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| Palestine Diaries |
| courtesy The Electronic Intifada |
| Human Rights |
| courtesy The Electronic Intifada |
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Vermonters
for a Just Peace in Palestine/Israel |
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| Prisoners index page |
The
Treatment of Prisoners and Detainees by Israel and Others
Prisoners Archive - April 2005
Actors
at an Israeli court demonstrate Israel’s torture methods used against Palestinian
detainees as described by witnesses. Source: Miftah
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Harsh conditions in the Negev and Atzion detentions International Middle East Media Center 5/12/2005 Lawyers of the Palestinian Prisoners Society Fawwaz al-Shalloudi, and Hussein al-Sheikh visited the Negev and Atzion detentions, and met with several detainees who informed them of harsh treatments and conditions they face in detention. Lawyer al-Shalloudi said that detainees Raed Dhraghmeh, 23, from Tubas, if suffering from injuries sustained during his arrested on 18/8/2004. Dhraghmeh was shot, in addition to suffering fractions in his shoulders, serious injuries in his abdomen when a shell fired by the army exploded near him; Dhraghmeh needs several surgeries and immediate medical treatment. PPS: Israel Arrested 800 Civilians Since Sharm Al Sheikh Understandings International Press Center 5/12/2005 GAZA, May 12, 2005 (IPC + Agencies) - - The Palestinian Prisoner''s Society (PPS) declared that the Israeli occupation authorities have arrested 800 civilians since the signing of Sharm Al Sheikh understandings, as well as intensifying the administrative detention policy and raids of civilians'' houses. PPS mentioned in a statement, a copy of which was received by IPC, that no significant changes were made to the Israeli arrest policies, pointing out that the arrest campaigns continued even during the declared ceasefire and the realization of the Sharm understandings. PMG Special Report: Ground Activity in the Occupied Palestinian Territory since the Sharm ash Sheikh Summit, 08 February 2005 Palestine Media Center 5/10/2005 ....During this period, the following events occurred: Israeli soldiers killed 8 Palestinians and injured 54. An additional 3 Palestinians died as a result of injuries sustained prior to 08 February 2005; Israeli soldiers physically assaulted 34 Palestinians; Israeli military forces opened fire on Palestinian locales 244 times; Israeli military forces carried out 427 raids into Palestinian villages, towns, cities, and refugee camps; The Israeli army constructed 6 new military posts – 5 in the West Bank and 1 in the Gaza Strip – and re-established 2 military posts in the West Bank; Israeli military forces arrested 186 Palestinians; The Israeli army renewed the administrative detention orders (arrest without charge or trial) for 47 Palestinian political prisoners, some of whom have had their orders renewed several consecutive times.... Presenting New IWPS Videos International Womens'' Peace Service 5/7/2005 IWPS is pleased to present two new videos which we hope will be helpful to you in your advocacy work. / "No Sin to Be Different: Young Women''s Resistance in Palestine" (10 min.) presents interviews with women ages 16-31, along with footage from demonstrations and other activities featuring teenage girls in the forefront of nonviolent resistance...."Inside Tsochar Prison" (7 min.) offers a rare look inside an Israeli immigration detention center...Please check out these and other IWPS resources by going to our resources page: http://www.iwps.info/en/resources/videos.php IOF to Seize more Palestinian Land WAFA 5/12/2005 BETHLEHEM, May 12, 2005, Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) handed Thursday Palestinian farmers notifications ordering them to leave lands. In a statement issued Thursday, the Palestinian National Liberation Movement (FATEH) said that the IOF is to seize at lest 1000 donums of land owned by Palestinian farmers, in the villages of Bittir and Arqoub, near Bethlehem. Fateh called on the HR and UN organizations for an immediate intervention to end the Israeli seizure of the lands of Palestinians. In the meantime, an Israeli military court sentenced three Palestinian prisoners for their fighting of occupation. Lebanon election alliances unravel as opposition struggles Daily Star 5/13/2005 Jumblatt reaches out to aoun -- BEIRUT: In the latest twist in Lebanon''s increasingly tortured election campaign a delegation from Druze leader Walid Jumblatt paid a surprise visit to Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun in a move to shore up fast disintegrating opposition unity. The meeting is widely seen as an attempt to maintain a semblance of unity among the opposition which has become increasingly fractious in recent weeks endangering its success in upcoming elections, which begin at the end of this month. Chouf MP Marwan Hamade, who led the delegation said: "We came here to welcome the general back in Lebanon on behalf of Jumblatt." Dahlan: “Detainees are the core of the Palestinian cause” International Middle East Media Center 5/7/2005 Palestinian Civil Affairs Minister Mohammad Dahlan said that the case of the detainees in Israeli prisons is the core in any negotiations with the Israeli side. After conducting a visit to Washington to inform the US government of the latest developments in the region, and the Israeli violations to the truce, Dahlan paused in Cairo, before heading back to the Gaza Strip. Dahlan asked the states to increase its involvement in the peace process. During his visit to Egypt, Dahlan was interviewed by Abdul-Nasser Al-Dawwi, an Egyptian journalist in Cairo. Egypt Tortures Extradited Islamists: HRW Islam Online 5/11/2005 CAIRO, May 11, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – Dozens of alleged “Islamic militants” are shipped and ferried blindfolded to Egypt where they are tortured, held incommunicado and even disappear, an international rights organization reported Wednesday, May 11. “Over the past ten years, Egypt’s campaign to eradicate armed militant Islamists moved from the streets of its large cities and the countryside of Upper Egypt to countries around the world where some of those militants had taken refuge,” the US-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on its report, “Black Hole: The Fate of Islamists Rendered to Egypt.” Abbas, Lula discuss Middle East peace AlJazeera 5/10/2005 Brazil''s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has praised the Palestinians for their patience, while Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has called on Israel to stick to its agreements. In a meeting with Abbas on Monday in Brasilia on the eve of the first summit of South American and Arab nations, Lula said Brazil would do its utmost to help the Middle East peace process along. Lula''s foreign relations adviser Marco Aurelio Garcia said Abbas wished Israel would "better comply with the Sharm al-Shaikh agreement" signed at the first encounter in four years between Israeli and Palestinian leaders. The Palestinian leader said he especially regretted that "the release of 400 [Palestinian] prisoners has not taken place," the spokesman added. I fear for my safety - Pollard YNetNews 5/11/2005 Pollard says his torture accusations are causing backlash with prison authorities -- JERUSALEM – Convicted spy Jonathan Pollardfeels threatened after stories about tortures he had allegedly endured in an American prison recently came to light, Pollard''s attorney Nitzana Darshan-Leitner said. U.S. prison authorities had called a special meeting with Pollard, asking him about the alleged tortures and about his connections to media outlets, she said. Darshan-Leitner recently petitioned the High Court of Justice to speed up consideration of his status as a Prisoner of Zion. Ministry of Detainees Report: Palestinian Political Child Prisoners in Israeli Prisons (PDF) Palestine Media Center 5/10/2005 Monthly Update, April 2005 -- "The arrest of Palestinian children by the Israeli Occupation forces is not a measure of last resort and for a minimum period of time (Article 37 of the CRC). Instead of that, Palestinian children are being arrested as the first resort and imprisoned for long periods of time." -- 304 children are still in jail including 9 girls / 4% of children without charges (administrative detention) / 3% of child prisoners are girls / 63% of child prisoners pending trial / 65% of the children are held within Israeli proper / 25% of child prisoners are sick.Since the outbreak of Aqsa Intifada in September 2000, about 3,000 Palestinian children have been arrested. MPA: 8814 Prisoners in Israeli jails WAFA 5/10/2005 GAZA, May, 10, 2005, (WAFA)-Ministry of Prisoners Affairs (MPA) said that 8814 prisoners imprisoned in Israeli jails. In a report faxed to WAFA on Tuesday, the MPA revealed that prisoners live under ill conditions and bad treatments inside the Israeli prisons. "Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) continue its arrests campaigns against citizens in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in spite of the state of calm", MPA added. MPA said that Negev Israeli prison is heavily crowded with prisoners, simply it includes 2250 prisoners ,out of which 1000 under administrative detention. 12 detainees deported to Jordan International Middle East Media Center 5/9/2005 Sunday at night, Israeli soldiers deported 16 detainees to Jordan, Jordan received 12 detainees and the rest were not allowed entry. Issa Qaraqe’, head of the Palestinian Prisoners Society reported that the detainees have been in detention for more than three years, and that they carry Jordanian Passports. The deportees are Palestinians, but do not carry Palestinian identity cards, which is considered illegal by Israel, the families of the deportees are living in the Palestinian territories. Qaraqe added that there are currently 20 detainees facing deportation threats. [end] Medical deglect threatens the life of a detainee in Galboa International Middle East Media Center 5/9/2005 The Palestinian Prisoners Society stated that detainee Ahmad Lutfi Dharaghmeh, 34, developed serious infections after sustaining fractions in his left hand during interrogation; boney fractions mixed with his skin causing serious infection. Dharaghmeh was injured during torture, and did not receive the needed medical treatment which complicated his health condition; Dharaghmeh was interrogated for seven months, his lawyer was only allowed to see him four months after he was arrested. The society reported that Dharaghmeh, from Tubas, was arrested in 2000, and sentenced to fifteen consecutive years... Walled city Mayor held behind bars International Middle East Media Center 5/9/2005 An imprisoned Hamas candidate from the northern West Bank city of Qalqilia, won mayoral elections, his deputy will take position in city hall. Wajeeh Qawais, a member of Hamas, has been in Ofer detention over the past three years. Apparently, the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, decided to run a security detainee in the elections campaign in order to raise awareness among the residents on the issue of detainees, and to demonstrate its role regarding the detainees. After winning the elections, Qawais appointed a deputy mayor to fulfill his responsibilities in the municipality. Israel Expels 20 Palestinian s to Jordan WAFA 5/9/2005 BETHLEHEM, May, 9, 2005, (WAFA)-Israeli Occupation Authorities expelled yesterday night 16 prisoners to Jordan. Head of Palestinian Prisoners Society, Issa Qaraqi'' said that Jordan allowed to 12 prisoners to enter its territories and returned the others. The prisoners have been in Israeli jails since 3 years under pretext of having Jordanian passports and not having identity cards. He revealed that there are 20 more prisoners threatened to be expelled for the same reasons. PPS Demands Investigation Into Death of a Prisoner International Press Center 5/8/2005 GAZA, May 8, 2005 (IPC + Agencies) - - The Palestinian Prisoner''s Society (PPS) demanded the Israeli authorities to investigate into the death of a prisoner from Tulkarem at an Israeli jail hospital last Thursday. PPS said that Abdul Fattah Radded, 25, who died last Thursday of critical wounds at Al Ramleh prison hospital, might have been extra-judicially executed after being wounded and arrested by the Israeli troops. PPS noted that several prisoners were killed after being arrested throughout the current Intifada. U.S. Quran desecration at Guantanamo sparks outrage AlJazeera.com 5/8/2005 Pakistan said Sunday it was "deeply dismayed" and called for a probe over reports that copies of the Qur’an, the Muslims'' holy book, were desecrated at the U.S. naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. "The government of Pakistan is deeply dismayed by a news item carried by the latest edition of Newsweek magazine about the reported desecration of the holy Qur’an," foreign office spokesman Jalil Abbas Jilani said on Sunday. Mr. Jilani described as “highly objectionable and regrettable, treatment meted out to the detainees at Guantanamo Bay detention centre.” PM: No further prisoner releases until PA acts against terror Ha''aretz 5/8/2005 Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Sunday that Israel will not release any more Palestinian prisoners until the Palestinian Authority "fulfills its commitment to crack down on the terror organizations." "We cannot approve any measures that ease the lives of Palestinians so long as they are not doing their part," said Sharon, during the weekly cabinet meeting. The issue was raised during the cabinet meeting by Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Health Minister Dan Naveh (Likud). Palestinian fury after Sharon freezes prisoner releases Yahoo! News 5/8/2005 JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon delivered a new blow to the troubled Middle East peace process by deciding to put on hold an agreement to release 400 Palestinian prisoners. Palestinians reacted furiously to the move, saying it would only serve to undermine an ongoing truce, while Egypt also warned that it was likely to weaken the moderate Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas. The 400 prisoners were due to have been released by Israel as part of an agreement reached with Abbas at a summit in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh in February. Israel freezes release of 400 Palestinian prisoners Ha''aretz 5/8/2005 Justice Minister Tzipi Livni announced Sunday that Israel would not proceed with the release of 400 Palestinian prisoners citing the increase in Palestinian attacks against Israeli targets in recent weeks. Livni''s announcement came at the end of a meeting of the joint Israeli-Palestinian prisoner committee also attended by Ministers Gideon Ezra and Benjamin Ben-Eliezer. According to members of the Israeli team, Israel views the Sharm el-sheikh agreements on the release of Palestinian prisoners as being directly linked to Palestinian crackdown on militants. Since the Palestinian Authority has hardly done anything in the matter, they said, the release of Palestinian prisoners is suspended. Prisoner of Zion? YNetNews 5/8/2005 In an appeal to Israeli Supreme Court Jonathan Pollard demands to be recognized as Prisoner of Zion and that the tortures he underwent throughout the years in American prisons are investigated -- TEL AVIV - Jonathan Pollard demands the State of Israel acknowledge him as a Prisoner of Zion after spending the past two decades in an American prison. After numerous past rejections to grant him his status of desire, Pollard seems to embrace a different tactic. In his appeal to the Supreme Court he describes his 20-year-long journey through the American punitive system in terms that resemble the conditions in Siberia of the past century rather than U.S. in the year 2005. Israeli ambassador set to visit Pollard YNetNews 5/9/2005 Israeli Ambassador to U.S. Danny Ayalon set to meet with convicted spy Jonathan Pollard next Tuesday; Sharon, Shalom decide on pro-active approach to facilitate his release -- Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Danny Ayalon is expected to meet with convicted spy Jonathan Pollard, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom decided during a meeting Monday....Sharon and Shalom decided a more pro-active approach is necessary to facilitate the release of Pollard, who has complained for some time of harsh prison conditions. Video testiomonies: One big prison Electronic Intifada/B''tselem 5/7/2005 For the past four and a half years, Israel has severely restricted freedom of movement to and from the Gaza Strip. These restrictions further strangled the Gaza Strip, so much so that the area resembles one gigantic prison. One Big Prison documents the ongoing violations of human rights and international law resulting from Israel’s restrictions on the movement of people and goods between Gaza and the West Bank, Israel, and the rest of the world. The report also warns against Israel’s attempt to avoid its responsibility toward residents of the Gaza Strip following disengagement. [Includes links to four video testimonies.] Prisoner Dies of Wounds at Israeli Prison''s Hospital WAFA 5/6/2005 TULKAREM, May 6, 2005 (WAFA) - Prisoner died Thursday of wounds at an Israeli prison''s hospital in Tel Aviv, Local sources said. The sources revealed that that Abdul Fattah Raddad 22, was seriously wounded four days ago, in an Israeli operation in which Shafiq Abdul Ghani was cold-bloodily killed in Saida village. The sources added Raddad was arrested and taken to an unknown location after he was shot by an Israeli undercover unit. [end] Bad conditions in the Negev detention International Middle East Media Center 5/5/2005 Detainees in Ansar 3 detention in the Negev desert complained of bad health conditions, delays in visitations and rapidly increasing number of mice and snakes as summer approaches rising the temperature in the desert climate. Detainee Shukri al-Khawaja, from Na’lin, near Ramallah, and detainee Saed Sharaf, from Nablus, are suffering from ophthalmic diseases, gradually losing their sights while the administration at the Negev detention is ignoring their medical needs. Female detainees allowed conducting Tawjihi exam International Middle East Media Center 5/5/2005 Resident’s Rights Society appealed to the Legal Councilor of Prison Authorities in Israel to allow the female detainees to conduct the Tawjihi exam. Following the appeal, the councilor ordered prison administration at Hasharon detention to enable the female detainees to register to the exam in order to conduct it. Lawyer of the society, Sonia Bolos, appealed to the Israeli Legal Councilor on April 20, 2005, after several complaints were filed to the society following a decision by the ISP ‘Israeli Prison Administration’ barring the female detainees from their right to conduct the exam. IOF Extends Detention of 2 Children in WB WAFA 5/5/2005 TUBAS, May 5, 2005 (WAFA) - Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) extended the detention of two children from Tubas City in the West Bank, Palestinian Prisoners'' Society said on Thursday. It reveled that "Salem" Israeli military court extended the detention of Hammam Daraghmeh and Mohammed Daraghmeh, both 15, for more seven days at the pretext of interrogating them. The Daraghmeh were arrested a week ago at one of IOF checkpoints in Jenin City. In the meantime, PPS said that prisoners in "Talmund" Israeli prison suffer very harsh prison conditions due to the Israeli practices against them. Israeli Government Freezes Handover of West Bank Cities to PA International Press Center 5/5/2005 RAMALLAH, Palestine, May 5, 2005 (IPC + Agencies) - - The Palestinian Liberation Organization''s Chief Negotiator, Dr. Saeb Erekat, dismissed the Israeli excuses to justify the freezing of West Bank cities'' handover to the Palestinian Authority as unrealistic, stressing that such a decision would allow more excuses to be made for delaying the implementation of what was agreed upon. Dr. Erekat told the daily Al-Ayyam newspaper that the upcoming meeting of the joint Palestinian-Israeli committee to amend the criteria of releasing prisoners next Sunday would not discuss the release of 400 prisoners from Israeli jails, pointing out that this number was decided by the Israeli government unilaterally, and that the Palestinian side was waiting for next Sunday to hear the Israeli point of view on the criteria they''ve presented a month ago. ''Al Asra'' Media Center: Nablus Ranks First in Number of Prisoners Arrested in April International Press Center 5/5/2005 NABLUS, Palestine, May 5, 2005 (IPC) - - The ''Al Asra'' Media Center in Nablus revealed that the number of civilians arrested by Israeli forces in Nablus during the month of April, 2004 was the highest in comparison with the other provinces. The center asserted in a report received by IPC correspondent that 66 of the 328 prisoners arrested in April were from Nablus, during the continuous Israeli incursions of West Bank and Gaza Strip cities despite the de facto ceasefire declared three months ago. The city of Nablus was followed in numbers by Jerusalem, in which 56 civilians were arrested last month. Turkish PM: Palestinians should not be left in ''an open prison'' Ha''aretz 5/3/2005 Asked whether he considered Israel''s actions against the Palestinians "state terrorism," Erdogan responded: "How else can you interpret it?" -- ANKARA, Turkey - Turkey''s prime minister on Tuesday said that Turkey will actively lobby for a solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, saying Palestinians should not be left in what appears to be "an open prison." Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan made his statement a day after returning from a trip to Israel and the West Bank. Erdogan, the second Turkish premier to visit Israel, said Turkey was ready to use its close ties with both Israel and the Palestinians to help mediate a peace deal. Prisoner in shock due to torture International Middle East Media Center 5/4/2005 Lawyer of the Palestinian Prisoners Society, Hasan al-Sheikh, reported that detainee Mohammad Ali Rashaida, lost his ability to speak after being tortured and punched on his head and ears. Al-Sheikh added that soldiers also fired rounds of live ammunition while placing their guns near his ears during interrogation. Rashaida, who was arrested on April 29, 2005, in Bethlehem, was also shot wounded during his arrest. Rashaida, a father of six children, is currently in a critical condition going through a shock, and unable to carry out any physical effort without external help. MPA: IOF Arrested 328 citizens in last April WAFA 5/4/2005 GAZA, May 4, 2005 (WAFA)- Ministry of Prisoners'' Affairs (MPA) said Wednesday that Israel arrested 328 citizens in last April. A report by MPA revealed that more than 8000 prisoners are behind Israeli jail bars daily humiliation at the hands of Israeli jailers. The report said that Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) arrested 328 prisoners during the last month, including 296 from the West Bank and 32 from the Gaza Strip as a result of the daily attacks and search operations carried out by IOF. Prisoner Loses His Voice Due to Israel''s Torture WAFA 5/4/2005 JERUSALEM, May 4, 2005 (WAFA)- A Palestinian prisoner lost his voice due to torture by Israeli jailers, Palestinian Prisoners'' Society (PPS)said on Wednesday. PPS''s advocate said that Mohammed Rashyeda 35, who is imprisoned in Kfar Etsion Prison in Bethlehem, has lost his speech after being subjected to severe torture at the hand of Israeli soldiers. The advocate revealed that Rashyeda was inhumanely beaten up on the head, adding shots were fired so close to his ears. Rashyeda was shot with a bullet in the left leg when arrested. He was admitted to a hospital in Israel and operated without anesthetic. PMO: Abbas is leaving the door wide open to further terror attacks Ha''aretz 5/4/2005 The Prime Minister''s Office on Wednesday accused Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas of acting in a way that encourages terror, and leaves the door wide open to further attacks against Israelis. "Abbas'' readiness to release terrorists only encourages terror, they should have remained in prison," said David Baker, an official in the Prime Minister''s Office, in reference to accusations the PA recently released three Hamas members suspected of launching Qassam rockets. Handover of West Bank towns on hold YNetNews 5/4/2005 Cabinet decides to freeze handover of three more West Bank cities, Sharon and Abbas expected to meet soon to discuss possible coordination on Israel''s plan to quit the Gaza Strip; Israel also gearing up to free 400 Palestinian prisoners it promised to release as part of efforts to promote peacemaking -- The Security Cabinet decided Wednesday to freeze the transfer of three more West Bank cities promised to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas until the Palestinian leader carry out reforms within hissecurity forces and make stronger efforts to stop terror. Israeli Troops Arrest Several Residents in the West Bank International Press Center 5/3/2005 WEST BANK, Palestine, May03, 2005 (IPC+WAFA)-- The Israeli occupation troops arrested Monday night a number of Palestinian residents in separate incidents in the West Bank. In Hebron City, a special undercover Israeli army unit, set an ambush on the crossroad of the Al-Fawar refugee camp, an outskirt of the city, and arrested Mahmoud Wraidat, 32, and Mohammad Amaira,28, the Hebron-based Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) told Palestine News Agency (WAFA). In the meantime, the Israeli troops arrested three other Palestinians at the Beit Foreek checkpoint, east of Nablus city...Tuesday morning, the Israeli occupation soldiers placed a mobile checkpoint to the west of Nablus and searched the local residents'' vehicles, then arrested a resident...In the Qalqilia city, the Israeli troops placed on Tuesday several military checkpoints on the roads that connect the city with other West Bank areas. MK: Israel working on homeland pardon for South Lebanese Army veterans Ha''aretz 5/3/2005 Israel is acting to enable the South Lebanese Army (SLA) veterans to return to their land, MK Ayoub Kara (Likud) told Haaretz yesterday. Kara said he has been in contact with Lebanese officials, such as exiled General Michel Aoun, and foreign officials, in an effort to include SLA veterans in the pardon legislation the Lebanese parliament is working on. The legislation will enable the release from prison of Samir Jaja, the leader of the Lebanese forces, and Hezbollah activists incarcerated for attacking Lebanese soldiers. Tales of torture finally see light of day Daily Star 5/4/2005 Lebanese released from syrian prisons speak out -- BEIRUT: Former Lebanese detainees of Syrian prisoners held a press conference Tuesday to recount their tales of torture and mistreatment, screaming for the government to stop ignoring their pleas for the release of those still suffering. For years a subject considered taboo, the issue of Lebanese detainees in Syria has been discussed openly as of late on numerous television programs and in public demonstrations, with new cases surfacing daily and raising the reported number of missing Lebanese from 220 to well over 500. Prisoners of Zion protest Putin visit Jerusalem Post 4/27/2005 Former Prisoners of Zion – Russian Jews jailed for promoting immigration to Israel from the Soviet Union – on Wednesday criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin and his policy toward Israel and questioned the benefit of his scheduled meetings with Israeli officials. They said they were planning to hold a demonstration in Jerusalem on Thursday. "President Putin''s visit is dangerous to Israel," declared Yosef Mendelevitch, who spent more than a decade in a Soviet prison. He condemned Russia''s recent missile sale to Syria and voiced concern about the leader''s interest in becoming a major Middle East player while holding anti-Israel views. Islamic Scholar Ali Al-Timimi Convicted Arab News 4/27/2005 ALEXANDRIA, Va., 27 April 2005 — A prominent Islamic scholar was convicted yesterday of 10 counts alleging he encouraged followers in the days after the Sept. 11 attacks to join the Taleban and fight US troops. Jurors reached their verdict in their seventh day of deliberations in the trial of Ali Al-Timimi. The 41-year-old defendant showed no reaction to the verdict. He faces a mandatory maximum sentence of life in prison, federal prosecutors said. Prosecutors have said Timimi was a respected scholar who enjoyed “rock star” status among his followers and that he used that influence to guide them into holy war against the United States. Cabinet: All Prisoners should be Released with no Condition WAFA 4/27/2005 GAZA, April, 27, 2005, (WAFA)-Palestinian Cabinet affirmed that the issue of the Palestinian prisoners is at the top of the Palestinian Leadership''s priorities and should be released without condition. In its Tuesday meeting in Gaza chaired by PM Ahmed Qurei'', the Cabinet stressed that Israel has partially implemented its expected withdrawal from Palestinian areas (in the West Bank) in contrary to Sharem Al-Sheikh understandings. The Cabinet considered Israel''s decision to postpone its withdrawal from Gaza Strip for another 3 weeks a continuation of its procrastination policy. Abbas: Israel Is Reneging on Its Sharm el-Sheikh Obligations Palestine Media Center 4/26/2005 ‘Ugly Settlement’ Is the Core Issue of Palestinian – Israeli Dialogue -- Palestinian President Mahoud Abbas said Monday Israel is foot-dragging and reneging on its obligations according to the “understandings” he reached with the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon at their February 8 summit in Egypt. Abbas arrived in Gaza City from the West Bank on Sunday, a day after appointing four new security chiefs. He was scheduled to meet Tuesday with representatives of the anti-occupation groups and with senior Palestinian security officials....“When I meet with Sharon, I will ask him, why you are not committed to implementing the understandings? Why didn''t you implement the understanding reached on releasing prisoners, return of deportees and letting wanted activists to go back home ?” Said Abbas. US urged to end Guantanamo torture AlJazeera 4/26/2005 Europe''s top human rights body has called on the US to stop torture and mistreatment of Guantanamo detainees, asking it to either give the prisoners a fair trial or release them. The parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe on Tuesday asked the US government "to cease torturing and mistreating detainees" at its facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. "The US government has betrayed its own highest principles in the zeal with which it has attempted to purse the war on terror," it said. "These errors have perhaps been most manifest in relation to Guantanamo Bay," said the resolution passed by parliamentarians of the pan-European body at a session in Strasbourg. A detained Fatah leader confined to solitary International Middle East Media Center 4/25/2005 Prison administration in Galboa’ detention placed on Sunday evening, detainee Jamal Hweil, from Jenin refugee camp, in solitary confinement and barred him from his visitation rights. Hweil is one of the prominent Fatah leaders in Jenin. Haneen Al-Ekir, the fiancé of Hweil said that prison authority cancelled his name from the list of detainees who are allowed to have visitations, and confined him to solitary imprisonment for one month. Female and Children Prisoners under Israeli Torture and Health Ignorance WAFA 4/25/2005 RAMALLAH, April 25, 2005, (WAFA)- Two organizations, concerned in prisoners affairs, confirmed that the Palestinian female and child prisoners in Israeli prison "Talmond" suffer miserable health conditions. Two lawyers of "Mandela", Rateb Mhaisen and Nazih Abu al-Tin, who visited prisoners last Wednesday, said that female prisoners and children complaint of daily practices and health deterioration. Mohaissen, who visited 8 female prisoners, said that they live in harsh and non healthy conditions, according to a joint press release issued by "Mandela Association" and "the Palestinian Legal Aid Fund". Sick Palestinian detained for 9.5 hours and then arrested International Womens'' Peace Service 4/25/2005 Date of incident: 21 April, 2005 - Time: 12:30 – 10pm - Place: Huwara Checkpoint, Nablus - Witness/es: Detainee’s brother, wife, 2 friends, and Anna (IWPS) - Description of Incident: A resident of Qira was reportedly stopped at Huwara checkpoint leaving Nablus, where he had spent 7 days in a hospital due to a serious stomach infection. He was on his way home with his wife. The detainee was held from 12:30-10pm while the army checked his ID. His wife stayed with him, and his brother and a friend also came to wait with them. The detainee appeared to be in a lot of pain, clutching his stomach and coughing a lot. At 10pm the soldiers announced they were taking him away, but would not give any information as to why, where, or for how long he was being taken. He was driven away in a jeep. The DCO’s Humanitarian Office reports that the sick man is being held at Salem for being “a security threat.” Grieving families seek fate of relatives in Syrian jails Daily Star 4/25/2005 Since issue was televised, 150 new cases of imprisoned loved ones have surfaced -- BEIRUT: Miranda Roumieh removes a worn green t-shirt and white cotton pants from a plastic bag she carries with her everywhere. The clothes have been washed but traces of blood are still visible. "He gave them to me when I saw him in prison in Anjar," she says, recalling the last time she saw her son Bechara. "He was begging me to help him get out of hell as he didn''t know why he was there. They let me see him only once before they sent him to a Syrian jail and I never heard from him again." That was 23 years ago. PA wants Gaza crossings YNetNews 4/24/2005 Palestinian Minister Mohammed Dahlan says Israel must transfer control over all Gaza border crossings to Palestinian Authority as part of upcoming pullout; issue to be raised in next meeting with Mofaz, Dahlan says -- GAZA - An Israeli withdrawal from Gaza would not be complete if the IDF fails to hand over control over all border crossings to the Palestinian Authority, PA Civil Affairs Minister Mohammad Dahlan said Sunday. Israel must also transfer control of the Gaza sea and air ports to Palestinian hands, he said. “There will be no separation between the West Bank and Gaza, and we will not allow the Gaza Strip to be turned into a prison," Dahlan told reporters in Gaza. Female detainee released after six months without charges International Middle East Media Center 4/22/2005 The Bethlehem office of the Palestinian Prisoners Society reported that Israeli authorities released Ahlam Salah, 28, from Al-Khader near Bethlehem. Ahlam was in administrative detention for six months without charges or trial. The society stated that Ahlam is the widow of Mahmoud Salah, one of Al-Aqsa brigades’ fighters, who was assassinated two years ago. Salah said that the female detainees are facing harsh conditions in detention, while the soldiers repeatedly break into their rooms and conduct military searches. Two fighters escape Palestinian detention International Middle East Media Center 4/22/2005 A Palestinian security source reported that two Palestinians detained at a Palestinian prison in Tulkarem managed to escape on Friday. The two residents were held on suspicions of connections with the Tel Aviv Stage night club bombing in Tel Aviv on February 25, 2005. Shafik Abdul-Ghani and Ahmad Zaki, members of the Islamic Jihad movement were both arrested shortly after the bombing. According to an Israeli security source, the two members were arrested by the P.A security which was “aided by the Israeli intelligence”, according to the source. Hizb Allah threat to Israeli soldiers AlJazeera 4/23/2005 Lebanon''s Shia Hizb Allah group leader Shaikh Hasan Nasr Allah has said his group might kidnap Israeli soldiers to win the release of three Lebanese citizens held by the Jewish state. Nasr Allah made the comments on Friday during a ceremony commemorating the 26th anniversary of the capture of Samir Kantar, Israel''s longest-held Lebanese prisoner. Kantar, a Lebanese fighter, has been in an Israeli prison since 1979 for killing three Israelis. Israel has said it will not release Kantar before getting information about Ron Arad, an Israeli navigator whose plane was shot down over Lebanon in 1986. Hezbollah leader hints his group may kidnap Israeli soldiers Ha''aretz 4/22/2005 BEIRUT - Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah hinted Friday his group might kidnap Israel Defense Forces soldiers to win the release of three Lebanese citizens held by Israel. "When we fail in negotiations, and that should be determined soon, we will only have one choice left in front of is. It is what brought back some of the brothers who are among us now," Nasrallah said referring to last year''s exchange of a Hezbollah-captured IDF reserve colonel and the bodies of three soldiers in return for hundreds Arab prisoners. Germany is currently leading mediation efforts towards a prisoner exchange between Lebanon and Israel. Terror suspects escape Palestinian prison YNetNews 4/22/2005 The PA arrested those behind bombing of “The Stage” nightclub; now two suspects escape their Tulkarm prison -- Two Palestinians suspected of involvement in the February 25 suicide bombing of Tel Aviv’s Stage nightclub escaped from prison today. The two, Shakif Abdel Rani and Ahmed Zaki were members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. They were arrested by Palestinian security forces, which were aided by the Israelis. The jailbreak embarrassed the Palestinians because it made them look like they are operating a “revolving door” prison system. Abuses by U.S. and Afghan forces ''undermine'' security Daily Star 4/23/2005 UN expert says he has received numerous reports of torture and arbitary arrests -- KABUL: A United Nations human rights official says he has received reports of torture and other abuses by U.S.-led and Afghan forces which undermine the country''s security and stability. Cherif Bassiouni, the UN''s independent expert on human rights in Afghanistan, said that he had received reports that U.S.-led forces and Afghan security agencies "act above and beyond the reach of the law by engaging in arbitrary arrests and detentions" and torturing their detainees. PHR: Extreme Lack of Basic Medical Services in Ofer Israeli Prison WAFA 4/21/2005 TELAVIV, April, 21, 2005, (WAFA)-Physicians for Human Rights-Israel (PHR) said on Wednesday that there is an extreme lack of basic medical services, mental health care and psychosocial care in Ofer Detention Camp in Israel. In an interim report, PHR revealed during a visit to Ofer that the prison holds adult male Palestinians and 16-18 year old minors who are held together in violation of international law, as well as minors under the age of 16 who are held separately. Many of the prisoners are administrative detainees. Some 80 prisoners are chronically ill. Freed Jordanians return from Israel AlJazeera 4/21/2005 Seven of nine Jordanian prisoners freed by Israel have returned home. Two of the prisoners, who had been accused of crimes connected to the Palestinian uprising, decided to remain in the West Bank. The seven who returned were sent by bus across the Allenby bridge linking Jordan with the Palestinian territories and Israel. The Israeli cabinet approved their release on Sunday. The nine men had been serving prison terms from four to eight years for offences that included possessing weapons, inciting public disorder or using firearms against Israeli soldiers during protests in the Palestinian territories. Israel frees nine Jordanian prisoners as goodwill gesture Ha''aretz 4/21/2005 Israel freed nine of the 18 Jordanians in its jails Thursday, in keeping with a recent pledge to improve ties between the two countries. Seven of the prisoners traveled by bus across the Jordan River at the Allenby Bridge, which links Jordan with Israel and the West Bank. The remaining two decided to stay with family in Palestinian Authority areas. Jordan had demanded the prisoners'' release after returning its ambassador to Tel Aviv in February following a four-year absence during the Palestinian intifada that has calmed in the past three months. Administrative detention for the eighth time International Middle East Media Center 4/20/2005 Israeli Prison Authorities (IPS) renewed military detention orders against a resident of Nablus for the eighth time. Talal, the Father of Raslan Thouqan, 32, from Balata refugee camp east of Nablus, said that the IPS renewed military detention orders against his son additional 5 months. Raslan was arrested 3 years ago, and was placed under administrative detention without trial or charges. It is worth mentioning that the four sons of Talal were arrested, three were recently released while the older son, Talal, remained in detention. Ofra Prisoners Infected With Measles International Press Center 4/20/2005 GAZA, Palestine, April 20,2005 (IPC)---Scabies, an infectious disease in particular the measles are present amongst the prisoners of Ofra, nearby Rammallah as the Israeli occupation authorities refused to proffer an appropriate and adequate medication for the Palestinian prisoners. The Palestinian sources said that the Ofra prison services isolated the prisoners of "7"and "9" awards from the rest of the prisoners following the increase of the number of prisoner infected with measles. Physicians for Human Rights-Israel visits Ofer detention camp ReliefWeb 4/20/2005 A new interim report has been released by Physicians for Human Rights-Israel following a visit by a physician and lawyer from the organization to Ofer Detention Camp where Palestinian detainees are held -- On 17 April 2005, a physician and lawyer from Physicians for Human Rights-Israel visited Ofer Detention Camp, after having received permission to do so from the Israeli Army, which runs the prison. PHR-Israel conducted the visit due to the numerous complaints it received from detainees in the center....The medical services available to the prisoners are not satisfactory. The army must grant better conditions and treatment to the prisoners, especially since they do not have the option of getting their care from another source. Travel ban on Vanunu extended The Guardian 4/20/2005 Israel''s interior minister has extended a travel ban on the nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu for another year, officials said yesterday. Mr Vanunu, who has been barred from leaving the country since he was released from prison last year, must remain in the country until at least April 19 2006, said Gilad Heiman, a spokesman for the interior minister, Ophir Pines-Paz. Mr Vanunu, a former technician at Israel''s nuclear plant in the southern town of Dimona, was released in April 2004 after serving 18 years for divulging information about Israel''s atomic programme to a British newspaper. Prisons Service relaxes solitary for pro-Palestinian activist Fahima Ha''aretz 4/20/2005 The Prisons Service said Wednesday that it has relaxed the terms of solitary confinement for pro-Palestinian activist Tali Fahima, allowing her to meet other prisoners for two hours a day. Prisons Service officials told the Ramle Magistrate''s Court that they had also decided to allow Fahima, who has been in complete isolation in the Neve Tirze women''s prison in the city, to see her mother and her lawyer, Dina Smadar Ben-Natan, without a glass divider between them. Fahima was arrested on August 10 on suspicion of involvement with the military arm of Fatah in Jenin, after having spent time in the company of Zakharia Zubeidi, commander of the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades in the northern West Bank city. Israel to free 7 Jordanian prisoners as good-will gesture Ha''aretz 4/21/2005 Israel plans to free seven of 18 Jordanians from its jails on Thursday in keeping with a recent pledge to improve ties between the two countries, Israeli officials said on Wednesday. Jordan had demanded the prisoners'' release after returning its ambassador to Tel Aviv in February following a four-year absence during a Palestinian uprising that has calmed in the past three months. Israel''s cabinet had decided on Sunday to free nine prisoners not involved in deadly attacks against Israelis soon. Officials in the Justice Ministry and Prison Services could not explain why they had only seven on their list to be freed early Thursday from a prison in central Israel. Boogie''s night in Jordan YNetNews 4/20/2005 Israel''s army chief briefs Jordan''s King Abdullah on Israel''s planned withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and its upcoming release of nine Jordanian prisoners -- Army Chief Moshe Yaalon visited Jordan’s King Abdullah II and updated him about Israel’s plans to release nine Jordanian prisoners and about a planned pullout from the Gaza Strip this summer, a senior security source said on Wednesday. Jordan has expressed interest in helping Palestinian security forces retain control of the Palestinian territories after Israel’s withdrawal from all 21 settlements in Gaza and four of 120 from the West Bank, although the source refused to comment on whether the two had arranged such coordination. Palestinians Mark Prisoner Day, Pray for Release Islam Online 4/17/2005 RAMALLAH, April 17, 2005 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Thousands of Palestinians marked on Sunday, April 17, the Prisoner Day with rallies across the West Bank and Gaza Strip, criticizing the Palestinian Authority for inaction on the pressing issue....In the northern West Bank city of Jenin, dozens of Palestinian resistance activists and family members of the prisoners blocked traffic, demanding an immediate release of their loved ones. They further demanded money for families of Palestinians killed in fighting with Israeli occupation troops, according to Reuters. Palestinians Invite Ronaldo to Play in Rafah International Press Center 4/19/2005 GAZA, Palestine, April 19, 2005 (IPC + Agencies) - - The Palestinian Soccer Union invited the famous Brazilian soccer player, Ronaldo, to visit the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah and play with the Palestinian children there, who have become homeless after Israeli forces demolished their homes. Jamal Zaqqout, member of the Palestinian Soccer Union and an opponent to the sports normalization with Israel, invited Ronaldo to visit the Rafah municipal soccer field and play with the children of about 8000 Palestinian prisoners and martyrs, who were killed or turned homeless due to the Israeli aggressions in southern Gaza Strip. PPS: Israeli Troops Arrested 63 Palestinian Women in 2004 International Press Center 4/19/2005 BETHLEHEM, Palestine, April19, 2005 (IPC+PPS)-- The year 2004 witnessed a notable increase in the number of those Palestinian women being jailed by the Israeli occupation troops, as 63 Palestinian women were arrested including 14 teenagers aged less than 18 years-old. According to a report issued by the Bethlehem-based Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) and a copy of which was received by the IPC, the Israeli occupation authorities have been jailing 120 Palestinian women including 13 mothers, 15 sick ones, as well as a baby called Nour being held with his imprisoned mom Manal Ghanem. Qurei , Al Kaqdomi Assert Prisoner Issue Atop PNA Agenda International Press Center 4/19/2005 GAZA, Palestine, April 19,2004 (IPC+WAFA)--The Prime Minister Ahmed Qure well -known as (Abu Alaa) asserted that the issue of the Palestinian prisoners inside the Israeli jails is atop the agenda of the Palestinian leadership. Speaking at the weekly meeting of the cabinet, convened in Rammallah-based Council of Ministers, Qurei said that the Palestinian is most precious we have thus the issue of releasing the prisoners inside the Israeli jails is a paramount agenda and should be in effective until setting free all the prisoners. Vanunu travel ban extended YNetNews 4/19/2005 Nuke whistleblower to face restrictions for another year, Interior Minister rules -- JERUSALEM - Interior Minister Ophir Pines-Paz decided Tuesday to extend the travel ban imposed on convicted nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunuby one more year. "Vanunu still knows too much and poses a danger to Israel''s national security," Pines-Paz said. pon Vanunu''s release from prison last year, PM Ariel Sharon, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz, former Justice Minister Yosef Lapid and Attorney General Menachem Mazuz decided the best way to supervise Vanunu would be to impose certain restrictions on him. Vanunu''s passport was confiscated, a travel ban was imposed on him, and he was also prohibited from being interviewed by both local and international media. Aqsa Brigades take over the PA Parliament in Jenin, asked members to resign International Middle East Media Center 4/18/2005 Members of the Aqsa Martyr Brigades, the armed wing of Fatah invaded on Sunday the Palestinian Legislative Council office in Jenin and demanded the members to resign in protest to "the PA neglect of families of martyrs and prisoners", Palestinian sources reported on Monday. Speaking in a sit-in in solidarity with the prisoners in Jenin, Zakaria Al-Zubeidi, leader of the Brigades in the West Bank, accused the Palestinian Authority of neglect. Al-Zubeidi said, they have fully took over the PLC office in Jenin and if lawmakers do not resign by their will, this will forcefully happen. PNA Calls for International Surveillance as Israel Uses its Doctors to Extort Admissions from Sick Prisoners International Press Center 4/17/2005 GAZA, Palestine, April 17, 2005 (IPC+Agencies)--At least 8000 Palestinian prisoners are going through a two day huger strike, in effective of entire Israeli jails, marking the day of solidarity with prisoners, 17 April , massive rallies marched in the occupied Palestinian territories in solidarity with them and demanded the release of the all the prisoners. Both the Palestinian National and Legislative councils besides the all the national and Islamic factions condemned the unleashing Israeli abuses of the human rights of the Palestinian prisoners inside the Israeli jails that were entrusted by all the internationally -recognized conventions and norms. PM Qorei Calls for Pressurizing Israel for Release of Prisoners International Press Center 4/18/2005 RAMALLAH, Palestine, April18, 2005 (IPC+ Agencies)--Prime Minister, Ahmad Qorei, called yesterday on the international community, including the Quartet (United Nations, United States, European Union, Russia) to pressurize the Israeli government for the release of Palestinian prisoners. Qorei''s remarks were addressed to a gathering of prisoners'' families in front of the Palestinian council of ministers'' headquarters on the sideline of solidarity with the prisoners on the occasion of ''prisoners day''. Israeli Troops Wound Residents, Armed Settlers Erect Settlements International Press Center 4/18/2005 PALESTINE, April18, 2005 (IPC+ Agencies)--Israeli occupation troops wounded on Sunday a number of Palestinian residents as armed Jewish settlers erected settlement blocs in different Palestinian areas. In the Nablus city of the West Bank, the Israeli soldiers, manning the Hewara checkpoint, fired early on Monday morning live bullets and tear gas canisters on the passersby, injuring and suffocating a number of residents, mainly children and women, medics and witnesses confirmed. In the Askar refugee camp of Nablus, the Israeli soldiers, riding in 12 military jeeps, blockaded the house of Palestinian prisoner Mohammad Abu Laila, 24 years-old and forced those inside out then detonated it completely, witnesses said. Israel to release Jordanian prisoners AlJazeera 4/17/2005 Israel has said it will release nine of the 18 Jordanians in its jails in a bid to improve ties with Jordan, which recently returned its ambassador to Tel Aviv after a four-year absence. "We want to improve and strengthen the relations between Israel and Jordan," Vice Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said. "I am very happy that we can make this gesture to honour the king of Jordan," he said about the move, approved by the cabinet at its weekly meeting. Nine prisoners remain: A senior Israeli official said none of the nine prisoners to be released were involved in deadly attacks against Israelis, and they would probably be freed on Wednesday. Israel seeks to resume negotiations with the PA Ha''aretz 4/17/2005 Israel wants to resume joint committee meetings with the Palestinian Authority, senior political sources said at the weekend. The working committees were decided on at the Sharm el-Sheikh summit more than two months ago, but ceased operating a short while later. The head of the Israeli negotiating team, the prime minister''s adviser Dov Weissglas, is to meet today or tomorrow with his Palestinian counterpart, Saeb Erekat, to discuss resuming talks. The joint committees were to deal with security procedures and Israeli gestures, the transfer of West Bank cities to the Palestinians, the release of Palestinian prisoners, "legitimizing" wanted operatives and preventing incitement. Palestinian prisoners hold hunger strike Ha''aretz 4/18/2005 Palestinian prisoners imprisoned in Israeli jails held a one-day hunger strike yesterday to mark prisoner day. In a joint statement issued in the name of the Palestinian organizations, the inmates urged the Palestinian Authority to persist with the prisoner issue in talks with Israel, emphasizing that the release of prisoners is a necessary factor for the continuation of the calm. In addition, processions and marches attended by members of the prisoners'' families were held yesterday in all cities and towns in the West Bank. Prisoners'' relatives denounce Palestinian PM Yahoo! News 4/17/2005 RAMALLAH, West Bank (AFP) - Angry relatives of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel denounced the government for failing to secure their freedom and warned that peace would be impossible without their release. Several hundred relatives marked Palestinian prisoners'' day by staging a rally outside the Ramallah offices of prime minister Ahmed Qorei who failed to calm emotions. Qorei emerged from his office to insist that the release of the estimated 7,000 Palestinian prisoners held by the Israelis was one of his top priorities. Hamas: “Truce could collapse if Israel does not release detainees” International Middle East Media Center 4/16/2005 Sami Abu Zuhri, Hamas media spokesperson, warned that the truce is about to collapse as a result of the Israeli rejectionto respond to the Palestinian demands, especially concerning the detainees. Abu Zuhri, commenting on the detainees’ decision to conduct hunger strike, said that the truce depend on fulfilling several Palestinian legitimate demands headed by releasing the detainees. “Over the last period, Israel kept delaying the release of the detainees, it does not intend to release them, or at least schedule their release”, Abu Zuhri stated. Norway rejects Vanunu''s asylum request YNetNews 4/15/2005 Officials say nuclear whistleblower''s application rejected due to formality; rule states request must be filed in country where applicant seeks refuge -- Norway has rejected an asylum application from nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu, the government said Friday. Vanunu, who spent 18 years in prison for exposing Israel''s nuclear weapons program, has repeatedly been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize awarded annually in Oslo. Palestinians demand prisoner release AlJazeera 4/16/2005 Supporters of the resistance group Islamic Jihad have demonstrated in the West Bank city of Ram Allah and called on Israel to release several thousand Palestinian prisoners. The demonstration is part of the commemoration of Palestinian Prisoner Day, scheduled for Monday, an annual event to mark the imprisonment of thousands of Palestinian men, women, and children held by Israeli occupation forces. More than 7000 Palestinian prisoners are expected to begin a food strike on Saturday and Sunday in hopes of adding pressure on the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority (PA) to do more to secure their release. Man who threatened to kill Sharon, Mofaz sentenced to 8 months in jail Ha''aretz 4/14/2005 The Safed Magistrates Court on Thursday sentenced Dan Ad, who was convicted of threatening to kill Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz, to eight months in prison and ten months on probation. According to the indictment, Ad, 30, from Kibbutz Gonen in the Upper Galilee, called his mother and teased and frightened her by saying that he planned to killed Sharon and Mofaz at a Kiryat Shmona ceremony scheduled to take place later that day. After their conversation, Ad''s mother called the Safed police, and the suspect was arrested for several days. Vanunu Wants Release Restrictions Removed San Francisco Chronicle 4/13/2005 (04-13) 04:44 PDT JERUSALEM, Israel (AP) -- Nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu said Wednesday he is determined to persuade an Israeli court to remove the restrictions placed on him when he was released from prison a year ago. Vanunu went on trial Tuesday for allegedly violating the terms of his release. At the hearing, prosecutors accused Vanunu — who served an 18-year sentence for revealing secrets of Israel''s atomic program to London''s Sunday Times newspaper — of giving interviews to foreign media, despite a ban on contacts with foreigners. IOF Wounds 3, Sentences 1 to Severe Prison Terms WAFA 4/13/2005 HEBRON, April 13, 2005 (WAFA)- Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) wounded Wednesday three citizens, sentenced another to a double life prison term and arrested three others in the West Bank (WB), witnesses and security sources said. At least three unidentified citizens from Sourif town of Hebron were wounded as they were defending a mosque which IOF soldiers attacked. Witnesses revealed that Israeli soldiers broke into the mosque and positioned inside and over it, shooting heavy fire from time to time. In the meantime, Ofer Israeli military court sentenced Yassin Rabbe'' 35, to a double life time imprisonment term in addition to 22 years. Israel Sentences Refugee to 20 Life Terms as Minister of Detainees Warns of Ceasefire Collapse International Press Center 4/13/2005 GAZA, April 13, 2005 (IPC + Agencies) - - An Israeli military court sentenced a civilian yesterday from a refugee camp in Bethlehem to 20 life terms in prison, while the Minister of Detainees and Ex-Prisoners Affairs warned of a collapse to the current ceasefire if Israel refrained from releasing the rest of the prisoners. Sources at the Ministry of Detainees and Ex-Prisoners Affairs asserted that the Israeli military court in Etzion detention center near Bethlehem has sentenced Khalil Baraqaa, from Ayda refugee camp in Bethlehem, to 20 life terms. The sources added that the military court extended also the administrative detention of Raed Qaderi, 35, from Tubas, for three more months; the tenth consecutive extension against him. Lawyers Sue Over Alleged Guantanamo Abuse The Guardian 4/14/2005 BOSTON (AP) - Lawyers for six men arrested in Bosnia and detained at the Guantanamo Bay prison camp sued the federal government Wednesday, leveling new allegations of abuse and torture by U.S. forces. The lawsuit asks a judge to force the Justice Department and Defense Department to release information that would allegedly prove the torture of prisoners by American forces at the U.S. Navy base in Cuba. Lawyers for the six men - all Algerians, four of whom have Bosnian citizenship - allege that repeated requests for the information under the Freedom of Information Act have been ignored by the federal government. Vanunu, on trial for violating parole, blasts `shameful'' Israel Ha''aretz 4/13/2005 Nuclear whistle-blower Mordechai Vanunu went on trial yesterday, accused of violating terms of his release from prison by talking to foreign reporters and trying to visit the West Bank. Vanunu, 50, was released last April 21 after serving an 18-year term for spilling secrets to a British newspaper about the Dimona nuclear reactor...."It is shameful to Israeli democracy to bring me back to court after all those years in prison," Vanunu told Reuters outside the Jerusalem court. "This case is proving to the world that Israel is not a real democracy. As a human being, I have the right to express my political views and my ideas. I have no more secrets." Child Prisponers Subject to Torture in Ma’ele Adumim Prison WAFA 4/12/2005 JERUSALEM, April 12, 2005 (WAFA)- Many child prisoners, jailed in Ma''e Adumim Israeli colony, complained Tuesday of torture during interrogation. Advocate of the Palestinian Prisoners''Society (PPS) said, after meeting with the prisoners, that the prison administration uses all cruel styles of torture during interrogating Palestinian prisoners. Abdullah Abu Shbaq 17, from Abu Dees, said that he ws subjected to severe beating, adding he suffers from pains in his knees because of torture, which makes it hard for him to walk. Sa''ed Abu Helal 21, said he was electrified by Israeli interrogators, which caused him severe burns in the chest, shoulders and back. Egypt’s HR Council Highlights Police Torture Islam Online 4/11/2005 CAIRO, April 11, 2005 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - The Egyptian National Council for Human Rights gave credence in its first annual report to widespread torture by Egyptian police and security forces. The 358-page report, obtained by Reuters Sunday, April 10, hit out at the shocking practices used by police personnel to extract information from suspects. The council, which was set up by the government only last year and is chaired by Boutros Boutros-Ghali, former UN secretary-general and a former Egyptian deputy prime minister, also called for ending the notorious emergency law, in force since 1981. Palestinians Pledge to Trade Guns for Jobs Yahoo! News 4/11/2005 RAMALLAH, West Bank - Hundreds of Palestinian gunmen have signed pledges to halt violence in exchange for government jobs, and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas hopes to bring many more militants on board before he meets President Bush in May, Palestinian officials said Monday. The new jobs-for-guns program, which offers the biggest rewards to those who''ve spent the longest time in Israeli prisons or on the run from the military, is meant to counter Israeli and U.S. complaints that Abbas is doing little to control the armed groups. Largest jail in history? AlJazeera 4/12/2005 Former Palestinian Minister Erekat slams Israel over pullout, says Palestinian questions remain unanswered -- TEL AVIV - Palestinians are facing growing uncertainty over the future as the disengagement plan’s implementation nears, former Palestinian Minister Saeb Erekat told Israelis Tuesday. “We don’t know what will happen the day after,” Erekat said during a convention at the Peres Center for Peace in Tel Aviv. “Does Israel plan to leave Gaza and turn it into the largest prison in history?” Palestinian questions remain unanswered, but Israel nonetheless demands that the Gaza pullout be coordinated with the Palestinian Authority, Erekat said... US abuse suspect seeks witnesses AlJazeera 4/13/2005 A former CIA operative accused of beating an Afghan prisoner who died in custody wants to call the US attorney general and a former head of the CIA as witnesses. According to court documents unsealed on Tuesday, David Passaro wants to subpoena the Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and former CIA chief George Tenet to prove he acted under government authority....Passaro is the first civilian prosecuted on charges of mistreating a military detainee in the US war on terrorism. Vanunu put back on trial AlJazeera 4/13/2005 Israeli nuclear scientist Mordechai Vanunu has gone on trial accused of violating terms of his release from prison by talking to foreign reporters and trying to visit the West Bank. The 50-year-old former technician was released last April after serving an 18-year term for giving secrets about the Dimona nuclear reactor to a British newspaper. His revelations led experts to conclude that Israel had nuclear weapons. "It is shameful to Israeli democracy to bring me back to court after all those years in prison," Vanunu told journalists outside the Jerusalem court. "This case is proving to the world that Israel is not a real democracy. Palestinian Child Talks about his Torture in Israeli Jails WAFA 4/6/2005 JERUSALEM, April, 6, 2005, (WAFA)- Palestinian released-prisoner child, Mahmoud Ereiqat 16, from Jerusalem, said that he was severely tortured by Israeli jailers in an Israeli custody inside the colony of Ma''aleh Adomim. In a sworn testimony, presented to the Palestinian Prisoners'' Society", Ereiqat said that the Israeli interrogators tied his testicles with a thread and pulled it strongly, causing severe pains. He added that they used his body as ashtray as they put cigarettes off on his skin. Ereiqat revealed that the Israeli interrogators used the (Shabh) during their torture. They tied his legs and hanged him upside down as his head is on the floor. Prisoners Conditions Worsened Desperately: PPS International Press Center 4/7/2005 BETHELAHEM, Palestine, April07, 2005 (IPC+PPS)-- The Bethlehem-based Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) revealed on Wednesday that the Palestinian prisoners'' detention conditions have been increasingly getting harsher, as 25 prisoners from the Salem concentration camp, near Nablus City, have complained to the PPS''s advocate, Mohanad Al-khuzendar. Yehya Al-S''adi, one of the prisoners, from the West Bank City of Jenin, said that the Israeli soldiers spread trained dogs amongst the detainees'' foods, forcing the prisoners have returned back such foods as a protest at such a measure. Detained Palestinian teen says Israelis tortured him ReliefWeb 4/5/2005 BETHLEHEM, West Bank, April 5 (AFP) - A Palestinian teenager arrested for throwing stones at Israeli soldiers in the West Bank says he was severely tortured by his interrogators, a prisoners'' defense association said Tuesday. Mahmud Radi Erakat, 16, who is being held in the Gush Etzion settlement bloc west of Bethlehem, denounced the alleged abuse in a sworn affidavit taken by a Palestinian lawyer who visited him Tuesday, according to the Prisoners'' Club. In the affidavit, Erakat claimed he had been hung by his legs from a steel bar attached to the ceiling of his interrogation room. He said a cord had been wrapped around his testicles and then yanked. MPA: 3500 Palestinian Children Arrested since Al-Aqsa Intifada WAFA 4/6/2005 GAZA, April 6, 2005, (WAFA)- Ministry of Prisoners'' Affairs (MPA) said that Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) arrested more than 3500 Palestinian children since the outbreak of al-Aqsa Intifada in September 2000. 310 children are still imprisoned in Israeli jails living inhuman conditions, MPA said in a report issued Tuesday on the occasion of the Palestinian Child Day. MPA added that 77% of children were arrested in 2004, stressing that 99% of them were tortured by Israeli jailers. 124 children are sentenced, 174 are still waiting and 12 in what is so called "administrative detention", without any charge, according to the MPA report. FM says Israel, Jordan near to striking deal on prisoner release Ha''aretz 4/6/2005 Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said Wednesday that Jerusalem and Amman were close to striking a deal on the release of Jordanian prisoners held in Israeli jails. "I hope we will soon announce a breakthrough. Talks are being held between two neighboring, amicable countries, and much progress has been made," Shalom said before a meeting with Jordan''s ambassador to Israel, Maarouf al-Bakhit. The imminent deal will likely include the release of 17 Jordanian prisoners. Detainees considering Hunger Strike International Middle East Media Center 4/4/2005 The Palestinian Prisoners Society reported on Sunday that Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons are considering hunger strike as a result of the deteriorating conditions they face in detention. Lawyer of the Society, Sherin Al-Essawi, said that she met with representatives of the detainees in Hadarim detention who informed her that the administration is still using naked body search policy, in addition to depriving them from the needed medical care and visitation rights. “The detainees are barred of their visitation rights, they are not receiving the needed medical care, yet the army is using naked body search policy in an attempt to humiliate them”, lawyer Al-Essawi stated. PPS: Nour Ghanem , a Palestinian Baby inside an Israeli Jail International Press Center 4/3/2005 BETHELAHEM, Palestine, April03, 2005 (IPC+PPS)--Palestinian baby, Nour Ghanem, 1.5 years-old, has been hospitalized over the past few days at an Israeli prison''s hospital, read a statement issued Sunday by the Bethlehem-based Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS), of which a copy was received by the IPC. Manal Ghanem, mother of Nour, was reportedly said that her son''s condition has been very critical to the extent he had a surgery few days ago. The mother maintained that the Telmond prison''s service has allowed her to escort her son to the hospital, accompanied with four jailers who ordered her to cuff her hands while she is helping Nour, yet she insisted that her hands be free, and she could..do so finally. Israel, PA discussing release of 400 more jailed Palestinians Ha''aretz 4/4/2005 Israel is holding talks with the Palestinian Authority over the possible release of 400 more Palestinian prisoners, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Monday. At the beginning of the year, the cabinet approved the release of 900 prisoners, and 500 of them were freed shortly after the February 8 Sharm el-Sheikh summit. Sharon also told the panel that Israel and Jordan are discussing the release of 21 Jordanian citizens jailed in Israel. Four of them, however, "had blood on their hands," Sharon said, indicating that they were involved in murder. There was no intention to free them, he said. Town''s chief rabbi urges mass lawbreaking to foil pullout Ha''aretz 4/4/2005 The chief rabbi of a northern Israeli town Monday urged "Jews by the thousands" to break the law and go to prison in order to foil Prime Minister Ariel Sharon''s disengagement plan. Rabbi David Meir Druckman, chief rabbi of the Haifa-area town of Kiryat Motzkin, rejected a proposal that he resign his position as a government official, telling Army Radio, "The state pays rabbis salaries to voice what is written in the halakha [Jewish religious law], not what is written in the [state] law." Hamas leader warns Israel to abide by truce Ha''aretz 4/1/2005 BEIRUT - A top Hamas official yesterday threatened to attack Israel if it violates the cease-fire, as the radical movement marked one year since the death of its spiritual leader, killed in an Israeli rocket attack in the Gaza Strip. Hamas political leader Khaled Meshal, who is based in the Syrian capital Damascus, warned that the truce he and other Palestinian militia leaders agreed to would founder if Israel resumed its attacks on militants, failed to release Palestinian prisoners, or in any way harmed the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, one of the holiest sites in Islam. Jordan says Israel has agreed to release prisoners next week Ha''aretz 4/2/2005 Jordan''s Foreign Ministry said Friday that Israel will release several Jordanian prisoners detained in Israeli prisons next week. Jordanian officials have said more than 20 prisoners are in line to be released by Israel, a step that would crown the improving ties between both countries. Foreign Ministry officials, as well as officials at Israel''s embassy in Jordan, could not confirm the prisoner release claims, but Jordanian Foreign Ministry spokesman Rajab al-Sukayri said his government had been notified by Israel of imminent releases. Prisoners'' Organizations Prepare for the Prisoner''s Day amid April International Press Center 3/31/2005 GAZA, Palestine, March 31, 2005 (IPC) ---The Palestinian Prisoner Society (PPS), in a statement, said the officials of the Society met on Wednesday with the Palestinian prisoner affair minister Sufyian Abu Zaida to discuss the preparations made by the Society in association with relative bodies to organize a huge rally of 10,000 citizens in Rammallah on the Prisoner''s Day on 17 April. Essa Karaq; , PPS director said that the activities will include rallies, festivals, quizzes lasting by the end of April calling to make 2005 , a distinguished year in solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners. Jerusalem bombing planners sentenced YNetNews 3/31/2005 Two Hamas terrorists receive seven life terms plus 30 years for 2003 coffee shop attack -- JERUSALEM - Two Hamas terrorists who planned and participated in the terror attack at Jerusalem''s Cafe Hillel in 2003 were sent to seven life terms plus 30 years in prison by the Jerusalem District Court Thursday. The September 2003 suicide bombing in the German Colony neighborhood coffee shop left seven people dead and dozens injured....“If you (Israelis) would stop killing our children, we will stop killing yours,” one of them said. Ex-Guantanamo inmate reveals abuse AlJazeera 4/1/2005 A former Moroccan detainee of the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay has pleaded for the release of others still held in indefinite confinement. Muhammad Mazuz has pleaded with Arab authorities to work towards saving their Arab countrymen who are imprisoned in Guantanamo, "because of the abuse and the harsh treatment they receive". Mazuz told Aljazeera''s correspondent in Morocco: "Arab prisoners were abused by stripping them of their clothing; subjecting them to electrical shocks, exposing them to harassment from female investigators; tampering with their sexual organs, and threatening them with rape." |
Israel, the Peculiar State By John Chuckman, Palestine Chronicle 5/10/2005 A lawyer gave a brief opinion piece on Canada''s public radio, the CBC, in which he flatly said that criticism of Israel is a form of anti-Semitism. I guess we should be grateful that people in Canada are much less violent in their opinions than people in the U.S. where one lawyer wrote an essay, published on the Internet, seriously advocating the execution of the families of those who commit terrorist acts in Israel. Another American lawyer, a very prominent one, has advocated protocols governing the legal use of torture in the United States. I can''t blame the CBC for once broadcasting what is essentially political smut because, on the whole, the network is fair, enlightened, and far freer of nasty political pressure than public radio in the United States. Everyone who makes an honest effort is entitled to make an honest mistake now and then. Calling people names because you dislike their views is not logic and is not any form of argument. It is not even decent. I can''t see how this lawyer''s words differ from American Senator McCarthy using the dangerously-loaded slur, Communist, applied to anyone he didn''t want working in the State Department or in Hollywood.
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