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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 - August 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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Islamic Jihad: “Israel resumed arrests against our members” International Middle East Media Center 8/17/2005 The Islamic Jihad movement condemned the arrests carried out by the Israeli army against its members in the West Bank. Ra’ed abu al-Majd, the media spokesperson of the movement, who is also a political detainee imprisoned by the Palestinian Authority in Jericho, said that the arrests carried out by the army in the West Bank, and the repeated invasions, show the real intentions of Israel of maintaining it control and attacks in the Palestinian areas. “The attacks carried out by the Sharon government are carried out while the whole world is talking about the unilateral disengagement”, abu al-Majd said. Islamic Jihad: “Israel resumed arrests against our members” International Middle East Media Center 8/17/2005 The Islamic Jihad movement condemned the arrests carried out by the Israeli army against its members in the West Bank. Ra’ed abu al-Majd, the media spokesperson of the movement, who is also a political detainee imprisoned by the Palestinian Authority in Jericho, said that the arrests carried out by the army in the West Bank, and the repeated invasions, show the real intentions of Israel of maintaining it control and attacks in the Palestinian areas. “The attacks carried out by the Sharon government are carried out while the whole world is talking about the unilateral disengagement”, abu al-Majd said. Islamic Jihad: “Israel resumed arrests against our members” International Middle East Media Center 8/17/2005 The Islamic Jihad movement condemned the arrests carried out by the Israeli army against its members in the West Bank. Ra’ed abu al-Majd, the media spokesperson of the movement, who is also a political detainee imprisoned by the Palestinian Authority in Jericho, said that the arrests carried out by the army in the West Bank, and the repeated invasions, show the real intentions of Israel of maintaining it control and attacks in the Palestinian areas. “The attacks carried out by the Sharon government are carried out while the whole world is talking about the unilateral disengagement”, abu al-Majd said. Resident arrested in Hebron, home occupied International Middle East Media Center 8/17/2005 Israeli soldiers invaded on Wednesday at dawn, the West Bank city of Hebron, completely surrounding the old city and arrested one resident, soldiers also invaded the neighboring village of Al Thaheriyya and used a home as a monitoring tower. The Hebron office of the Palestinian Prisoners Society reported that soldiers arrested Monjed Mohammad Al Yamany, 24, and took him to an unknown destination. Resident Rami Al Yamany, the brother of Mohammad, reported that soldiers arrested his brother after conducting prayers at the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron. Also, soldiers invaded the old city of Hebron, closed its alleys and roads, detained and interrogated dozens of residents, especially the youth, for several hours. Resident arrested in Hebron, home occupied International Middle East Media Center 8/17/2005 Israeli soldiers invaded on Wednesday at dawn, the West Bank city of Hebron, completely surrounding the old city and arrested one resident, soldiers also invaded the neighboring village of Al Thaheriyya and used a home as a monitoring tower. The Hebron office of the Palestinian Prisoners Society reported that soldiers arrested Monjed Mohammad Al Yamany, 24, and took him to an unknown destination. Resident Rami Al Yamany, the brother of Mohammad, reported that soldiers arrested his brother after conducting prayers at the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron. Also, soldiers invaded the old city of Hebron, closed its alleys and roads, detained and interrogated dozens of residents, especially the youth, for several hours. Resident arrested in Hebron, home occupied International Middle East Media Center 8/17/2005 Israeli soldiers invaded on Wednesday at dawn, the West Bank city of Hebron, completely surrounding the old city and arrested one resident, soldiers also invaded the neighboring village of Al Thaheriyya and used a home as a monitoring tower. The Hebron office of the Palestinian Prisoners Society reported that soldiers arrested Monjed Mohammad Al Yamany, 24, and took him to an unknown destination. Resident Rami Al Yamany, the brother of Mohammad, reported that soldiers arrested his brother after conducting prayers at the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron. Also, soldiers invaded the old city of Hebron, closed its alleys and roads, detained and interrogated dozens of residents, especially the youth, for several hours. IDF rabbi who advocated refusal jailed for four and a half months Ha''aretz 8/16/2005 An IDF rabbi was demoted to the rank of private and sentenced to four and a half months in military prison on Tuesday for calling on soldiers to disobey their orders. First Lieutenant Amital Bareli was put on trial after he arrived at the Kissufim border crossing in uniform, called on soldiers to disobey their orders and let anti-disengagement protesters into the sealed off Gaza Strip. "The officer''s actions grossly exceeded those granted to him by law," the court-marshal judge said. Bareli pleaded guilty to the charges against him as part of settlement with the army. IDF rabbi who advocated refusal jailed for four and a half months Ha''aretz 8/16/2005 An IDF rabbi was demoted to the rank of private and sentenced to four and a half months in military prison on Tuesday for calling on soldiers to disobey their orders. First Lieutenant Amital Bareli was put on trial after he arrived at the Kissufim border crossing in uniform, called on soldiers to disobey their orders and let anti-disengagement protesters into the sealed off Gaza Strip. "The officer''s actions grossly exceeded those granted to him by law," the court-marshal judge said. Bareli pleaded guilty to the charges against him as part of settlement with the army. IDF rabbi who advocated refusal jailed for four and a half months Ha''aretz 8/16/2005 An IDF rabbi was demoted to the rank of private and sentenced to four and a half months in military prison on Tuesday for calling on soldiers to disobey their orders. First Lieutenant Amital Bareli was put on trial after he arrived at the Kissufim border crossing in uniform, called on soldiers to disobey their orders and let anti-disengagement protesters into the sealed off Gaza Strip. "The officer''s actions grossly exceeded those granted to him by law," the court-marshal judge said. Bareli pleaded guilty to the charges against him as part of settlement with the army. PNA Officially Demands Israel to Release Gaza Strip Detainees Palestine Media Center 8/17/2005 Hamayel: File of ‘Wanted and Deported’ Activists in Gaza to Be Closed -- The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) said it has officially demanded Israel to release the Gaza Strip detainees and said that the file of the “Wanted and Deported Fighters” in the Gaza Strip will be closed following the Israeli evacuation of the coastal strip, but Israel has yet to confirm the PNA statement. “The Palestinian Authority officially asked Israel to release 650 prisoners from the Gaza Strip who were arrested by the Israeli army during the years of the occupation,” Palestinian Minister of Detainee Affairs, Sufian abu Zayda told AFP on Monday. Abu Zayda said that the Palestinian demand is in accordance to the International Law, and that Israel should release all of the Palestinian detainees after its withdrawal. PNA Officially Demands Israel to Release Gaza Strip Detainees Palestine Media Center 8/17/2005 Hamayel: File of ‘Wanted and Deported’ Activists in Gaza to Be Closed -- The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) said it has officially demanded Israel to release the Gaza Strip detainees and said that the file of the “Wanted and Deported Fighters” in the Gaza Strip will be closed following the Israeli evacuation of the coastal strip, but Israel has yet to confirm the PNA statement. “The Palestinian Authority officially asked Israel to release 650 prisoners from the Gaza Strip who were arrested by the Israeli army during the years of the occupation,” Palestinian Minister of Detainee Affairs, Sufian abu Zayda told AFP on Monday. Abu Zayda said that the Palestinian demand is in accordance to the International Law, and that Israel should release all of the Palestinian detainees after its withdrawal. PNA Officially Demands Israel to Release Gaza Strip Detainees Palestine Media Center 8/17/2005 Hamayel: File of ‘Wanted and Deported’ Activists in Gaza to Be Closed -- The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) said it has officially demanded Israel to release the Gaza Strip detainees and said that the file of the “Wanted and Deported Fighters” in the Gaza Strip will be closed following the Israeli evacuation of the coastal strip, but Israel has yet to confirm the PNA statement. “The Palestinian Authority officially asked Israel to release 650 prisoners from the Gaza Strip who were arrested by the Israeli army during the years of the occupation,” Palestinian Minister of Detainee Affairs, Sufian abu Zayda told AFP on Monday. Abu Zayda said that the Palestinian demand is in accordance to the International Law, and that Israel should release all of the Palestinian detainees after its withdrawal. UK-Jordan deportation deal under fire BBC 8/16/2005 Terror suspects from the UK could soon be jailed in Jordan - a country long accused of torturing its prisoners - under a deal struck last week between the two governments. -- Officials in London and Amman say the agreement safeguards the human rights of all deportees. But rights groups have voiced alarm, arguing that the deal does not deter torturers and will not let governments off the hook if torture does occur. International law forbids extradition to countries where there is a risk of mistreatment, "no matter how good your assurance" that torture will not take place, says Christoph Wilcke of Human Rights Watch. "We have had such diplomatic assurances in the past and they have not worked," he told the BBC News website. UK-Jordan deportation deal under fire BBC 8/16/2005 Terror suspects from the UK could soon be jailed in Jordan - a country long accused of torturing its prisoners - under a deal struck last week between the two governments. -- Officials in London and Amman say the agreement safeguards the human rights of all deportees. But rights groups have voiced alarm, arguing that the deal does not deter torturers and will not let governments off the hook if torture does occur. International law forbids extradition to countries where there is a risk of mistreatment, "no matter how good your assurance" that torture will not take place, says Christoph Wilcke of Human Rights Watch. "We have had such diplomatic assurances in the past and they have not worked," he told the BBC News website. UK-Jordan deportation deal under fire BBC 8/16/2005 Terror suspects from the UK could soon be jailed in Jordan - a country long accused of torturing its prisoners - under a deal struck last week between the two governments. -- Officials in London and Amman say the agreement safeguards the human rights of all deportees. But rights groups have voiced alarm, arguing that the deal does not deter torturers and will not let governments off the hook if torture does occur. International law forbids extradition to countries where there is a risk of mistreatment, "no matter how good your assurance" that torture will not take place, says Christoph Wilcke of Human Rights Watch. "We have had such diplomatic assurances in the past and they have not worked," he told the BBC News website. Talking Points: The Gaza "Disengagement" Electronic Intifada 8/15/2005 Briefing, US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation -- In defiance of international law, Israel has militarily occupied the Palestinian Gaza Strip and established illegal settlements there for more than 38 years. If the United States is serious about promoting the rule of law, it cannot reward Israel with money for the numerous human rights violations it has committed against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip over the past four decades. / # Although Israel plans to dismantle its illegal settlements and military bases in the Gaza Strip, it will still maintain a full-scale sea, air, and land siege of the territory. Gaza will remain an open-air prison under Israeli control, preventing Palestinians from exercising their right to freedom of movement and from engaging in economic activity. Under these conditions, Israel will still in effect be occupying the Gaza Strip, according to international law... Islamic Jihad political detainees in Jericho demand to be released International Middle East Media Center 8/12/2005 The Islamic Jihad movement in Palestine called on the Palestinian Authority, especially the Legislative Council, in order to close the political detainees file, and release them from Jericho detention facility. Detainee Raed abu al-Haija, the media spokesperson of the Islamic Jihad, said that the Palestinian factions and people should unite and conduct the need procedures in order to release the political detainees from Palestinian detention facilities. The detainees threatened to conduct an open ended hunger strike, and said that the movement is committed to the cease fire agreements arrived in Cairo, while they remained in detention in spite of all promises they received. Detainee suffering a deteriorating health condition International Middle East Media Center 8/12/2005 The mother of detainee Yousef Qandeel, from Jenin refugee camp, said that he is suffering of a deteriorating health condition as a result of medical neglect and bad living condition in Galboa’ Israeli detention facility. The mother said that she saw her son when he was sent to Salem Israeli military court, and clearly noticed that his health condition has seriously deteriorated. Yousef is suffering from a disability in his left hand after sustaining several gunshot injuries is his hands and legs when he was arrested. Israeli physicians who work with the Israeli Prison Authority decided that he needs several medical operations, but prison authorities did not authorize any of them, and placed him in Galboa’ detention facility under harsh living conditions. PM Reaffirms Palestinian Position Regarding Disengagement, Calls for Israeli Clarifications WAFA 8/11/2005 RAMALLAH, August 11, 2005 (WAFA) - Prime Minister Ahmad Qurei reiterated the Palestinian Government''s position regarding the implications of Israel''s unilateral decision on both the Palestinian people and leadership. In a press conference held immediately following the Palestinian Cabinet''s 25th session in Ramallah today, Mr. Qurei stated that the disengagement embodies the tangible impact of "our people''s steadfastness and the perseverance of our courageous political prisoners in Israeli jails." He also added that this development must be captured and celebrated as an integral part of our national Palestinian aspirations. Bakri held as he leaves Beirut TV station The Guardian 8/12/2005 The controversial Muslim cleric Omar Bakri Mohammed was last night held in a Beirut prison after he was arrested by Lebanon''s general security department less than a week after he fled from the UK. The preacher was detained after leaving a television station where he said he would not go back to the country that has been his home for 20 years and where his wife and six children live. "I will not return to Britain unless I want to go there as a visitor or as a tourist," he said. "After all these years of being an expatriate I want to come back. I don''t want to go back to Britain unless the government announces personally that I am no longer persona non grata." Two detainees on Hunger Strike International Middle East Media Center 8/7/2005 Two Palestinian detainees announced Hunger Strike in protest to harsh conditions and medical neglect in Israeli prisons. The two detainees, Mohammad Ala’ ed-Deen, from Bethlehem, and Salah Barghouthi from Ramallah, said that they are conducting hunger strike in protest of the bad conditions and treatment they receive, in addition to confining them to solitary over the last 110 days, in al-Maskobiyya detention in Jerusalem. The Palestinian Prisoners Society reported that three of its lawyers, Fahmi al-Oweywi, Jamal Abatly and Mohannad al-Kharraz visited the two detainees, who informed them of repeated torture and abuse carried out against them by Israeli soldiers and policemen. Detainees tortured, suffering from bad health conditions International Middle East Media Center 8/11/2005 Lawyer of the Palestinian Prisoners Society, Sana’ Harbawi, reported that she visited several detainees in Asqalan detention center on Wednesday, who informed her of the bad living conditions and treatment they face on daily basis. “They are facing very harsh living conditions, medical neglect”, Harbawi said, “Yet, the conditions are getting worse”. Harbawi met with detainees Othman Musleh, abdul-Hakeem Hanani, Nael Barghourhi, Omar Barghouthi, Salama Rawashda, Eyad Hana and Falah Nada. Detainee Salama Rawashda, 30, was blinded during torture as a result of repeated strikes and punches he was subjected to during interrogation in Asqalan detention facility. The administration is rejecting to provider Rawashda with the needed medical care and attention. ISM activist’s killer sentenced to eight years in prison International Solidarity Movement 8/11/2005 A little over two years after he killed British Peace activist Tom Hurndall in Gaza, Ex-sergeant Taysir Hayb was sentenced today to eight years in prison by a military court. Tom was one of hundreds of civilians killed in Rafah alone in the past four years. He was shot while trying to get children out of the line of Israeli army gunfire. As he bent down to pick up a young boy, he was shot in the head by Taysir. Taysir received even years for manslaughter and one year for obstruction of justice. Outside of manslaughter, he was found guilty of obstruction of justice, incitement to false testimony, false testimony and improper conduct. Tom’s sister, Sophie Hurndall pointed out to the BBC that “It’s a huge landmark, it’s a milestone, it’s the first time that a soldier’s been convicted of manslaughter since the first Intifada and it’s obviously been a long time coming.” Saudi frees ex-Guantanamo inmates AlJazeera 8/10/2005 Five Saudis who were held at the US military base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, before they were handed over to Saudi security officials, have been released, the Saudi Interior Ministry said. The Saudi Press Agency on Tuesday quoted an unnamed official as saying the five were released after they underwent "the regular procedures and completed the prison terms which they received according to court verdicts". The SPA did not give the names of the five, say when they were handed to Saudi authorities or for how long they were detained in Guantanamo and in Saudi jails. Last month, the United States released three Saudi men from Guantanamo to Saudi custody. U.S. negotiating with Muslim countries to return Guantanamo detainees Daily Star 8/11/2005 WASHINGTON: The U.S. State Department has confirmed that the United States is negotiating with several Muslim countries to return detainees held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to their custody. "We are now looking at moving forward on understandings with a number of other countries for an even greater number of transfers," State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said this week. "There are ongoing discussions with other countries ... for the transfer of their nationals," he said. The Washington Post, quoting a senior State Department official, said the United States is nearing agreement with 10 countries, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, Kuwait and Morocco. Cell space in planned private jail too small, ACRI says Ha''aretz 8/11/2005 The average living space for each prisoner in the private prison to be built near Be''er Sheva is smaller than the norm in other countries, and even smaller than the space mandated by Israeli law, the Association for Civil Rights in Israel has charged. ACRI is demanding changes in the terms of the tender for building and operating the prison - a private medium-security facility for 800 inmates that will be under Israel Prisons Service supervision. Supporters claim this prison will alleviate crowding in Israeli jails. Opponents worry about placing incarceration powers in private hands. Jordan, Britain sign deportation accord Middle East Online 8/10/2005 Controversial agreement allows for undesirables to be deported from one country to other without fear of torture. -- AMMAN - Jordan and Britain on Wednesday signed a controversial non-legally binding agreement allowing for undesirables to be deported from one country to the other without fear of torture. The move could pave the way for the deportation to Jordan of an Islamist cleric linked to Al-Qaeda, Omar Abu Omar, alias Abu Qatada, sentenced in Amman to life imprisonment and currently under house arrest in Britain. Jordan''s Interior Minister Awni Yervas signed the memorandum of understanding with British charge d''affaires Pat Philips, saying it guarantees that the "personal and civil rights" of those expelled will be respected. New law may encourage increase in Israeli attacks against Palestinians International Middle East Media Center 8/9/2005 The new Israeli law that prohibits Palestinians who were injured or had their property damaged by Israeli army troops from suing the government encourages Israeli soldiers to commit more crimes against Palestinians, the Palestinian Prisoners Society said in a press release published on Tuesday. The press release describes the new Israeli regulation as "racist" since it cancels all the lawsuits submitted to Israeli courts by Palestinians since the year 2000. The main argument in support of the law, the statement noted, is Israel''s claim that the state is not responsible for any damage or harm caused to Palestinians as a result of clashes with the Palestinian resistance in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Army attacks home of a detainee in al-Ezariyya International Middle East Media Center 8/9/2005 Israeli soldiers, and special army units, attacked the home of detainee Yacoub abu Romiyya, in al-Ezariyya town, south of Jerusalem. A local source in al-Ezariyya reported that soldiers searched the home, causing damage to its belongings, and threatened to detonate it. Abu Romiyya was arrested by the army two months ago. [end] Call for Forming International Committee to Check Prisoners Conditions at Negev WAFA 8/9/2005 GAZA, August 9, 2005 (WAFA)- Minister of Prisoners Affairs (MOPA), Sofian Abu Zayda, called for immediately forming an international investigation committee to check prisoners conditions at Negev Israeli prison. In a press release issued Tuesday, the minister urged the international community and the International Committee of the Red Cross to work for closing Negev detention, especially after the fire that erupted in the prison on July 23, 2005. He made it clear that more than 2150 prisoners are living under hard conditions and suffer ill treatment and medical negligence. Israel Decides to Keep Gaza Sealed off after Pullout Palestine Media Center 8/9/2005 PNA: Israel Will Remain ‘the Occupying Power’ after Withdrawal -- Vindicating Palestinian fears of transforming the Gaza Strip into the world’s largest prison, Israel on Monday ruled out giving the Palestinians their own gate to the world, insisting at the last minute Monday it will control traffic in and out of Gaza after Israeli settlers and soldiers leave, as the PNA confirmed that Israel’s unilateral withdrawal “will not change the legal status” of the “evacuated” areas and the Jewish state “will remain an occupying power.” Just a week before the pullout begins, Israel''s Security Cabinet met Monday to consider how to deal with the crossing point at Rafah between the Gaza Strip and Egypt. Report: Prisoner exchange deal fails between Israel, Hezbollah Ha''aretz 8/9/2005 The second phase of the indirect negotiations on a prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hezbollah has failed over information that the Lebanese Islamic militia failed to provide regarding missing Israeli airman Ron Arad, a Saudi daily reported on Tuesday. According to Al-Watan, Hezbollah was to have provided new information on the whereabouts of the missing navigator. When no information was forthcoming, Israel refused to hold talks on the release of Lebanese prisoners, the newspaper said. Arab, Israeli plead guilty to selling night-vision goggles to Hezbollah Ha''aretz 8/10/2005 LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (AP) - Two shipping company employees, one Arab and one Israeli, have pleaded guilty in connection with a planned shipment of night-vision goggles to the Lebanese terrorist organization Hezbollah, authorities said. Naji Antoine Abi Khalil, 40, of Montreal and originally from Lebanon, entered three guilty pleas Tuesday in Little Rock, including attempting to provide material support for Hezbollah. The U.S. Attorney''s Office in New York also announced that Tomer Grinberg, an Israeli, had pleaded guilty July 28 to conspiracy to export sensitive military equipment without proper licenses. Both men face the possibility of long prison terms. DCI: “100 children are imprisoned in Israeli detention center” International Middle East Media Center 8/8/2005 The Palestine Section of Defense for Children International reported Monday that at least 330 child prisoners are currently imprisoned in Israeli prisons and detention centers. Khaled Qirmaz, a lawyer working with DCI in Palestine, said that there are currently 100 child detainees who were sentenced to more than 10 consecutive years. The total number of child detainees is 330, including 120 detainees imprisoned in Telmond Hasharon detention center. “During al-Aqsa Intifada, which started in late 2000, the Israeli army killed 720 children,” Qirmaz added. Qirmaz also reported that West Bank lawyers working with the DCI have difficulty representing the child detainees effectively because they are not granted permits to visit their clients, who are held in prisons inside Israel. Saudi king pardons Libyans, reformers AlJazeera 8/9/2005 The new Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdel Aziz has pardoned five activists, including three reformists serving jail sentences for seeking a constitutional monarchy, Interior Minister Nayef bin Abdel Aziz says. Monday''s clemency, hailed by relatives of the reformists as a step opening a new page in the ultra-conservative kingdom, came a week after Abdullah became monarch following the death of his half-brother King Fahd. Abdullah also pardoned a number of Libyans accused of plotting to assassinate him, in a move that he hoped would help "close Arab ranks" - an apparent attempt to patch up troubled ties with Tripoli. "King Abdullah has issued an order to pardon and release the detainees," namely the three reformists, their jailed lawyer and an Islamist activist, Prince Nayef was quoted as saying. Guantánamo prisoners to be held in home countries The Guardian 8/6/2005 The United States is negotiating the transfer of nearly 70% of the prisoners held at Guantánamo Bay back to their home countries in an attempt to dramatically reduce the number of "enemy combatants" in US custody, it emerged yesterday.Earlier this week the Bush administration formally agreed to the transfer of 110 detainees from the prison camp in Cuba to Afghanistan, and the US is pursuing similar agreements with Saudi Arabia and Yemen. The deal with Afghanistan also includes handing over 350 detainees being held by the US at Bagram air base near Kabul. Pierre-Richard Prosper, the US ambassador-at-large for war crimes, agreed the deal in a meeting with Afghan president Hamid Karzai, who demanded custody of his countrymen during a visit to Washington this year. Polluted water in al-Damoun detention facility International Middle East Media Center 8/5/2005 Lawyer of the Palestinian Prisoners Society, Raed Mahameed, said that several detainees in al-Damoun detention facility contracted diseases of the kidney and other health problems as a result of the polluted drinking water provided in Israeli detention. Mahameed stated that he visited several detainees recently who informed him that the water includes a high concentration ofchlorine, in addition to small stones and bugs. Several detainees contracted kidney infections. Detainee Ala’ Sarhan, from Tulkarem, told lawyer Mahameed that prison administration is not doing anything to distil the water, which forced the detainees to buy their drinking water from the prison canteen for high prices. Detainees receive 4th consecutive administrative detention order International Middle East Media Center 8/5/2005 Detainee Ahmad Sameeh Fashafsha, 19, from Jaba’ village near the West Bank city of Jenin received his fourth consecutive detention order without any charges or trial. The Palestinian Prisoners Society reported that the administration at the Negev detention renewed his detention period for additional six months. Fashafsha was arrested three years ago and placed in administrative detention with charges or trial. Israeli convicted of transferring nuclear technology to Pakistan Ha''aretz 8/6/2005 WASHINGTON - An Israeli businessman who conspired to ship controlled nuclear technology to Pakistan was sentenced to three years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Ricardo Urbina on Thursday imposed the sentence on Asher Karni, who pleaded guilty last year to helping ship devices that could be used to test, develop and detonate nuclear weapons. Karni, who was based in South Africa, admitted routing sophisticated oscilloscopes and high-speed electrical switches through South Africa to avoid raising authorities'' suspicions. The scopes and the switches were then shipped to Pakistan. PM Calls for Ending Occupation of All Palestinian Territories WAFA 8/4/2005 GAZA, August 4, 2005 (WAFA)- Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei called on the Quartet Committee and the international community to exert utmost efforts to end Israeli occupation of the rest of the Palestinian territories. During a festival entitled "Liberation and Evacuation Festival" held in Gaza on Thursday, Qurei called on the international community to immediately intervene and to pressurize on Israel to release Palestinian prisoners, wondering about the reason behind keeping them jailed after Israeli evacuation from Gaza Strip (GS) and parts of the West Bank (WB). Qurei called upon the Palestinian people to enforce the national unity and to fight all acts which harm our people and cause dissipation, so as to face all threats emerging of the Israeli proposed withdrawal. IOF Escalates Assaults against Palestinian Cities, Arrests 2 Citizens WAFA 8/4/2005 JENIN, August 4, 2005, (WAFA)- Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) arrested 2 citizens in the West Bank (WB) citie of Jenin and Nablus, security sources said. The sources added that Israeli soldiers backed by military vehicles stormed the city and its refugee camp amid fire shootings at citizens'' houses, launched a search campaign into the houses and arrested the young Nasser al-Jamal 17, taking him into an unknown location. In the meantime, Israeli soldiers stepped up their violations and aggressions against Nablus and Tammon in the WB, witnesses told WAFA. They said that IOF arrested the engineer Jamal Youssif Abdullah, of Deir al-Hatab, west Nablus and took him to Kadomim prison. Will reconciliation apply to former SLA in Israel? Daily Star 8/5/2005 Official reactions to the issue range from hopeful to furious -- BEIRUT: Collaborators, traitors or refugees? The wave of indignation that followed the Parliamentary debate over the return of Lebanese families that fled to Israel after the liberation of the South from Israeli forces in 2000 confirmed that this sensitive and controversial issue is not one that will be solved quietly and without objection. "These are filthy traitors who have tortured and killed national warriors," said Hizbullah spokesperson Nawwaf Moussawi, referring to former members of the South Lebanese Army (SLA) who collaborated with Israel during the occupation. Harsh prison conditions in Benjamin detention International Middle East Media Center 8/3/2005 Palestinian detainees in Benjamin Israeli detention, near Ramallah, are living in extremely harsh conditions with numerous Israeli violations of rights guaranteed by the International law. Detainee Abdullah Mahmoud abu Rahma, who was arrested in Bel’in village near Ramallah 16 days ago, said in a sworn statement to lawyer Mohammad al-Shadfan, from the General Committee Against Torture, that “the detainees are living an extremely harsh life in detention, they cannot even find anything to eat”, he said, “and when they do get something to eat from the prison authorities, it is often uncooked meat given to prisoners while guards taunt them, saying, ‘Go ahead, try and eat this!’” Access to West Bank vital for Gaza economy: Wolfensohn Yahoo! News 8/3/2005 JERUSALEM (AFP) - Palestinians must be able to travel and trade between the occupied territories if the Gaza Strip is not to become a giant prison after Israel''s pullout, former World Bank chief James Wolfensohn said. Wolfensohn, the Middle East quartet (Russia, EU, US and UN) special envoy to assist the disengagement, told a small group of reporters that the issue of links between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank was absolutely crucial to long-term economic viability and attracting investment. Gaza "has to be an area where it is possible to move in and out and trade as freely as possible within the constraints of security for Israel," said the Australian who was appointed by US President George W. Bush. Israeli Court Extends Administrative Detention of 3 Prisoners WAFA 8/3/2005 RAMALLAH, August 3, 2005, (WAFA)- An Israeli court at Negev desert prison extended Wednesday the administrative detention of three Palestinian prisoners for 6 and 4 months. Lawyer Jamil al-Khatib of Pro Prisoners society said that the Israeli Military Court of Appeal in the prison decided to release a prisoner, while it extended the detention of Ahmed Zaid for 6 months, and Mohamed Issa and Marwan Rayan for 4 months. Worth mentioning that the three prisoners were at detention since twenty months. [end] A Call to Close Damoun Prison WAFA 8/3/2005 NAZZARETH, August 3, 2005, (WAFA)- Arab Knesset (Israeli parliament) Member Abdelmalek Dahamsha, called on Israeli Minister for Internal Security, Gideon Ezra, to close Damoun prison because it is not proper for humans beings. Dahamsha said that the prison lacks the minimum needs for humans, revealing that the prisoners are suffering hard circumstances due to Israeli harsh measures against them. He pointed out that some prisoners told him that Israeli authorities prevented prisoners from their Friday prayer. [end] US challenged over ''secret jails'' BBC 8/4/2005 Two Yemeni men claim they were held in secret, underground US jails for more than 18 months without being charged, Amnesty International has said. The human rights group has called on the US to reveal details of the alleged secret detention of suspects abroad. Amnesty fears the case is part of a "much broader picture" in which the US holds prisoners at secret locations. The US has not responded to the claims, but the head of the CIA recently said the agency does not use torture. Porter Goss said in testimony to the US Senate torture was neither professional nor productive. Ex-inmates protest amnesty proposal for former SLA militiamen Ha''aretz 8/4/2005 BEIRUT - Ex-inmates of the notorious Khiam prison, a detention center run by the South Lebanon Army during the Israeli occupation of south Lebanon, returned to their old prison yesterday to stage a sit-in against an amnesty proposal that would allow members of the now defunct militia living in Israel to return home. Several hundred former soldiers and officers of the Israeli-allied SLA fled to Israel fearing reprisal if they remained in Lebanon once Israel withdrew its forces from the south in May 2000 after an 18-year occupation. With other controversial prisoners being issued amnesties of late, the fate of the former militia has reemerged in debates, and Christian politicians want pardons declared for the men so they can return home. Israeli Court Sentences 2 Brothers to 20 times Life Imprisonment WAFA 8/2/2005 RAMALLAH, August 2, 2005, (WAFA)- The Israeli Military Court in Ofer, west Ramallah, sentenced 2 brothers of Jerusalem city to 20 times life imprisonment. Prisoners'' Advocate layer, Jamil al-Khateeb said that the two brothers Ramadan and Fahmi Mashahra were sentenced for being accused of blast in 2002. The two prisoners did not admit of the blast, saying that the court is unfair and it is contrary to the Israeli law, since they are holding the Israeli identity and of Jerusalem city. [end] Dogs attack Palestinian Prisoners in Israeli Jail WAFA 8/2/2005 TULKAREM, August 2, 2005, (WAFA)- Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) reported that dogs attack Palestinian prisoners in Shatta Israeli jail. Depending on letters (smuggled) from the prison, the PPS said that the Israeli jailers impose a series of restrictions against the prisoners using dogs and other inhuman practices. It revealed that the jailers used dog to terrify prisoners and force them to take off their clothes during provocative search. PPS added that the Israeli jailers are used to beating the prisoners up and do not allow them to read letters from their families. It also revealed the prisoners suffer semi chronic suffocation in their crowded rooms and heat. Israeli Arrests Continue in the West Bank WAFA 8/2/2005 THE WEST BANK, August 2, 2005, (WAFA)- At least 6 Palestinian citizens were arrested on Tuesday by Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) in different attacks in the West Bank. Witnesses and local sources told WAFA reporter that Israeli troops swept into the village of Izna, and arrested two brothers, Ghaddar and Mohammed Tmaizi. A third citizen was arrested in Halhoul town, near Hebron, according to Palestine Prisoners Society. In the city of Jenin, Israeli troops stormed a house and arrested 18-year-old Hamza Qa''qor, local sources said. In Ramallah, the Israeli troops broke into several houses and arrested one citizen after provocative search campaign. Rights group denounces Palestinian''s imprisonment Daily Star 8/3/2005 DIMAN: A delegation from the Palestinian Organization of Human Rights denounced the wrongful incarceration of Palestinian prisoner Youssef Shaaban, who has been in prison since 1994 on charges of murdering a Jordanian diplomat whose true assailants were later apprehended in Jordan. "It is an ongoing injustice with the absence of any legal justification for the continued incarceraton of the innocent prisoner Youssef Shaaban," delegation member Mohammad Suleiman said. Speaking during a visit to Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir, he described Shaaban''s imprisonment as a "flagrant violation of human rights, which is strongly condemned by both spiritual and security authorities across the world." Israeli forces take pictures of naked Palestinian minors AlJazeera.com 7/25/2005 According to the Palestinian prisoners club, the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) arrested two Palestinian teenagers a week ago and proceeded to photograph them with mobile phones'' built-in cameras while stark naked. The prisoners club quoted one of those arrested, 17-year-old Mohammed Ghaith, a resident of Al-Khalil, held at the Israeli jail of Atsion since mid July. Gaith recounted how he and his cousin were arrested by IOF soldiers who proceeded to batter them with theirriffle butts, causing them several injuries and bruises all over their bodies. The two Palestinian teenage boys were then forced to strip in full view of Israeli settlers present at the scene as pictures of them were taken by mobile phones. Palestinian prisoners suffer from brutal abuse in Kadomem detention center International Middle East Media Center 8/2/2005 The lawyer of the Palestinian prisoner society, Jammal Abetli reported On Tuesday after visting a number of prisoners in Kadomem detention center that the prisoners are suffering from brutal abuse by the Israeli prison guards. Some prisoners have marks of bruses all over their bodies from being hit by rifles and burns from cigars, and prisoners are exposed to provocations by guards, Abetli added. Armed fighters break into PA facilities in Gaza International Middle East Media Center 8/2/2005 A Palestinian security source in Gaza reported, on Tuesday afternoon, that armed fighters broke into the Palestinian Legislative Council building, and the Ministry of Detainees in Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. The fighters demanded to be employed, the source added. A local source in Gaza reported that an armed group, apparently freed detainees, broke into the two building in protest to not being employed until now by the Palestinian authority. The fighters demand the P.A to counter corruption and employ them in its devices. On Monday evening, an unknown group hurled on Monday evening a hand grenade at the home of the Palestinian Attorney General, Hussein Abu Assi, in Gaza city. Commander insults Orthodox soldiers YNetNews 8/2/2005 IDF Squad leader humiliates boot camp trainees by gesturing to genitalia; platoon commander also treats trainee inappropriately -- ZIKIM - IDF squad commander from the Zikim military base was sent to prison for 28 days after he treated Orthodox soldiers that finished boot camp inappropriately Tuesday. After he finishes serving his sentence, he will not be able to go back to commander position. The Orthodox soldiers, all aged 22-23, told Ynet that when they returned from the synagogue Tuesday morning, the commander gathered them in one of the classrooms. He took out a note and began reading, saying that he does not want to see their faces anymore, which is why he did not attend their swearing-in ceremony. Prisoner in Israeli Jail Appeals Human Rights Institutions to Save His Life International Press Center 7/31/2005 GAZA, July 31, 2005 (IPC + Agencies) - - The prisoner Hamza Abd El-Rahman Bragia, 27, from Al Mo''asra village close to Bethlehem in the West Bank appealed, today, the juristic bodies and the humanitarian associations, and the International Committee of the Red Cross to practice pressure on the Israeli government in order to transfer him to hospital where he can receive remedy. The prisoner Bragia said through a sworn statement to the lawyer Mohammed Dyab El-Shadfan, from the general committee against torture, that the occupation soldiers set upon him during the process of his arrest, about two months and half ago, where they led him to Al-Mascobia concentration camp in occupied Jerusalem. One More Resident Arrested in Bethlehem, a Charity Office Ravaged in Hebron International Press Center 8/1/2005 PALESTINE, August 1,2005 (IPC+WAFA)---The Israeli occupation forces invaded toady dawn Obeidyeh village, east of Bethlehem, and arrested a 24-year-old man, sentenced a detainee to eight months and stormed the charity commitee''s office in Hebron city, vandalizing it. Eyewitnesses reported that the troops blocked the main road of the village, surrounded the house of Anwer Al Assa, and forced him and his family to get out of the house before searching it...The Israeli occupation forces stormed today morning into Hebron city and conducted house searching; one of the houses was occupied and turned into a military outlook. WAFA News Agency reported that the fresh incursion mainly focused on al sheikh al Mattala quarter and Baba k zawya area, center of the city. Lebanese amnesty raises reconciliation hopes AlJazeera 8/1/2005 The release of Christian leader Samir Geagea after 11 years in prison has been seen by many Lebanese as a step towards national reconciliation in a country that has not healed from the wounds of civil war. "This is a new stage in which Christians, Muslims and Druze will build Lebanon together," Member of Parliament George Adwan, who is a leading member in Geagea''s Lebanese Forces, told Aljazeera.net. Adwan said he considered Geagea''s pardon and release on 26 July to be "the result of the Syrian withdrawal" from Lebanon in April. |
Punishment depends on nationality By Amira Hass, Ha''aretz 8/10/2005 Shortly after the murders in Shfaram, it was reported that those wounded and the families of the murder victims would receive recognition as victims of terrorism, dealt with and compensated accordingly. And the question immediately arose, since when do you highlight as a news item something that is self-explanatory and common sense? Except that equality among Jews and Arabs in Israel is not something self-explanatory. Therefore the news item, which should never have been a news item, was appropriate. The news item - and the atmosphere of disgust which led to it - can challenge bureaucrats in the ministries of finance and health and the National Insurance Institute, who operate according to customs and laws that discriminate against Arab citizens. A news item like this affords an opportunity to examine other layers of inequality among Jews and Arabs, which undermine the definition of the State of Israel as a democracy. One such "obvious" layer of inequality is the attitude of the judicial and prison system toward Arab Israeli defendants and inmates being held on security grounds, and the discrimination made between them and Jewish defendants and inmates. Security prisoners who are Israeli Arabs are subject to discrimination, on three levels, compared with Israeli Jews who have harmed Arabs: In the severity of the punishment meted out by Israeli judges; in their chances for early parole (as a result of amnesty or time off for good behavior after serving two thirds of their sentence); and their conditions of incarceration.
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Adalah 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 Boycott Israeli Medical Association UK: The Medical Committee for Boycott of the Israeli Medical Association (IMA) will document the systematic torture of Palestinian people by agents of Israel. It will publicise the practice in order to bring world opinion to bear on Israel. And it will challenge the Israeli Medical Association which has repeatedly failed to issue advice to doctors who are involved in any way with torture. 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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