trying to stab a soldier. She was released a few weeks ago after more than a year of detention in Israeli jails.
Israeli forces arrested on Monday three Palestinians from different districts in the West Bank, locals said. The Israeli soldiers attacked Al-Dawha town in Bethlehem and detained Ahmed Azyya,21, after raiding his house and searching its contents.
They also detained Adham Al-Rimawi,28, from Beit Rima in Ramallah after storming his house at night.
In Hebron, Ayat Mahfouz was re-arrested under the pretext of trying to stab an Israeli soldier.
They also detained Adham Al-Rimawi,28, from Beit Rima in Ramallah after storming his house at night.
In Hebron, Ayat Mahfouz was re-arrested under the pretext of trying to stab an Israeli soldier.
Israeli military forces arrested 10 people overnight Sunday in the West Bank, locals said.
Military vehicles raided the Nablus village of Beita and detained Imad Falih Saleh Dawod, Adham Mohammad Bahjat Fayek, Salama Tareq Abdin, Raed Jafar Fawzi Khader, Jamal Issam Abu Ayash, Zakaria Mohammad Sharfa, Noh Mohammad Sharfa, and Imam Rebhi Sedqi.
Some of the detainees were assaulted during the raid and suffered bruises and cuts. Israeli forces fired tear gas and sound bombs during the raid, witnesses said.
Khalil al-Dala, 20, was detained in the Old City of Nablus.
Israeli forces also raided the Ramallah village of Beit Rima and detained Ayham Suliman al-Rimawi, witnesses said.
An Israeli army spokeswoman said that four people were arrested overnight, two in Nablus, one in Beit Rima and one in Bethlehem.
Military vehicles raided the Nablus village of Beita and detained Imad Falih Saleh Dawod, Adham Mohammad Bahjat Fayek, Salama Tareq Abdin, Raed Jafar Fawzi Khader, Jamal Issam Abu Ayash, Zakaria Mohammad Sharfa, Noh Mohammad Sharfa, and Imam Rebhi Sedqi.
Some of the detainees were assaulted during the raid and suffered bruises and cuts. Israeli forces fired tear gas and sound bombs during the raid, witnesses said.
Khalil al-Dala, 20, was detained in the Old City of Nablus.
Israeli forces also raided the Ramallah village of Beit Rima and detained Ayham Suliman al-Rimawi, witnesses said.
An Israeli army spokeswoman said that four people were arrested overnight, two in Nablus, one in Beit Rima and one in Bethlehem.
Sunday evening [September 8, 2013] Israeli soldiers kidnapped a young Palestinian man at the Erez Terminal, between Gaza and Israel, as he was on his way to receive treatment at an Israeli hospital.
Palestinian sources said that Mohammad Al-Bakry, 25, from the Ash-Shaty’s refugee camp, is suffering from a serious illness that rendered him disabled, and was heading to an Israeli hospital after receiving all needed permits, and referrals.
Israel frequently kidnaps Palestinian patients heading to Israeli hospitals, and in many cases, the army asks them to become collaborators with the occupation in exchange for granting them medical treatment.
More than 400 patients, including infants and children died due to the siege. Many patients died while waiting permits from Israel to cross the border for medical treatment.
Palestinian sources said that Mohammad Al-Bakry, 25, from the Ash-Shaty’s refugee camp, is suffering from a serious illness that rendered him disabled, and was heading to an Israeli hospital after receiving all needed permits, and referrals.
Israel frequently kidnaps Palestinian patients heading to Israeli hospitals, and in many cases, the army asks them to become collaborators with the occupation in exchange for granting them medical treatment.
More than 400 patients, including infants and children died due to the siege. Many patients died while waiting permits from Israel to cross the border for medical treatment.
The Palestinian prisoners center for studies said that the Palestinian women detained in Hasharon prison suffer from deliberate medical neglect. The center stated on Sunday that one third of the Palestinian female prisoners in this jail do not receive proper health care and medical treatment, which causes their conditions to deteriorate.
The center noted that there are 12 Palestinian women in Hasharon jail suffering from bad incarceration conditions and exposed to an intentional medical neglect policy.
It appealed to international human rights groups to necessarily intervene to pressure the Israeli prison authority to provide them with appropriate health care.
The center noted that there are 12 Palestinian women in Hasharon jail suffering from bad incarceration conditions and exposed to an intentional medical neglect policy.
It appealed to international human rights groups to necessarily intervene to pressure the Israeli prison authority to provide them with appropriate health care.
8 sept 2013
The District court sentenced on Sunday 17-year old Tarek Khaled Odeh for 38 months of actual imprisonment, on charges of throwing stones and firecrackers at a settlement outpost in Silwan.
Ishaq Odeh said that his brother was arrested in mid-January, and he was put in Al-Maskobyeh cells for 22 days after he was arrested in order to get him to confess. Tarek’s lawyer was not allowed to visit him during that period, and even clothes were not allowed in. The court sessions were confidential, in addition to placing him in a small dark cell which was really cold and had nails placed on its edges; Tarek went on a hunger strike for two days.
Ishaq explained that his brother Tarek was arrested 4 times. The first time was two years ago and he was detained for few hours, and the second arrest was on 23/01/2011 when he was walking with his cousins and he was accused of throwing Molotov cocktails on the settlement outpost “Bet Yonathan” in which he was detained in Al-Maskobyeh for 9 days, and was then released on conditions of house arrest and stayign away from his house.
The third time he was arrested was when he was under house arrest for three and a half months, and was then released on conditions of house arrest and staying away from his sister for 9 months which ended last June.
It is noteworthy that the court’s guards assaulted Tarek’s cousin 16-year old Mohammad Asi during the session and severely beat him. Ishaq said: “the court’s guards prevented him from attending Tarek’s court session and while he was standing by the door, seven guards assaulted him and directly hit him using their hands and legs, and then took him to the searching room by the court’s main gate and continued assaulting him, and one of them threatened to arrest him if he comes to court another time.”
He pointed out that Mohammad suffered from bruises and wounds in his face and head.
Ishaq Odeh said that his brother was arrested in mid-January, and he was put in Al-Maskobyeh cells for 22 days after he was arrested in order to get him to confess. Tarek’s lawyer was not allowed to visit him during that period, and even clothes were not allowed in. The court sessions were confidential, in addition to placing him in a small dark cell which was really cold and had nails placed on its edges; Tarek went on a hunger strike for two days.
Ishaq explained that his brother Tarek was arrested 4 times. The first time was two years ago and he was detained for few hours, and the second arrest was on 23/01/2011 when he was walking with his cousins and he was accused of throwing Molotov cocktails on the settlement outpost “Bet Yonathan” in which he was detained in Al-Maskobyeh for 9 days, and was then released on conditions of house arrest and stayign away from his house.
The third time he was arrested was when he was under house arrest for three and a half months, and was then released on conditions of house arrest and staying away from his sister for 9 months which ended last June.
It is noteworthy that the court’s guards assaulted Tarek’s cousin 16-year old Mohammad Asi during the session and severely beat him. Ishaq said: “the court’s guards prevented him from attending Tarek’s court session and while he was standing by the door, seven guards assaulted him and directly hit him using their hands and legs, and then took him to the searching room by the court’s main gate and continued assaulting him, and one of them threatened to arrest him if he comes to court another time.”
He pointed out that Mohammad suffered from bruises and wounds in his face and head.
The Israeli Magistrate court extended the arrest of 10 Jerusalemites to continue investigating them, and released one child with conditions.
Naser Qos, director of Prisoner’s club in Jerusalem, said that the Magistrate court judge extended the arrest of 15-year old Nour Shalabi, and minor Mohammad Abu Sneineh until Monday, while the young men Mohammad Shalabi, Abdullah Sinjlawi, Tarek Zirba and Shadi Abu Farha will be detained until Tuesday.
Qos explained that they are accused of throwing stones in Al-Aqsa Mosque during the latest clashes.
He added that the judge released 12-year old Laith Shalabi on conditions of house arrest for 5 days, and staying away from Al-Aqsa for 15 days, knowing that he was arrested on Sunday early morning hours.
The police handed Naser Qos and his son Jihad a call for investigation at Al-Qishleh in the old city of Jerusalem.
In a related matter, Al-Dameer organization lawyer, Mohammad Mahmoud, said that the Magistrate court judge extended the arrest of the two minors Mohammad Qneibi until Wednesday and Mohammad Barakat until Tuesday, knowing that they were arrested after raiding their homes in the neighbourhood of Al-Thori in Silwan and they were arrested on charges of “burning settlers’ cars”.
He added that the court extended the arrest of Mohammad Nihad Obeid from Esawyeh until next Thursday, and Laith Husseini and Ishaq Ghateet until next Wednesday.
Naser Qos, director of Prisoner’s club in Jerusalem, said that the Magistrate court judge extended the arrest of 15-year old Nour Shalabi, and minor Mohammad Abu Sneineh until Monday, while the young men Mohammad Shalabi, Abdullah Sinjlawi, Tarek Zirba and Shadi Abu Farha will be detained until Tuesday.
Qos explained that they are accused of throwing stones in Al-Aqsa Mosque during the latest clashes.
He added that the judge released 12-year old Laith Shalabi on conditions of house arrest for 5 days, and staying away from Al-Aqsa for 15 days, knowing that he was arrested on Sunday early morning hours.
The police handed Naser Qos and his son Jihad a call for investigation at Al-Qishleh in the old city of Jerusalem.
In a related matter, Al-Dameer organization lawyer, Mohammad Mahmoud, said that the Magistrate court judge extended the arrest of the two minors Mohammad Qneibi until Wednesday and Mohammad Barakat until Tuesday, knowing that they were arrested after raiding their homes in the neighbourhood of Al-Thori in Silwan and they were arrested on charges of “burning settlers’ cars”.
He added that the court extended the arrest of Mohammad Nihad Obeid from Esawyeh until next Thursday, and Laith Husseini and Ishaq Ghateet until next Wednesday.
Ayaat Mahfouth, 20
Settlers Uproote Trees Near Hebron
Israeli soldiers kidnapped, on Sunday evening [September 8, 2013] a young Palestinian woman in Hebron, in the southern part of the occupied West Bank.
Local sources said that the young woman has been identified as Ayaat Mahfouth, 20, and that she is was previously kidnapped and imprisoned twice, and was released from an Israeli detention facility a month ago.
The soldiers claimed that she carried a knife, and attempted to stab a soldier.
Also in Hebron, a number of extremist Israeli settlers uprooted more than 40 Palestinian olive trees in Khirbit Homra village, east of Yatta.
Several extremist settlers also prevented farmers from reaching their lands in a number of areas south of Hebron, and hurled stones at Palestinian cars causing damage.
Settlers Uproote Trees Near Hebron
Israeli soldiers kidnapped, on Sunday evening [September 8, 2013] a young Palestinian woman in Hebron, in the southern part of the occupied West Bank.
Local sources said that the young woman has been identified as Ayaat Mahfouth, 20, and that she is was previously kidnapped and imprisoned twice, and was released from an Israeli detention facility a month ago.
The soldiers claimed that she carried a knife, and attempted to stab a soldier.
Also in Hebron, a number of extremist Israeli settlers uprooted more than 40 Palestinian olive trees in Khirbit Homra village, east of Yatta.
Several extremist settlers also prevented farmers from reaching their lands in a number of areas south of Hebron, and hurled stones at Palestinian cars causing damage.
Israeli forces Sunday arrested nine Palestinians from the old city of Jerusalem, in addition to three others from the Jenin area, according to local and security sources. The Palestinian Prisoner Club (PPC) in Jerusalem said that Israeli police launched an arrest campaign in the old town, which resulted in the arrest of nine Palestinians, including two minors.
Meanwhile, forces arrested three Palestinians between the ages of 23 and 24 from the village of Anin, west of Jenin, after raiding and searching their homes while firing acoustic bombs toward residents.
IMF arrest 12 Palestinians In WB
Israeli Military Forces (IMF) arrested on Sunday at dawn 12 Palestinians , including two children after breaking their home in east Jerusalem and Jenin. The Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) has reported that dozens of soldiers invaded the Old City of Jerusalem, and arrested nine Palestinians.
The PPS said that the soldiers broke into several homes, and violently searched them before arresting the nine residents, including one child.
They have been identified as Qassem Natsha, Tareq Az-Zirba, Shadi Farha, Ali Jaber, Mahmoud Jaber, Abdullah Sanjalawy, Mohammad Shalaby and the two children Nour Shalaby and Majdi Shalaby.
It also reported that dozens of soldiers invaded 'Aneen village, near Jenin, and arrested three Palestinians.
The three have been identified as Ahmad Yahia Khaddour, 23, Mohammad Ragheb Yassin, 24, and Mohammad Fawwaz Issa, 23.
Local sources reported that the soldiers fired several Stun grenades after invading the village, and violently broke into numerous homes causing panic among the residents, especially the children.
Meanwhile, forces arrested three Palestinians between the ages of 23 and 24 from the village of Anin, west of Jenin, after raiding and searching their homes while firing acoustic bombs toward residents.
IMF arrest 12 Palestinians In WB
Israeli Military Forces (IMF) arrested on Sunday at dawn 12 Palestinians , including two children after breaking their home in east Jerusalem and Jenin. The Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) has reported that dozens of soldiers invaded the Old City of Jerusalem, and arrested nine Palestinians.
The PPS said that the soldiers broke into several homes, and violently searched them before arresting the nine residents, including one child.
They have been identified as Qassem Natsha, Tareq Az-Zirba, Shadi Farha, Ali Jaber, Mahmoud Jaber, Abdullah Sanjalawy, Mohammad Shalaby and the two children Nour Shalaby and Majdi Shalaby.
It also reported that dozens of soldiers invaded 'Aneen village, near Jenin, and arrested three Palestinians.
The three have been identified as Ahmad Yahia Khaddour, 23, Mohammad Ragheb Yassin, 24, and Mohammad Fawwaz Issa, 23.
Local sources reported that the soldiers fired several Stun grenades after invading the village, and violently broke into numerous homes causing panic among the residents, especially the children.
Deputy Attorney General Raz Nazri announced that the State will not require doctors to forcefully feed hunger strikers if the act is contrary to their conscience.
Nazri wrote about the issue in response to an inquiry from Physicians for Human Rights organization regarding a bill aimed at allowing forced feeding of hunger striking prisoners.
Nazri wrote about the issue in response to an inquiry from Physicians for Human Rights organization regarding a bill aimed at allowing forced feeding of hunger striking prisoners.
Israeli forces conducted a repressive campaign against the Palestinian prisoners in Majeddo prison, section 6 in particular, Prisoners Club reported. The Israeli Prison Service(IPS) isolated a number of Palestinian prisoners after they protested, in solidarity with patients, by returning their meals.
The prisoners who were transferred to different jails included Ashraf Kabha, Mohammed Kabha, Abdullah Wallad Ali, Billal Al-Sharqawi, Yai'sh Kabha and Mohammed Zaghloul.
The club pointed out that the IPS announced a state of alert, then attacked the section accompanied by 150 Israeli soldiers.
The IPS ended the isolation of Ashraf Kabha, Mohammed Kabha, Majdi Abu El-Rab while keeping Abu Fayrouz, Walad Ali and Yai'sh Kabha in solitary confinment, they added.
The prisoners who were transferred to different jails included Ashraf Kabha, Mohammed Kabha, Abdullah Wallad Ali, Billal Al-Sharqawi, Yai'sh Kabha and Mohammed Zaghloul.
The club pointed out that the IPS announced a state of alert, then attacked the section accompanied by 150 Israeli soldiers.
The IPS ended the isolation of Ashraf Kabha, Mohammed Kabha, Majdi Abu El-Rab while keeping Abu Fayrouz, Walad Ali and Yai'sh Kabha in solitary confinment, they added.
Violent clashes broke out on Saturday evening in the Old City of Jerusalem between Palestinian young men and Israeli troops. The confrontations took place in the areas known as Bab Al-Hadid and Al-Wad in the Old City, according to eyewitnesses.
They said that the Israeli occupation forces fired a hail of stun and tear gas grenades at the young men who responded with throwing stones and smashing surveillance cameras installed in some locations.
They also noted that the Israeli occupation authority cut off the electricity to these areas during the events.
Meanwhile, the Israeli police kidnapped in the evening an 18-year old young man identified as Qasem Annatsheh after storming his home in Bab Al-Hadid area and severely beat him before taking him in chain to a police station in Bab Al-Selsela area in the Old City.
The Israeli policemen also physically assaulted Umm Isa Annatsheh, the mother of the young man, as she was trying along with her neighbors to prevent the detention of her son.
IMF arrest Palestinians , clashes in Jerusalem
They said that the Israeli occupation forces fired a hail of stun and tear gas grenades at the young men who responded with throwing stones and smashing surveillance cameras installed in some locations.
They also noted that the Israeli occupation authority cut off the electricity to these areas during the events.
Meanwhile, the Israeli police kidnapped in the evening an 18-year old young man identified as Qasem Annatsheh after storming his home in Bab Al-Hadid area and severely beat him before taking him in chain to a police station in Bab Al-Selsela area in the Old City.
The Israeli policemen also physically assaulted Umm Isa Annatsheh, the mother of the young man, as she was trying along with her neighbors to prevent the detention of her son.
IMF arrest Palestinians , clashes in Jerusalem
Side of clashes erupted in the Old city on Saturday evening
Violent clashes erupted on Saturday evening between Israeli military forces (IMF) and dozens of Palestinian youths at the Iron Gate ( Bab al-Hadid) in Jerusalem , the IMF arrested Palestinians in return , Media sources reported. Israeli forces fired tear gas , metal and rubber bullets against youths , several injuries and suffocations reported.
The Director of Detainee Club , Nasser Qaws said that the IMF arrested Qasem Al-natshah at the Iron gate in the Old City of Jerusalem, " the IMF stormed several houses and attacked women ," he added.
Local sources reported that Israeli forces stormed a number of houses in Hebron ; Israel police announced that it arrested two Palestinians and took them to interrogation center without revealing their names .
Violent clashes erupted on Saturday evening between Israeli military forces (IMF) and dozens of Palestinian youths at the Iron Gate ( Bab al-Hadid) in Jerusalem , the IMF arrested Palestinians in return , Media sources reported. Israeli forces fired tear gas , metal and rubber bullets against youths , several injuries and suffocations reported.
The Director of Detainee Club , Nasser Qaws said that the IMF arrested Qasem Al-natshah at the Iron gate in the Old City of Jerusalem, " the IMF stormed several houses and attacked women ," he added.
Local sources reported that Israeli forces stormed a number of houses in Hebron ; Israel police announced that it arrested two Palestinians and took them to interrogation center without revealing their names .
7 sept 2013
Accused of being a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Ahmad Qatamesh has been under administrative detention since March 2011, without trial or indictment. Now Qatamesh, who calls for one democratic state between the river and the sea, is having his detention extended under the premise that he is ‘a threat to the security of the area.’
By Noam Rotem (translated by Jordan Michaeli)
At the time of writing of these lines, Israel holds 5,069 security prisoners, of which 134 are held under administrative detention. The authority Israel assumed upon occupying the West Bank – to detain human beings without trial and without allowing them to defend themselves against the allegations made at them – is taken, allegedly, from international law, where this authority is limited to extreme cases only when clear and immediate danger that can’t be otherwise prevented exists. Administrative detention allows plucking any person from their daily life, including you and me, and to put us in cages, without having to tell us of what we are accused, and without needing to administer a trial where evidence is brought forward, giving us an opportunity to defend ourselves. The eyes of Lady Justice are covered, but Israel has also tied her hands, put her in a sack and hanged her upside down from the ceiling.
Israel’s lawmakers foresaw the future, apparently. They knew that kind of power, which allows to them skip over the justice system and lock a human being in prison without trial, can only corrupt. Therefore, they tried to install brakes to prevent the irresponsible use of this tool. They failed rather miserably. According to the law, military commanders may order the imprisonment of a person to a period of up to six months. It sounds exaggerated, since if assuming that an urgent need came up to arrest someone before they committed some act or another, why hold that person for six months without trial? Investigate a week, two weeks, a month even, and decide whether there is a basis to keep that person under arrest. Find something? Present it to the court according to general proceedings, and the court will decide whether you proved your claims or not.
So where did the lawmakers fail? With Order 1651 (“Order Concerning Security Provisions in Judea and Samaria”) and also with the Emergency Powers Act of 1979 (which, by the way, is in force only during a state of emergency. We are currently in a state of emergency. We are in a permanent state of emergency). The law allows up to six months of imprisonment, but does not say how many times a person may be sentenced those six months. Out of 134 Administrative detainees, more than half (69 people) are locked behind bars for half a year without having the chance to appear in court and defend themselves against this arbitrary decision. And we dare call ourselves a law-abiding state.
One of those prisoners is the author Ahmad Qatamesh.
After the horrible murder in the settlement of Itamar in March 2011, when five Israeli family members were slaughtered, Israeli security forces arrested hundreds of Palestinians from the neighboring village and other areas of the West Bank. As they came to arrest Qatamesh in his home in El Bira he wasn’t there. The soldiers pointed their weapons toward his daughter and made her call him. He answered the phone and invited the soldiers to his brother’s residents where he was staying in order to arrest him. The soldiers didn’t even bother to search for weapons or any other incriminating evidence at his home or his brother’s home, where he was arrested. They were only after Qatamesh, who says that since his arrest he was investigated only once, for 10 minutes.
Any person with eyes in their head can see that there is no “urgent need” to hold Qatamesh under arrest. Israel already had 858 days to find a solution to the “urgent need” that existed during Qatamesh’s arrest. 28 months have passed in which the mysterious security forces could have dealt with the clear and immediate danger that this Palestinian author was posing towards the safety of Israel’s residents. Two years and four months in which this person – who prior to his arrest tried to promote non-violent solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and even published several books on the topics, as he still does today – was supposed to stop threatening the peaceful sleep of the population between the Jordan River and the sea.
But no. According to Captain Made-up-name from the Shin Bet, Qatamesh still poses a threat, it’s just that the Shin Bet can’t tell anyone what that threat is. The military prosecutor didn’t even consider alternatives to administrative detention, for example a trial in which Qatamesh could contend with the allegations and evidence against him, or even house arrest or release under restrictive conditions to which Qatamesh will commit himself in front of the court (conditions to which he agreed on his own by the way). Even the military judges, old rubber stamps as they are, have criticized the content of the “intelligence” that was presented to them and according to which Qatamesh is apparently a senior member of the PFLP, an organization that Qatamesh left already in the 1990′s. This last bit is actually the only accusation hanging against him. Qatamesh is accused of being a member of a political organization, and even if we forget for a moment the fact that he’s not a member of said organization or supports its goals, and that he never supported the organization’s violent actions, Qatamesh is a political prisoner.
This story is wrong in so many ways because even if Qatamesh was indeed a member of the PFLP (and he isn’t), then so what? The PFLP is a party that holds seats at the Palestinian Legislative Council, an extreme left party indeed, but a party nonetheless. Imagine what would have happened if members of the Jewish Home party were sent to prison without trial because someone that might happen to hold opinions identical to theirs committed a crime against Palestinians. The cause for the mass arrests of March-April of 2011 was the horrible murder in Itamar, which was attributed to the PFLP by the Shin Bet because it was committed by two adolescents from families known to support the organization and probably supported it also themselves. But even the Shin Bet itself says that a few days prior to the crime the murderers turned to a member of the PFLP asking for weapons, and he refused. Nimrod Aloni, who was Samaria Brigade Commander at the time, said in a briefing for journalists after catching the two terrorists that the crime wasn’t connected to any organization. Haaretz also reported that although the two supported the PFLP, the investigators couldn’t find any evidence that the attack was planned by the organization and their conclusion was that the attack was independent. The PFLP itself, which during the period of attacks in the early 2000s rushed to claim responsibility for any attack against Israelis, remained silent and did not assume responsibility. However it should be stated that I could not find a condemnation by the organization to the revolting murder in Itamar.
On the margins of this story remains the man, Ahmad Qatamesh, an intellectual, a leftist, a Marxist, a harsh critic of Israel on the one hand and of the Palestinian Authority on the other, who promotes the idea of one democratic state between the Jordan River and the sea, who calls loud and clear for non-violent solutions, who condemned and continues to condemn any harm done to civilians on both sides. Qatamesh is sitting in jail without trial or indictment. However Israel chooses to silence the voice of Qatamesh, who seeks brotherhood between Israelis and Palestinians, pursues equality and comes out against the corruption in the rotten system of the Palestinian Authority as well as the forces of occupation – a voice unaffiliated with any political organization. And this silencing is done in the most anti-democratic and blunt way available for the ‘only democracy in the Middle East’ with the help of the “most moral army in the world.”
In the coming days, Qatamesh’s most recent term in prison under administrative detention will come to an end after which he will appear again in front of a military judge, who will decide whether to once again extend Qatamesh’s imprisonment without trial. We love calling ourselves a democracy and a law-abiding state, but the sad reality is that we stopped being that a long time ago. A state that allows the imprisonment of a man, who’s only sin is that 13 years ago he belonged to a political movement, is not a law-abiding state. A state holding a political prisoner in jail for over two years, relying on emergency regulations that were devised as a last resort before the apocalypse – is not a democracy. A state afraid to present even the smallest evidence or testimony, which is afraid to stand as an accuser in front of the man whose freedom it denies, is a rotten state. As citizens of this country, we can no longer be silent. We have to come forth and shout until the halls of justice in Jerusalem tremble. Release Ahmad Qatamesh.
Update: At the end of August, in Qatamesh’s umpteenth hearing in military court, his administrative detention was extended once again citing a claim that, “he is a threat to the security of the area.” No new evidence was presented and no explanation given for the decision to keep him in administrative detention.
I’d like to thank Amnesty International, B’Tselem and another person, for helping with the research for this post.
Noam Rotem is an Israeli activist, high-tech executive and author of the blog o139.org, subtitled “Godwin doesn’t live here any more.” This piece was first published in Hebrew.
By Noam Rotem (translated by Jordan Michaeli)
At the time of writing of these lines, Israel holds 5,069 security prisoners, of which 134 are held under administrative detention. The authority Israel assumed upon occupying the West Bank – to detain human beings without trial and without allowing them to defend themselves against the allegations made at them – is taken, allegedly, from international law, where this authority is limited to extreme cases only when clear and immediate danger that can’t be otherwise prevented exists. Administrative detention allows plucking any person from their daily life, including you and me, and to put us in cages, without having to tell us of what we are accused, and without needing to administer a trial where evidence is brought forward, giving us an opportunity to defend ourselves. The eyes of Lady Justice are covered, but Israel has also tied her hands, put her in a sack and hanged her upside down from the ceiling.
Israel’s lawmakers foresaw the future, apparently. They knew that kind of power, which allows to them skip over the justice system and lock a human being in prison without trial, can only corrupt. Therefore, they tried to install brakes to prevent the irresponsible use of this tool. They failed rather miserably. According to the law, military commanders may order the imprisonment of a person to a period of up to six months. It sounds exaggerated, since if assuming that an urgent need came up to arrest someone before they committed some act or another, why hold that person for six months without trial? Investigate a week, two weeks, a month even, and decide whether there is a basis to keep that person under arrest. Find something? Present it to the court according to general proceedings, and the court will decide whether you proved your claims or not.
So where did the lawmakers fail? With Order 1651 (“Order Concerning Security Provisions in Judea and Samaria”) and also with the Emergency Powers Act of 1979 (which, by the way, is in force only during a state of emergency. We are currently in a state of emergency. We are in a permanent state of emergency). The law allows up to six months of imprisonment, but does not say how many times a person may be sentenced those six months. Out of 134 Administrative detainees, more than half (69 people) are locked behind bars for half a year without having the chance to appear in court and defend themselves against this arbitrary decision. And we dare call ourselves a law-abiding state.
One of those prisoners is the author Ahmad Qatamesh.
After the horrible murder in the settlement of Itamar in March 2011, when five Israeli family members were slaughtered, Israeli security forces arrested hundreds of Palestinians from the neighboring village and other areas of the West Bank. As they came to arrest Qatamesh in his home in El Bira he wasn’t there. The soldiers pointed their weapons toward his daughter and made her call him. He answered the phone and invited the soldiers to his brother’s residents where he was staying in order to arrest him. The soldiers didn’t even bother to search for weapons or any other incriminating evidence at his home or his brother’s home, where he was arrested. They were only after Qatamesh, who says that since his arrest he was investigated only once, for 10 minutes.
Any person with eyes in their head can see that there is no “urgent need” to hold Qatamesh under arrest. Israel already had 858 days to find a solution to the “urgent need” that existed during Qatamesh’s arrest. 28 months have passed in which the mysterious security forces could have dealt with the clear and immediate danger that this Palestinian author was posing towards the safety of Israel’s residents. Two years and four months in which this person – who prior to his arrest tried to promote non-violent solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and even published several books on the topics, as he still does today – was supposed to stop threatening the peaceful sleep of the population between the Jordan River and the sea.
But no. According to Captain Made-up-name from the Shin Bet, Qatamesh still poses a threat, it’s just that the Shin Bet can’t tell anyone what that threat is. The military prosecutor didn’t even consider alternatives to administrative detention, for example a trial in which Qatamesh could contend with the allegations and evidence against him, or even house arrest or release under restrictive conditions to which Qatamesh will commit himself in front of the court (conditions to which he agreed on his own by the way). Even the military judges, old rubber stamps as they are, have criticized the content of the “intelligence” that was presented to them and according to which Qatamesh is apparently a senior member of the PFLP, an organization that Qatamesh left already in the 1990′s. This last bit is actually the only accusation hanging against him. Qatamesh is accused of being a member of a political organization, and even if we forget for a moment the fact that he’s not a member of said organization or supports its goals, and that he never supported the organization’s violent actions, Qatamesh is a political prisoner.
This story is wrong in so many ways because even if Qatamesh was indeed a member of the PFLP (and he isn’t), then so what? The PFLP is a party that holds seats at the Palestinian Legislative Council, an extreme left party indeed, but a party nonetheless. Imagine what would have happened if members of the Jewish Home party were sent to prison without trial because someone that might happen to hold opinions identical to theirs committed a crime against Palestinians. The cause for the mass arrests of March-April of 2011 was the horrible murder in Itamar, which was attributed to the PFLP by the Shin Bet because it was committed by two adolescents from families known to support the organization and probably supported it also themselves. But even the Shin Bet itself says that a few days prior to the crime the murderers turned to a member of the PFLP asking for weapons, and he refused. Nimrod Aloni, who was Samaria Brigade Commander at the time, said in a briefing for journalists after catching the two terrorists that the crime wasn’t connected to any organization. Haaretz also reported that although the two supported the PFLP, the investigators couldn’t find any evidence that the attack was planned by the organization and their conclusion was that the attack was independent. The PFLP itself, which during the period of attacks in the early 2000s rushed to claim responsibility for any attack against Israelis, remained silent and did not assume responsibility. However it should be stated that I could not find a condemnation by the organization to the revolting murder in Itamar.
On the margins of this story remains the man, Ahmad Qatamesh, an intellectual, a leftist, a Marxist, a harsh critic of Israel on the one hand and of the Palestinian Authority on the other, who promotes the idea of one democratic state between the Jordan River and the sea, who calls loud and clear for non-violent solutions, who condemned and continues to condemn any harm done to civilians on both sides. Qatamesh is sitting in jail without trial or indictment. However Israel chooses to silence the voice of Qatamesh, who seeks brotherhood between Israelis and Palestinians, pursues equality and comes out against the corruption in the rotten system of the Palestinian Authority as well as the forces of occupation – a voice unaffiliated with any political organization. And this silencing is done in the most anti-democratic and blunt way available for the ‘only democracy in the Middle East’ with the help of the “most moral army in the world.”
In the coming days, Qatamesh’s most recent term in prison under administrative detention will come to an end after which he will appear again in front of a military judge, who will decide whether to once again extend Qatamesh’s imprisonment without trial. We love calling ourselves a democracy and a law-abiding state, but the sad reality is that we stopped being that a long time ago. A state that allows the imprisonment of a man, who’s only sin is that 13 years ago he belonged to a political movement, is not a law-abiding state. A state holding a political prisoner in jail for over two years, relying on emergency regulations that were devised as a last resort before the apocalypse – is not a democracy. A state afraid to present even the smallest evidence or testimony, which is afraid to stand as an accuser in front of the man whose freedom it denies, is a rotten state. As citizens of this country, we can no longer be silent. We have to come forth and shout until the halls of justice in Jerusalem tremble. Release Ahmad Qatamesh.
Update: At the end of August, in Qatamesh’s umpteenth hearing in military court, his administrative detention was extended once again citing a claim that, “he is a threat to the security of the area.” No new evidence was presented and no explanation given for the decision to keep him in administrative detention.
I’d like to thank Amnesty International, B’Tselem and another person, for helping with the research for this post.
Noam Rotem is an Israeli activist, high-tech executive and author of the blog o139.org, subtitled “Godwin doesn’t live here any more.” This piece was first published in Hebrew.
|
|
At one of the most consistently peaceful weekly demonstrations against the Israeli occupation, soldiers arrest a Palestinian activist in front of his three-year-old twin sons.
Friday, September 6, Israeli forces arrested Palestinian activist Mohammad Brijiah at the weekly demonstration against the separation wall in the West Bank village of Al Ma’sara. Brijiah’s twin three-year-old sons , who were present at the demonstration, watched helplessly as soldiers took their father away. He will be held until the morning of Sunday, September 8 when he will face a military court hearing at Gush Etzion prison. As is usual in this weekly demonstration, members of the Al Ma’sara community, accompanied by Israeli and international solidarity activists, marched from their village toward agricultural lands that will be cut off if the separation barrier is built as planned. |
The demonstration in Al Ma’sara, though modest in size, is one of the most consistently peaceful demonstrations in the West Bank, and children and families often participate. Episodes of stone-throwing are extremely rare, though Israeli forces still occasionally respond to the march with sounds bombs, tear gas, and as this day, arrests of activists. This week, as about 30 marchers entered the main road from the village, soldiers blocked their path and pushed them back using riot shields. Brijiah verbally confronted soldiers who responded by hitting him with their shields. When Brijiah pushed back against the shields, he was arrested.
According to Maan News, an Israeli military spokesperson claimed that Brijiah was taken into custody because he was “behaving violently” toward soldiers. The spokesperson also claimed that Israeli forces fired riot dispersal means, which this reporter observed firsthand was simply untrue on this particular day. It would seem that the military felt the need to exaggerate the actions of its own forces as well as Brijiah’s behavior in order to justify their actions. Brijiah’s arrest follows a pattern of arrests and harassment of nonviolent protesters by the Israeli military.
According to Maan News, an Israeli military spokesperson claimed that Brijiah was taken into custody because he was “behaving violently” toward soldiers. The spokesperson also claimed that Israeli forces fired riot dispersal means, which this reporter observed firsthand was simply untrue on this particular day. It would seem that the military felt the need to exaggerate the actions of its own forces as well as Brijiah’s behavior in order to justify their actions. Brijiah’s arrest follows a pattern of arrests and harassment of nonviolent protesters by the Israeli military.
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) arrested during August 14 former political detainees, released from PA prisons as part of the revolving door policy based on security coordination between the IOF and PA forces. Two journalists and seven liberated prisoners were among the detainees.
In al-Khalil, Israeli forces arrested the leader in Hamas movement Sheikh Mazen Abu Eid, 42, the dean of administrative detainees who spent 10 years in Israeli jails.
In Nablus, Mohammed Anwar Mona, Quds Press reporter, was arrested by Israeli forces, knowing that he spent more than 5 years in Israeli jails and he was arrested 6 times by PA forces.
The liberated prisoner Khadr Khaled Srkja, 37, was also detained in Israeli prisons. He was previously arrested three times by PA forces and spent more than 5 years behind Israeli bars.
IOF soldiers also arrested two members of the Islamic club from Qalqilya, and three liberated prisoners from Ramallah including a journalist.
In al-Khalil, Israeli forces arrested the leader in Hamas movement Sheikh Mazen Abu Eid, 42, the dean of administrative detainees who spent 10 years in Israeli jails.
In Nablus, Mohammed Anwar Mona, Quds Press reporter, was arrested by Israeli forces, knowing that he spent more than 5 years in Israeli jails and he was arrested 6 times by PA forces.
The liberated prisoner Khadr Khaled Srkja, 37, was also detained in Israeli prisons. He was previously arrested three times by PA forces and spent more than 5 years behind Israeli bars.
IOF soldiers also arrested two members of the Islamic club from Qalqilya, and three liberated prisoners from Ramallah including a journalist.
Ahrar Center for Prisoners' Studies and Human Rights denounced the Israeli court's unfair sentences against three Palestinians from Shawawra village in Bethlehem. The Israeli court has sentenced three Palestinians to 9 years in addition to imposing a fine of 10 thousand shekels (2800 dollars) on each one of them.
The director of the Ahrar Center Fouad Khuffash said that Ofer Military Court issued high sentences against Mohammed Shawawra, Ibrahim Dar'awi, and Ibrahim Salem, from Shawawra town, for being allegedly affiliated with al-Qassam Brigades.
The three prisoners are being held in Eshel prison since their arrest in 2011 where they were subjected to severe torture during investigation, he said.
Khuffash called on human rights groups to work seriously to put an end to the Israeli illegal sentences against Palestinian captives as part of its revenge policy.
The director of the Ahrar Center Fouad Khuffash said that Ofer Military Court issued high sentences against Mohammed Shawawra, Ibrahim Dar'awi, and Ibrahim Salem, from Shawawra town, for being allegedly affiliated with al-Qassam Brigades.
The three prisoners are being held in Eshel prison since their arrest in 2011 where they were subjected to severe torture during investigation, he said.
Khuffash called on human rights groups to work seriously to put an end to the Israeli illegal sentences against Palestinian captives as part of its revenge policy.
The second batch of the long-serving prisoners will be released on October 29th, said Ramallah minister of prisoners' Affairs Issa Qaraqe. Qaraqe said Friday during a meeting with a number of the prisoners’ relatives that the third batch will be released on December 29th, while the fourth on March 28th , 2014.
All long-serving prisoners detained before the signing of Oslo Accords in May 1994 will be released as the agreement concluded by Palestinian Authority (PA) and Israel.
The Israeli occupation authorities released in the middle of August 26 prisoners as the first batch out of 104 prisoners in conjunction with the resumption of negotiations between the PA and the Israeli occupation after a 3-year-long stalemate.
The minister stressed that the release of prisoners is not linked to the development in the negotiations and that no prisoner will be deported away from home.
Ahrar Center for Prisoners’ Studies and Human Rights documented 250 detentions in August alone, 5 from the Gaza Strip and 245 from the occupied West Bank.
All long-serving prisoners detained before the signing of Oslo Accords in May 1994 will be released as the agreement concluded by Palestinian Authority (PA) and Israel.
The Israeli occupation authorities released in the middle of August 26 prisoners as the first batch out of 104 prisoners in conjunction with the resumption of negotiations between the PA and the Israeli occupation after a 3-year-long stalemate.
The minister stressed that the release of prisoners is not linked to the development in the negotiations and that no prisoner will be deported away from home.
Ahrar Center for Prisoners’ Studies and Human Rights documented 250 detentions in August alone, 5 from the Gaza Strip and 245 from the occupied West Bank.
Israeli soldiers invaded on Saturday at dawn [September 7, 2013] the Al-Arroub refugee camp, north of the southern West Bank city of Hebron, and kidnapped nearly 40 Palestinians.
The army claimed that the invasion was carried out following clashes with local youths, in which some youths managed to burn a military tower installed at the entrance of the camp.
The army invaded dozens of homes in the camp by breaking or detonating their front doors, and violently searched the properties causing excessive damage.
The soldiers then detained dozens of youths, including children, cuffed and blindfolded them, and took them out of the camp.
Resident Ahmad Abu Kheiran, coordinator of the Popular Committee in southern West Bank refugee camps, stated that the soldiers attacked the residents while dragging them out of their homes.
He added that the soldiers released some of the kidnapped residents after interrogating them. The army is still surrounded the camp.
The army claimed that the invasion was carried out following clashes with local youths, in which some youths managed to burn a military tower installed at the entrance of the camp.
The army invaded dozens of homes in the camp by breaking or detonating their front doors, and violently searched the properties causing excessive damage.
The soldiers then detained dozens of youths, including children, cuffed and blindfolded them, and took them out of the camp.
Resident Ahmad Abu Kheiran, coordinator of the Popular Committee in southern West Bank refugee camps, stated that the soldiers attacked the residents while dragging them out of their homes.
He added that the soldiers released some of the kidnapped residents after interrogating them. The army is still surrounded the camp.
