Vermonters
for a Just Peace in Palestine/Israel
Prisoners Archive - April 2007
Treatment of Prisoners and Detainees by Israel and Others
Prisoners Archive - April 2007
Treatment of Prisoners and Detainees by Israel and Others
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Vermonters
for a Just Peace in Palestine/Israel Prisoners Archive - April 2007 Treatment of Prisoners and Detainees by Israel and Others |
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Vanunu convicted for media links BBC Online 4/30/2007 A court in Israel has convicted former nuclear technician Mordechai Vanunu of violating a military order banning him from speaking to foreign journalists. The verdict could mean a fresh jail term for Mr Vanunu, who served 18 years in prison for revealing details of Israel’s clandestine nuclear programme. His lawyer called it intolerable to convict a person for the mere act of speaking, never mind whatever was said. A sentencing hearing is set for 18 May. Vanunu is banned from leaving Israel." We should be clear here that Vanunu was convicted for the very act of speaking to non-Israelis, rather than the content of those conversations," lawyer Michel Sfard said. "We do not consider this appropriate for a democracy in the 21st Century. Whistleblower Vanunu convicted of violating terms of conditional release Nir Hasson, Ha’aretz 4/30/2007 Nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu was convicted yesterday by the Jerusalem Magistrates Court of violating an order prohibiting him from having contacts with foreigners and granting media interviews. Vanunu was released in April 2004 after serving 18 years in prison for aiding the enemy. He had given an interview to a British newspaper, The Sunday Times, in which he discussed his work at the Dimona nuclear reactor. Two days before his release, then GOC Home Front Command Yair Naveh issued an order forbidding him from "holding contacts or exchanging information" with foreigners, including participating in Internet chats. An additional order prevented him from leaving Israel. Vanunu was convicted of 14 counts relating to contacts with journalists, during which he apparently provided information on Israel’s nuclear arsenal. Prisoners’ Association and ministry of prisoners’ affairs close in dire financial circumstances Ma’an News Agency 4/29/2007 Bethlehem "“ Ma’an "“ Branches of the Palestinian Prisoners’ Association and the ministry of prisoners’ affairs in the West Bank closed on Sunday in response to numerous requests from Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. The prisoners are reacting to the dire financial situation of the association and ministry, and the non-payment of stipends that Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails should receive in order to afford basic goods, such as food. The closure was implemented by the association’s directors, but its chairperson, Qaddora Faris, described the closure as "a hasty decision that will not support the prisoners." Faris told Ma’an "if the prisoners think the closure will exert pressure on the ministry to pay their dues, it is their decision; however, it will prevent their families from keeping in touch... Mother must tell imprisoned son of father’s death Jerusalem - Maisa Abu Ghazaleh, Palestine News Network 4/28/2007 Amer Asaid’s mother does not know how her son will take the news. His father, Abu Daoud Asaid, has died. Amer is now in Nafha Prison. The last time he was his father was during his first and only visit during which he was not allowed to take a photo, says his mother, Umm Daoud. It has been seven years of Israeli prisons thus far for Amer. "I do not know how the visit will go. I don’t know if Amer has found out about his father’s death. I will have to tell him." She said, "When my husband died at dawn last Saturday I screamed for Amer, that he would be able to come to his father’s funeral. I know that Abu Daoud did not want to die before his son was released." Umm Daoud appealed to the international community to intervene to allow political prisoners to see their parents in the event of their deaths, to march in funeral processions. Palestinian family appeals the release of their detained son Moeen Shadid - IMEMC, International Middle East Media Center 4/29/2007 Family of detainee Ali Hasan Odah, 27, from the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem, appealed human rights organization, the Palestinian Ministry of Detainees and all institutions advocating the rights of the detainees, to act in order to release their son who was taken prisoner when he was only 17-year old, more than 10 years ago. Odah was accused of killing an Israeli citizen inside Israel after the later attempted to abuse him. The father of Odah said that his son was arrested in April 1998 after he killed the Israeli employer who attempted to abuse him. The court sentenced him to 12 years after transferring his case from the military court to the criminal court. The father stated that the prosecution wanted the court to sentence his son to a life-term, but the court sentenced him to 12 years since the... Nafha Society calls for releasing a ailing detainee Amin Abu Wardeh - IMEMC, International Middle East Media Center 4/29/2007 The Nafha Society which advocates the rights of Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons and detention facilities called on human rights organizations to practice pressures on Israel to release an ailing detainee who lost the ability to walk due to a sharp deterioration in his health condition. The society stated that Ahmad Yousef, from Jalboun village, near the northern West Bank city of Jenin, is suffering from several diseases and lost the ability to stand and walk without crutches, but yet prison administration is not providing him with the needed medical help. The report revealed that Abu Al Rob, sentenced to fifteen years, suffered a disease in his left leg some four months ago, and lost the ability to use it efficiently. 45 days ago, he suffered the same issue with his right leg. Israeli authorities to release a long term Palestinian prisoner after ending 20 year sentence Ma’an News Agency 4/29/2007 Gaza "“ Ma’an "“ The spokesperson of the long term Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, Mahmoud Abu Hasira, affirms that the Israeli authorities will release today, Sunday, one of the long term Palestinian prisoners, Majid Shaheen. According to the spokesperson, Shaheen was imprisoned in Israel 20 years ago, and he will be released today after having served his 20 year sentence. Shaheen is affiliated to the Islamic Jihad movement. [end] Palestinian prisoners of Israel call for President Abbas to halt his regular meetings with Israeli officials Ma’an News Agency 4/28/2007 Tulkarem "“ Ma’an "“ Palestinian prisoners at the Israeli "Shatta" jail appealed on Saturday to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, calling on him to stop his regular meetings with the Israelis, "as they continue to practice aggressive assaults against the Palestinian people, regardless of previous agreements and treaties". In a letter they wrote to President Abbas, via the prisoners’ association in Tulkarem, the prisoners called for further endeavours "to activate the prisoners’ issue, as one of the highest Palestinian priorities". Their letter also stated that the prisoners’ living conditions in Israeli jails were worsening still. Palestinians from inside ’48 demand inclusion in prisoner exchange deal Nablus - Amin Abu Wardeh, Palestine News Network 4/27/2007 Dozens of Palestinians demonstrated after the Follow-Up Committee for Prisoners’ Freedom called for a sit-in at Sharon prison. Participants held banners and shouted for "Freedom for Prisoners," in direct reference tothe Palestinians from inside Israeli boundaries currently in its prisons. Several public figures attended the protest, including head of the Islamic Movement inside the Green Line, Sheikh Ra’ed Salah, and chairman of the committee. "We are calling for more protests at every prison from Nafha to Jilboa, and insist on this until everyone is freed." Speaking at today’s demonstration, Sheikh Ra’ed Salah added, "We need to continue such events that effectively deliver our message to everyone which says that our people must be released. Women in isolation Qaqilia - Mustafa Sabre, Palestine News Network 4/25/2007 One tooth is falling out, the ones in back are in pain, breathing is laborious and the eye pain unceasing. The skin is sensitive after the narrow isolation cells. These are not the ailments of people trapped in the dungeons of the Middle Ages, but rather those of Palestinian women currently in Israeli prisons. A northwestern West Bank woman was sentenced to 16 years and after four her teeth began to rot. The prison administration refused dental treatment. Her family sent 2,500 shekels to the Israelis to pay for a dentist, but the results were disasterous with a failed health policy and malnutrition. The Prisoner Society in Tulkarem reports that 23 Palestinian women have been isolated since September 2006 in Ramallah’s Ofar, Jilboa, and Jalama in the northern West Bank’s Jenin. Family of Palestinian prisoner allege torture Ma’an News Agency 4/21/2007 Jenin - Ma’an - The family of a Palestinian prisoner have revealed that their son has been transported to Beer Sheeva jail, where it believed he has been suffering cruel and unusual punishment for the last fifty days. Anas Jaradat, 25, was transported to the criminal section of the jail with his hands and feet bound. His family state that he has been tortured since arriving there by the Israeli authorities. The family also testify that he is suffering from the pressure put upon him “by the Israeli intelligence on a daily basis". The family urged human rights institutions and the International Committee of the Red Cross to intervene and save their son’s life. Anas was arrested in May 2003 and was sentenced to 35 life sentences, in addition to a further 35 years. Israeli administration imprisoning mothers and wives of political prisoners to pressure confessions By Qalqilia) Mustafa Sabre, Palestine News Network 4/21/2007 Kawthar Nofal told PNN that Israeli intelligence has taken to arresting the mothers and wives of Palestinian political prisoners in order to extract confessions. Nofal, known as Umm Said for her eldest son, said that the idea is to threaten the prisoners by harming their loved ones. Israeli intelligence wants information, and will take what they can get, real or fabricated, the northwestern West Bank woman said candidly on Saturday. “They arrested me from inside my house after the arrest of others in my family, and immediately took me to Jalama Prison so that my captive son, Said, could see that they had me. ”Now out of prison, Umm Said, continued, “I was subjected to two hours of interrogation tied to a chair with my feet and hands bound in chains without mercy or compassion. ” Syrians, Golan residents rally in support of prisoners held in Israel By DPA and Haaretz Service, Ha’aretz 4/21/2007 Some 100 Syrians and Golan Heights residents marched Saturday to the office of the International Red Cross to mark Arab Detainees Day. The marchers, most of them relatives of the 15 Syrians held in Israeli jails and students from the Golan Heights who study in Damascus, carried photos of Palestinian and Syrian detainees and Syrian flags. They sent a message to the head of the International Red Cross in Geneva to work for the release of the detainees as soon as possible. In their letter, they protested against what they called a "double-standard policy espoused by the U.S. administration which controls the UN Security Council. Abdul-Karim al-Omar, the head of the Committee for Supporting Syrian Detainees and Prisoners in Israeli jails, said the march was to "remind the world of the Syrian detainees’ suffering," noting that four detainees have been in jail for more than 21 years and were suffering serious health problems. Palestinians and Arab Human Rights groups to commemorate Arab Prisoner Day By Najib Farag – IMEMC, International Middle East Media Center 4/21/2007 Palestinian residents, Arab nations and human rights groups in the Arab World are set to commemorate the Arab Prisoner Day on April 22, which is also the day when Sameer Quntar, a Lebanese citizen, was kidnapped by the Israeli army thirty years ago. Detainee Samir QuntarIssa Qaraqe’, the previous head of the Palestinian Prisoner Society, and the current legislator in charge of the Detainee’s Committee at the Palestinian Legislative Council, saluted on Friday the Arab and Palestinian detainees held by Israel, and said that Palestinian and Arab prisoner share the same fate, suffering and oppression in Israeli detention facilities. Qaraqe’ added that there are 60 Arab detainees imprisoned by Israel, and more than 10. 000 Palestinians. He demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all detainees... The 60 Arab prisoners detained in Israel suffer double, senior official says Ma’an News Agency 4/20/2007 Bethlehem - Ma’an - The special rapporteur for prisoners in the Palestinian Legislative Council, ’Issa Qaraqi’, has saluted the Arab prisoners held in Israeli detention, who number 60 prisoners, on the occasion of Arab Prisoners’ Day, 22 April. On this day, the prominent Lebanese prisoner, Samir Quntar, will have completed 28 years of imprisonment, representing the longest-serving Arab prisoner in Israeli detention. Qaraqi’ said in a media statement on Friday, which Ma’an received a copy, that Arab Prisoners’ Day complements Palestinian Prisoners’ Day as they are unified in blood, fate and sufferings. He demanded that the Arab prisoners’ names be included in any prisoners’ exchange deal, and in any negotiations. He recalled that these prisoners also fought for freedom and for Palestine, and they sacrificed their youth for the Arab and Islamic national cause.  Articles
Serious talks must start with a prisoner exchange George Giacaman, Daily Star 4/24/2007 When it comes to a prisoner exchange between the Palestinian Authority and Israel, there are still difficult negotiations lying ahead. The internal dynamics on both the Palestinian and the Israeli sides will be a hindrance. Nevertheless, one should expect that, perhaps sooner rather than later, there will a deal to exchange Palestinian political prisoners for the Israeli soldier abducted near Gaza by Hamas, Gilad Shalit. On the Palestinian side the release of Palestinian political prisoners is a top priority among the general public. Over 10,000 prisoners languish in Israeli jails, and their families and friends form an influential lobby pressuring the Palestinian government. President Mahmoud Abbas’ inability to bring about the release of prisoners after his election in January 2005 undermined the perception of his effectiveness among a majority of Palestinians. From an Israeli perspective, there are several precedents for prisoner exchanges, whether involving Palestinian or Lebanese prisoners. Families of captive soldiers have also frequently worked as effective lobbies pressuring the government. For example the case of Ron Arad, the Israeli navigator shot down over Lebanon in the 1980s, has haunted successive Israeli governments. LinksAdalah Adalah (Justice in Arabic) is the first non-profit, non-sectarian Palestinian-run legal center in Israel. The main goal of Adalah’s work is to achieve equal rights and minority rights protections for Palestinian citizens of Israel. Addameer Prisoners’ Support and Human Rights Organization: Addameer (conscience) is a Palestinian non-governmental, civil institution which focuses on human rights issues. Supports Palestinian prisoners, advocates for rights of political prisoners, works to end torture. Amnesty International Amnesty International (AI) is a worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights. AI’s vision is of a world in which every person enjoys all of the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards. Amnesty International USA Amnesty International (AI) is a worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights. AI’s vision is of a world in which every person enjoys all of the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards. Arab Association for Human Rights - HRA The HRA was founded in 1988 to promote and protect the political, civil, economic, and cultural rights of the Palestinian Arab minority in Israel and to further the domestic implementation of international human rights principles. It is an independent non-governmental organisation registered in Israel. Association for Civil Rights in Israel - ACRI The Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) was founded in 1972 as a non-political and independent body, with the goal of protecting human and civil rights in Israel and in the territories under Israeli control. B’tselem The Israeli Information Centre for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories Human Rights Watch Human Rights Watch is an independent, nongovernmental organization, supported by contributions from private individuals and foundations worldwide. Human Rights Watch is dedicated to protecting the human rights of people around the world. Occupation Prisoners News stories and reports about Palestinian prisoners from International Press Center, of the Palestinian National Authority’s State Information Service. Palestinian Centre for Human Rights The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) is an independent legal body based in Gaza City dedicated to protecting human rights, promoting the rule of law, and upholding democratic principles in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Palestinian Prisoners Society The Palestinian Prisoner Society is a social and human institution and its members are prisoners inside prisons and released prisoners. Membership is open to every Palestinian prisoner inside and outside prisons who meets the conditions of membership. Physicians for Human Rights - Israel Physicians for Human Rights - Israel (PHR-Israel) was established in 1988 as a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, dedicated to promoting and protecting the medical human rights of all residents of Israel and the Occupied Territories. Public Committee Against Torture in Israel - PCATI An independent human rights organization founded that monitors the implementation conditions in detention centers and continues the struggle against the use of torture in interrogation in Israel and the Palestinian Authority. United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine The main collection contains the texts of current and historical United Nations material concerning the question of Palestine and other issues related to the Middle East situation and the search for peace. World Organisation Against Torture OMCT is today the largest international coalition of NGOs fighting against torture,summary executions, forced disappearances and all other forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment in order to preserve Human Rights. It has at its disposal a network, SOS Torture, consisting of some 240 non-governmental organisations which act as sources of information.
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