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| Human Rights |
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Vermonters
for a Just Peace in Palestine/Israel |
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The
Treatment of Prisoners and Detainees by Israel and Others |
Prisoners Archive - August 2006
Actors at an Israeli court demonstrate Israel’s torture methods used against Palestinian detainees as described by witnesses. Source: Miftah
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100 Palestinians from Hebron arrested during month of August Palestine News Network 8/31/2006 Official sources at the Palestinian Prisoner Society in Hebron reported Thursday that Israeli forces took nine Palestinians from the southern West Bank district to unknown locations early this morning. Today’s raids began south of Hebron City and moved northeast. South of the city Israeli forces invaded the town of Al Thaheriya and arrested five people as reported by the Prisoner Society. Two brothers and their families were hit hard this morning. Twenty-nine and 23 year old Amjad and Iyad Sharif Waredah, 24 year old Mohammad Arif Waredah, 34 year old Mahmoud Awad Waredah and 25 year old Anwar Ezzat Waredah were all residents of Al Thaheriya and are now in unknown locales. German spy chief en route to Lebanon YNet News 9/1/2006 Head of country''s foreign intelligence service on his way to Beirut, fuelling rumors Germany may take part in mediating prisoner swap between Israel, Lebanon -- The head of Germany''s foreign intelligence service, the BND, is on route to Lebanon, a Foreign Ministry official said on Friday, fuelling speculation Germany may play a role in a prisoner swap between Israel and Lebanon. "I can only confirm... That (BND Chief Ernst) Uhrlau is in the meantime on his way," Deputy Foreign Minister Gernot Erler told N24 television. "But I cannot confirm that there has been any concrete negotiations. "What is known, is that the Israeli state is hoping for and also expects from us to do what we can. And we are happy to do this," Erler said. IDF military court sets trial date for captured PA officials Ha''aretz 8/31/2006 A military court on Thursday set Dec. 12 as the date for the trial of two Palestinian Cabinet ministers, the speaker of the Palestinian parliament and 12 lawmakers seized in an Israel Defense Forces roundup of prominent Hamas officials two months ago. Israel arrested the Hamas officials after Hamas-linked militants attacked an army post near Gaza and captured and IDF soldier. The raid also sparked a widescale military operation in the Gaza Strip. The Hamas officials were charged with membership and activity in an outlawed organization, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. In all, Israel has arrested 30 Hamas lawmakers and five Cabinet ministers, including Deputy Prime Minister Nasser Shaer. Army invades Annin and Jalkamos villages near Jenin and takes two prisoners International Middle East Media Center 8/31/2006 The Israeli army invaded the villages of Annin and Jalkamos near the West Bank city of Jenin on Thursday morning, and took two residents as prisoners. Eyewitnesses in the two villages said Soldiers stormed residents'' houses in both villages searched them and ransacked them before taking Harbi Yassin, 19 from Annin, and Ala Abu Jaber, 21 from Jalkamos prisoners and transfering them to unknown location. [end] Israeli police detains a Palestinian in the Jordan valley International Middle East Media Center 8/31/2006 Israeli police stationed at Tayasser checkpoint east of the West Bank city of Tubas in the Jordan valley area have taken on Palestinian as a prisoner Thursday afternoon. Eyewitnesses said Israeli police officers stopped the man searched him then handcuffed him and took him to unknown location. The reason for the arrest and the name of the arrestee remain unknown. [end] Previously unknown group, the "Syrian National Resistance", threaten to kidnap Israeli soldiers Ma''an News 8/31/2006 Bethlehem -- A group calling itself the "Syrian National Resistance" have threatened to kidnap Israeli soldiers in order to exchange them with 16 Syrian citizens who the Israeli forces took prisoner in the occupied Golan Heights twenty years ago. In a statement, the previously unknown group praised the victory of the Lebanese resistance, Hezbollah, against Israel. [end] Knesset given six months to decide on prison privatization Ha''aretz 9/1/2006 A hearing in the petition by the human rights department at Ramat Gan College against building a privately run prison will be suspended for six months, to permit the Knesset to discuss private member bills aimed at cancelling privatization of the prison system. The decision was made yesterday by an expanded panel of nine justices, headed by Supreme Court Justice Aharon Barak, at the end of a hearing on the petition at the High Court of Justice. "The legislative proceedings initiated at the Knesset ought to be allowed to exhaust themselves," Barak wrote, "and through them to define public discourse on the matter with which the petition deals. "The justices accepted requests to postpone the hearing made by [the state]... Private prison franchise may be controlled by foreign state Ha''aretz 8/31/2006 The state could permit the company awarded the franchise to build and operate a private prison to be controlled by a foreign government or by a company controlled or owned by another state. This is one of the provisions a joint team of officials from the ministries of justice, finance and public security included in the license for the construction and operation of a private prison. The license was submitted to the treasury''s accountant general for his approval. The High Court of Justice, sitting in an extraordinary nine-justice panel, is to hear Thursday the petition by the human rights division of the Academic College of Law in Ramat Gan to abrogate the law that supports the privatization of prisons in Israel.... ALA Management and Operation [is] the company owned by Lev Leviev that was awarded the private prison franchise... -- See also: Lev Leviev Rafah photostory: Journalists Released Rafah Today 8/27/2006 Reporter Steve Centanni, a US national, and freelance cameraman Olaf Wiig from New Zealand, were driven to their Beach hotel in Gaza City to embraces from colleagues and rushed inside by black-clad Palestinian security officials this afternoon. Describing the ordeal as a "trauma", Centanni burst into tears as he walked into the hotel. The two men spent 13 days as captives of the previously unknown Holy Jihad Brigades, which had demanded that all Muslim prisoners be freed from US jails. The Palestinian prime minister Ismail Hanyeh gave orders to all police members to investigate and find the two foreign journalists who were kidnapped by unknown people. Hanyeh was there to welcome the two journalists at Beach Hotel in Gaza City after they were released... Iranian dissident ''admits'' working for US AlJazeera 8/31/2006 An Iranian intellectual imprisoned for four months for espionage has said that he was unintentionally involved in a US plot to overthrow the government in Iran. "I accepted acting against national security through having contacts with foreigners, but I did not do it intentionally and knowingly," Ramin Jahanbegloo told the Iranian state news agency INSA after his release on Wednesday. "During my prison term I sensed that American organisations put me in a position that I myself did not want to be in," said Jahanbegloo, formerly a prominent thinker and writer on democracy and non-violence. "I used to write articles on some sites which were run by [US] security officials, and did so unknowingly. " he said, apparently referring to his articles on opendemocracy. net. Army invades Habla village near Qalqilia,takes one prisoner International Middle East Media Center 8/30/2006 Israeli troops invaded Habla village south of the West Bank city of Qalqilia and took one prisoner on Wednesday. Khalid Ramadan, 30, was taken to an unknown destination, after soldiers searched his house and confiscated his tractor, eyewitnesses reported. [end] Headlines from International Middle East Media Center International Middle East Media Center 8/30/2006 Army invades Qalqilia Army invades Tulkarem city and the nearby Zita village Army invades Tammoun village east of Tubas Army takes two prisoners from Sourif village near Hebron Army storms offices of Cultural Center in a Hebron village Army continues to attack near Sofa crossing and takes four prisoners Israeli soldier injured as anti-tank shell hit tank in Gaza Army invades Okbat Jaber refugee camp in Jericho and takes one prisoner PLC Speaker addresses the public sector employees from his prison cell Ma''an News 8/30/2006 Hebron - Ma''an – "We will never bargain your rights," senior Palestinian politician Aziz Adwaik told the Palestinian workforce from his prison cell in Israel on Wednesday. The Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council, Dr Abdul-Aziz Adwaik, addressed the Palestinian people and particularly the public sector employees who were striking on Wednesday in protest against six months without salaries. He told them, "We are with you and we will never bargain your rights. These jail cells will only increase our love for you and our commitment to your worries and issues. We were abducted in a campaign aimed at the whole Palestinian people and government but in the end it strengthened us. " In Israel, Protests by Soldiers Often Drive Political Change Washington Post 8/27/2006 JERUSALEM, Aug. 26 -- Itamar Shapira refused to go to war. The 26-year-old first sergeant, a combat veteran called up from reserves to fight in southern Lebanon, told his superiors he did not think the war made sense. His punishment: eight days'' confinement in a prison camp. "I read a lot. I practically enjoyed it," he said Friday after his release. Within hours of that release, he was giving interviews about his grievances with the war. Shapira''s voice joined a chorus of other Israeli soldiers, many of whom served their time in Lebanon before airing their complaints. Hundreds of reservists, who make up the bulk of Israel''s army, walked and rode back across the border following the Aug. 14 cease-fire and went straight to protest marches. Syria: Group threatens to kidnap troops Jerusalem Post 8/30/2006 A previously unknown group threatened Wednesday to abduct Israeli soldiers to swap them for Syrian prisoners in Israel. In a statement faxed to foreign news agencies in Damascus, a group calling itself the Men of the National Syrian Resistance threatened to "take the necessary measures" to secure the release of 16 Syrians jailed in Israel. It listed the names of four men it said have been detained in Israel for 22 years. The group said the men had been charged with "resisting Israeli occupation in the Golan. ""The continuing detention of our comrades makes us exert all-out efforts to secure their release," the statement said. The group called theirs a "humanitarian and just demand. " The Palestinian politicians being held prisoner in Israeli detention centres have their hearing postponed Ma''an News 8/29/2006 Jenin - Ma''an – The Israeli court hearing of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) members and Palestinian Cabinet Ministers being held prisoner in Israeli detention centres since the end of June has been postponed till 17 September, the lawyer Mustafa Al Azmouti, from the Prisoners'' Support Society for the Care of Prisoners and Detainees reported on Tuesday. Al Azmouti said that the Israeli military court at Salem detention centre postponed the hearing of the Palestinian minister of finance, Dr. Omar Abdur-Razeq, and of a number of PLC members from the northern West Bank governorates to September 17, 2006. The court said that the reason for the postponement was that they needed more time to examine the detainees'' files and to decide if there is a valid case against the detained politicians. Annan urges Hizbollah to free Israelis The Independent 8/29/2006 The UN secretary-general has fuelled speculation that a deal leading to the release of two Israeli prisoners may be in the offing as he embarked on a delicate 11-day mission to the Middle East. Following talks with the Lebanese cabinet, Kofi Annan urged the Hizbollah to release the two prisoners to the care of the international Red Cross. "I... renew my call for the abducted soldiers to be freed and as a first step to be transferred under the auspices of the ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross) either to the government of Lebanon or to a third party," he said. The seizure of the two soldiers on 12 July in a cross-border incursion sparked Israel''s 34-day onslaught. Taking care to balance his statements during a news conference in Beirut, the UN chief also urged Israel to lift the naval and air blockade... Rev. Jackson, Mashaal discuss swap Jerusalem Post 8/28/2006 Veteran US activist Rev. Jesse Jackson discussed an Israel-Hizbullah prisoner swap with Syrian President Bashar Assad on Sunday, and appealed for dialogue as a means to solve the Mideast''s problems. Jackson, who arrived in Damascus on the first leg of a tour that also includes stops in Lebanon and Israel, said he was on a humanitarian mission to gauge the "views" of Syrian, Lebanese and Israeli officials. He also said he would appeal to them to stick to the UN-brokered cease-fire that took effect on August 14. At a news conference with Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Fayssal Mekdad, Jackson said he had also brought up the subject of a prisoner swap in his discussions with Syrian leaders. It was not clear whether Jackson had also discussed the release of Cpl. Gilad Shalit... IDF court charges Palestinian parliament speaker with membership in outlawed organization Ha''aretz 8/22/2006 The Palestinian parliament speaker was led in shackles into an Israel Defense Forces court Tuesday and charged with membership in an outlawed organization - becoming the most senior of three dozen top Hamas officials rounded up by Israel to be indicted so far. The speaker, Abdel Aziz Duaik, said he does not recognize the court''s authority. "It is a political trial, and I don''t recognize it," Duaik said. "I am an elected official. "Duaik was brought into the courtoom in the Ofer Prison Camp with his feet shackled. He wore a brown pajama-style outfit, and his normally long beard was trimmed. The military prosecutor charged Duaik with membership and activity in anoutlawed organization. It was not immediately clear how many years he could face in prison. The next hearing was set for August 31. Israel releases Hassan Nasrallah, greengrocer, after three weeks Ma''an News 8/22/2006 Bethlehem -- Israeli forces released on Monday a Lebanese greengrocer bearing the same name as the secretary general of Hezbollah. 53-year old greengrocer, Hassan Nasrallah, was captured by Israeli forces three weeks ago during an elite military operation in the Lebanese town of Ba''albek. As the defendant''s lawyer made her appeal in court, she revealed new details regarding the operation. In addition to the capture of Hassan Nasrallah, a father of eight, his son Bilal was also captured, his brother-in-law... and two other Lebanese men.... The five men were tied up and dragged to the mountains for an hour; then an Israeli helicopter flew them to Israel for interrogation. The lawyer expressed her concern that the Israelis may use the captured men to put pressure on Hezbollah if a prisoners'' exchange is discussed. Rabbi leads unofficial peace initiative AlJazeera 8/22/2006 Hamas says the plan has potential to end the fighting -- A bold peace initiative by an Israeli rabbi to free the captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit and renew the Israeli-Palestinian peace process is close to achieving a breakthrough, but is being obstructed by Israel''s ongoing reoccupation of the Gaza Strip. Aljazeera. net has seen documents aimed at achieving a prisoner exchange, ceasefire and ongoing negotiations with Hamas. The initiative was drawn up by Menachem Froman, the rabbi of Tekoa, a friend and associate of Yasser Arafat, the late Palestinian president, and Sheikh Ahmad Yasin, the spiritual leader of Hamas assassinated by Israel in 2004. The plan was submitted to the Hamas leadership in the Gaza Strip and Damascus in July. It has the blessing of senior Jewish religious figures... Palestinian prisoners organisation appeals for help from Pope Benedict XVI Ma''an News 8/22/2006 Gaza -- The Palestinian "Prisoners'' Supporters" organization appealed to Pope Benedict XVI on Tuesday to do everything in his power to stop the Israeli aggression in the occupied Palestinian territory and to ensure the release of the Palestinian prisoners, particularly the kidnapped Palestinian officials and the women and children. The message was delivered through the Roman Catholic Pope''s special envoy, Archbishop Antonio Franco, to Palestine and Jerusalem. [end] Israeli Army takes two children as prisoners from Al Zawia village International Middle East Media Center 8/19/2006 Ahmad Shqer, 15, and another child whose name remains unknown were taken prisoner by Israeli troops from Al Zawia village, west of the West Bank city of Tubas, late Friday night. According to the local residents, troops invaded the village, searched several houses, then took the two boys to unknown locations. [end] Israeli forces take 15 young men from the southern West Bank to unknown locations at dawn Palestine News Network 8/22/2006 Israeli forces arrested 15 Palestinians from the southern West Bank Tuesday. The raid was far-reaching from southern Bethlehem to southern Hebron. The southern Hebron village of Dura lost nine residents after a quick home raid and search. At dawn Israeli forces also stormed southwestern area villages, with four people arrested at the specific behest of Israeli intelligence. Officials at the Hebron office of the Palestinian Prisoner Society were able to report some of the names of the currently missing.... To the north of Hebron, Israeli forces conducted similar dawn raids, awaking households upon breaking open doors. Sources from the Joint Security Operations room in Hebron announced three more arrests of 21 year olds. President to be interrogated Wednesday YNet News 8/23/2006 Police investigators to arrive at Katsav''s Jerusalem residence, interrogate him on suspicion of sexually harassing employee, pardoning prisoners in exchange for money. President denies allegations, claims employee tried to blackmail him -- President under interrogation: A special team of police investigators is expected to arrive at the President''s Residence in Jerusalem on Wednesday morning and interrogate President Moshe Katsav under warning on suspicion of sexually harassing a former employee and pardoning prisoners in exchange for money. The investigators will interrogate Katsav about the contradictory versions regarding the acts he is suspected of. A former employee... claimed that he had sexually harassed her, while Katsav denied the allegations and claimed that the employee attempted to blackmail him. Fatah Rejects Hamas Coalition Terms Palestine Chronicle 8/22/2006 The embattled premier also insisted that "any government must be based on the results of the Palestinian legislative election". -- GAZA CITY - Hamas has insisted on keeping the post of prime minister and other key jobs in a possible new coalition government with the Palestinian president, according to the Islamist group''s officials. The terms were swiftly rejected by Mahmoud Abbas''s Fatah, which agreed with Hamas on Wednesday to renew negotiations on a unity government that might ease international isolation. Ismail Haniya, prime minister of the Hamas-led government, set out a series of conditions on Friday that threatened to compromise the formation of a national unity coalition.... Haniya insisted... "There will be no national unity government as long as ministers and elected officials are in Israeli prisons. " PLC holds emergency session in solidarity with imprisoned legislators Ma''an News 8/22/2006 Gaza -- Ma''an - The Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) held an emergency session to show solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners and the kidnapped PLC members and Palestinian government ministers, including PLC Speaker Dr. Abdul Aziz Adwaik and first deputy of the PLC, Mahmoud Ar Ramahi. The second deputy of the PLC, Dr. Hassan Khrishi, chaired the session. Khrishi condemned the kidnap of the PLC members and ministers by what he called, "Israeli gangs" and said that Israel was trying to break the Palestinian will. He that he PLC has received several letters of solidarity from parliaments, including the Egyptian, Syrian, Lebanese (Nabih Berri), Jordanian and the Kuwaiti governments, as well as from the European Parliament. Israeli analyst & journalist: Lebanon is not Gaza where it is easy to know the color of a window Palestine News Network 8/22/2006 On Tuesday the Palestine News Network spoke with Yoram Ben Nur, an Israeli journalist and political analyst, regarding the current state of thinking among the Israeli people. The 50 year old says that the Israeli war against Lebanon destroyed the notion that “Arabs are weak. "He continued to say, “We believe what Hassan Nasrallah says, and question the official Israeli version. Additionally, it would seem that people do not believe that the three captured soldiers will be returned without a real prisoner exchange. "The Channel 2 correspondent with 25 years experience as an Israeli journalist, Ben Nur, also told PNN today, “The Israeli war with the Lebanese Hezbollah has caused the Israeli people to lose confidence in the military, security and political leadership. " No impunity for war crimes Amnesty International 8/11/2006 US administration seeking to amend the War Crimes Act -- Amnesty International is concerned that the United States administration is seeking to persuade Congress to narrow the scope of the US War Crimes Act to prevent prosecutions of US personnel for humiliating and degrading treatment of detainees in the "war on terror". The organization believes that any such measure would undermine the rule of law and send a dangerous message about impunity. Torture and ill-treatment thrive on impunity. Discussions are underway within the administration with a view to presenting a bill to Congress to amend the War Crimes Act (18 U.S. C. § 2441) following the Hamdan v. Rumsfeld ruling of the US Supreme Court on 29 June 2006. Abbas: Prisoners'' Document cannot be basis for unity gov''t Ha''aretz 8/22/2006 Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas told Hamas officials last week that the international community considered the Prisoners'' Document unacceptable as the political platform of a Palestinian national unity government. According to a report in the London-based Al-Hayat daily, Abbas explained that the changes made to the document to assuage the various Palestinian factions had made it unacceptable. InIn its original format, the Prisoners'' Document was a compromise manifesto prepared by imprisoned Palestinians from both Fatah and Hamas that implicitly recognized the right of Israel to exist within the 1967 borders. According to the document, a government of national unity would be created, however Abbas asked Hamas to agree to the formation of a government of technocrats. Nablus families to all prison visitors: do not accept humiliating Israeli practices during visits Palestine News Network 8/21/2006 Nablus families of political prisoners from the Prisoner Support Committee issued a call for nonviolent resistance to all prison visitors Monday. They asked that no one abide the “oppressive practices and degrading treatment imposed by Israeli occupation authorities during visits to Israeli prisons. ”Today’s statement elaborated on the conditions. “The Israeli prison administration uses various cowardly methods to humiliate and torture people visiting their imprisoned family members and friends. ”The Nablus group also says that the practices are intended to “undermine the resolve of the prisoners and their families and to break their will. ”Some examples issued today are, “forcing women and girls to undress, either their hijab or clothes, in the presence of soldiers and cameras. ” Mandela Foundation reports violations against Palestinian women in Israeli Telmond Prison Palestine News Network 8/21/2006 Attorneys from the Mandela Foundation visited Palestinian women in Israeli Telmond Prison and what they saw were more violations of human rights. Monday’s legal reports indicate that with the financial crisis facing most Palestinians, the political prisoners do not have adequate funds, while the possibility for introducing any is severely limited as family visits are suspended. Political prisoner Manal Ghaneim reported that the women’s cells are hot, humid, and infested with insects, including cockroaches. Another woman, Mona Saleh, told lawyers that last week a large contingent of Israeli forces raided “Section 11” with dogs, and conducted humiliating and degrading searches. Ministry of Prisons: Israel is attempting to systematically kill Palestinian democracy Palestine News Network 8/21/2006 The Palestinian Ministry of Detainees and Ex Detainees Affairs issued a statement today after Israeli forces arrested Palestinian Legislative Council Secretary Mahmoud Al Ramahi from Ramallah yesterday. "In the light of the Israeli escalation against our Palestinian people and the continuation of the policy of blockade and destruction, murder and kidnapping, exercised by the occupation forces against our unarmed people and representatives,... "“... ministers and MPs in a step the cements the occupation, the Israelis are engaged in the deliberate systematic murder of Palestinian democracy by abducting Palestinian Ministers and Deputies,” the Ministry statement read. Israeli forces stormed Dr. Al Ramahi’s Ramallah home and arrested him as a member of elected Palestinian government. A national unity government? An international peace conference? Regional war? All possible, states Al Ayyam Ma''an News 8/21/2006 Ramallah -- Ayyam, on Monday. The newspaper alleged that, despite the suspension of hostilities, nobody believes the war in Lebanon is definitively over. In addition, there remains the unresolved issue of the Israeli soldier captured in Gaza. Izziddin predicts that Palestine will witness one of the following five outcomes: 1. The formation of a Palestinian national unity government based on the Prisoners'' Document Accord. Despite disagreement between Hamas and Fatah, Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) member Ziad Abu Omar affirmed that discussions on this issue have begun and will not be stopped.... 2. The continuation of the Israeli blockade on Palestinian government members in the Gaza Strip and the abduction of further Hamas officials and other politicians in the West Bank.... No salaries for lawyers means no legal defense for Palestinian prisoners Ma''an News 8/21/2006 Nablus -- Palestinian prisoners in Israelis jails have appealed to president Mahmoud Abbas to be just with the lawyers who defend them in Israeli courts. Thirty-one lawyers from the prisoners union carried out a one-day strike on Monday as a warning after not having received a salary in over six months. In a statement, they said that they took this step in order to express their rejection to the current state of affairs. Having not received a salary in six months, they are unable to meet their families'' needs or to undertake their daily tasks, such as defending the prisoners, because they require money for transport. At the same time, the Palestinian political movement, Fatah, applauded the lawyers for their role in all stages of the Palestinian struggle. [end] UN team comes to Israel to advance prisoner swap deal Ha''aretz 8/20/2006 A United Nations teams headed from Lebanon to Israel on Sunday in an attempt to advance a prisoner exchange agreement. The UN officials - senior envoy Terje Roed-Larsen and Vijay Nambiar - met Sunday with Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, parliamentary speaker Nabih Beri and other senior government officials before departing for Israel. "We discussed the prisoner issues with most Lebanese leaders," Nambiar said, noting that the matter deserves further consideration. "This will be a central issue of discussion also at our next stop [Israel]. "Larsen said he hopes that the cease-fire will lead to a regional peace agreement. He also noted that the UN team and Lebanese officials agreed on a body to coordinate between the Lebanese army and government and UNIFIL forces. Reservists: Lebanese POWs were kept in bus for 4 days Ha''aretz 8/22/2006 Five Lebanese citizens, including two elderly men, were imprisoned for four days in a bus, reserve soldiers serving in the Military Police told Haaretz Monday. The reservists said that arguments in the Israel Defense Forces prevented putting the prisoners in a POW compound. The prisoners were released when it transpired that they were not associated with Hezbollah. When a war starts, army regulations require setting up a prison facility for POWs in 24 hours, and one was set up in a military camp in the north. Some 15 days after the fighting began, the IDF started sending prisoners it captured in Lebanon back to Israel. The MP soldiers asked to intern the POWs in the prison facility that had been set up for this purpose, but senior officers refused to open it. Leverage for a Prisoner Swap Washington Post 8/21/2006 Seizure of Hamas Officials May Portend Deal for Israeli Soldier -- RAMALLAH, West Bank, Aug. 20 -- Nasser Shaer, 45, a bookish former professor and British-educated scholar who wrote dissertations on comparative religions, was hardly a firebrand. But the Palestinian minister of education was a man on the run. He sneaked into his office at the ministry when he could, took paperwork with him and made calls for work from hidden locations, organizing the start of the Palestinian school year. This weekend, he met his wife and six children after they had left their high-rise apartment to rendezvous secretly at another house. That''s where the Israelis found him. Soldiers stormed into the house shortly before dawn and took Shaer away to be yet another chip in a potential prisoner swap... VIDEO - Captured Prisoners If Americans Knew 8/18/2006 15-minute video about prisoners in Israel, Palestine, and Lebanon. Israeli prison administration puts Sheikh in solitary confinement mid-Sermon after beating him Palestine News Network 8/18/2006 Dozens of Israeli prison guards shut down Friday prayers and took the Sheikh to solitary confinement. The scene was typical throughout Israeli prisons holding Palestinian political prisoners. During today’s service, one of the Sheikhs praised the triumph of the Lebanese resistance movement Hezollah. He commented that this was the sixth war that Israel has waged against Lebanon. The Israeli prison administration is applying strict measures against political prisoners, including increased searches, more cases of solitary confinement, and additional property confiscation. The Sheikh called on the Palestinian leadership to take advantage of the lessons to be learned by Hezbollah’s victory during the Israeli attacks, however marred that “victory” may be with over 1,000 Lebanese killed. Extending the detention of Dr. Dwaik is a violation of international law, says Minister of Prisoners'' Affairs Ma''an News 8/18/2006 Nablus -- Extending the imprisonment of the speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), Dr. Abdul Aziz Dwaik, and the other PLC members, is a violation of international laws and customs, said Palestinian minister of prisoners'' affairs, Wasfi Qabha, on Friday. He added that Israel is "practicing programmed state terror against everything Palestinian" and claimed that the Israeli occupation aims to impeach the Palestinian elected government.... Qabha said that that the prison administration keeps him in an isolated cell separated from other prisoners. Qabha said that he is being deprived of minimal health standards as well as from communication with other detainees. Dr. Dwaik is not allowed access to daily newspapers or radio... his family has been prevented from visiting him... Dr. Dwaik is also not receiving suitable medical care... Two of the longest-serving administrative detainees released Ma''an News 8/18/2006 Nablus – Ma''an -- Nablus – Ma''an - The Israeli authorities released on Friday two Palestinian prisoners who were held in administrative detention for over five years. The two men were named as Walid Harb, from Iskaka, a village west of the West Bank city of Salfit, and Majdi Ash Sharuf from the city of Bethlehem. Harb''s family said that "the administration of the Negev prison released Walid after five years of administrative detention in the prison in the Negev". Walid Harb was arrested on 30 July 2001. The Ma''an correspondent reported that Harb has been in administrative detention longer than any other prisoner. He received his MA degree during his detention in the prison and has written several books. He is also a poet with An Najah University in the city of Nablus. Five residents taken prisoner in Hebron International Middle East Media Center 8/17/2006 Israeli army forces invaded Al Arrooub refugee camp and Shiokh Al Arroub village near the West Bank city of Hebron and took five residents prisoners on Thursday. Troops stormed the tow areas, searched several houses and ransacked them before taking Tamer Sarhan, 24, Yasser Banat, 38, Ghassan Al Karnaz, 24, Yousif Warasnah, 35, and Saber Al Warasnah, 46, to unknown locations, local sources reported. [end] House Article 95: Girls and women make their voices heard in Salfit International Womens'' Peace Service 8/15/2006 The spirit of resistance is alive in Salfit, as women and girls from across this West Bank district landed on the doorstep of the International Red Cross offices in the town of Salfit this month to register their protests against occupation and war. On August 1, 2006, three weeks after Israel launched attacks against Lebanon and more than a month after its incursions into the Gaza Strip, over 50 women from across Salfit made their way to the namesake town on a bus organized by Women for Life, a two-year-old grassroots women’s organization based in Biddya. Some had young children with them, and some, from an association of prisoners’ families, carried framed photographs of loved ones imprisoned by the Israelis. Political prisoners in Al Naqab and nonviolent resistance: hunger strike against strip searches Palestine News Network 8/17/2006 Some 2,400 Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli Al Naqab Prison are on hunger strike this week in protest of routinely being stripped naked. The naked body searches are described as humiliating and sometime Israeli prison authorities conduct them against political prisoners’ parents and other family members during visits. This latest act of nonviolent resistance began with 20 Palestinians and quickly became 2,400. With each meal skipped the demonstrators speak out about more infractions, dedicating the breakfast and lunch they refused to eat Wednesday to the escalation in aggressive Israeli practices against them and their families, speaking specifically of their mothers, sisters and wives. Female residents of Qalqilia and Salfit in the West Bank received the most horrific treatment during their visiting day. Israeli forces took 27 Palestinians from Hebron into its interrogation & prison system in August Palestine News Network 8/17/2006 The Israeli raids on the southern West Bank have not subsided for even a day. Pre-dawn is the most horrifying time of each 24 hour period for Hebron District residents. Early Thursday Israeli forces took five Palestinians from the District to unknown locations as reported by officials in the Hebron office of the Palestinian Prisoner Society. Including these five people now somewhere in the Israeli prison system, currently undergoing investigation in unknown locales, the number of Palestinians arrested from Hebron during this month alone has now reached 27. During this morning’s attack, Israeli forces stormed Ash Shuyukh Refugee Camp northeast of Hebron City. Israeli soldiers broke into several homes and conducted invasive raids. PNA employees to receive first payments in nearly six months Ma''an News 8/17/2006 Bethlehem – Ma''an -- Bethlehem – Ma''an- Anonymous sources in the Palestinian government reported that salary advances for the PNA employees and the families of both prisoners and those killed by Israeli forces that are due compensation would be paid a nominal amount in lieu of the full amount. The money will be directly transferred to bank accounts starting from today. The Palestinian Authority has been in financial crisis since international financial assets were frozen following Hamas'' democratic election victory. Government employees have not been paid for almost six months. According to the same source, each employee will receive 1500 NIS (around 350 US dollars). [end] Ghazi Hamad: President and Prime Minister hold productive meeting in Gaza By Wisam Afifeh, Palestine News Network 8/17/2006 President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, of the Fateh and Hamas parties respectively are often expected to be at odds, and they are not, people talk. Current Spokesperson in the Palestinian Government and Hamas member, Ghazi Hamad, was positive regarding the outcome of this week’s two day meeting between President Abbas and Prime Minister Haniya in Gaza City. He said that the debate resulted in initiating a plan to form a national unity government. However Israeli forces must release the government officials, including Palestinian Authority Ministers and Palestinian Legislative Council members. In particular PLC Speaker Dr. Azziz Dweik cannot be in dire health in Israeli prison as he is now. All of this must be addressed before a Palestinian coalition government can move forward. Trial of Dr Aziz Dweik to be delayed until next Tuesday Ma''an News 8/17/2006 Ramallah – Ma''an -- Ramallah – Ma''an- The Israeli military court at Ofer today extended the arrest of the speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council, Dr Aziz Dweik, until next Tuesday. Dr. Dweik described the court decision as "illegitimate" and has refused to acknowledge it. Dr. Dweik is suffering from deteriorating health after receiving unknown medication from prison doctors last week. When he appeared at the court, he looked exhausted, wearing a prisoners'' uniform, while prison guards tried to silence him in front of cameras and journalists. His feet were also shackled. He said, "They untied my hands in front of the press for a while but they left the ties on my feet. ".... Dr. Dweik reported that one of the investigators said to him, "We made a mistake in arresting you, we should have killed you. " Targeting Member of the Female Police Force: PCHR Completes a Training Course on Women''s Rights Palestinian Centre for Human Rights 8/17/2006 On 17 August 2006, PCHR''s Training Unit and Women''s Unit completed a training course on women''s rights. Twenty-one policewomen from Deir El-Balah, Khan Yunis, and Rafah participated in the course, which was held in PCHR''s Khan Yunis branch. The course was held over four day with a total of 16 training hours. It included a number of lectures by professionals from the Centre that covered topics such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, personal statute law, convention against torture, convention on the rights of the child, regulations governing the conduct of law enforcement personnel, and prisoners'' rights. Palestinians discuss unity government AlJazeera 8/16/2006 The ruling Hamas party and Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, have agreed to start negotiations on forming a coalition government. "We are on our way to reaching solutions. One of them provides for the creation of national unity government based on the ''national accord'' document," Abbas said after meeting Ismail Haniya, the Palestinian prime minister. Haniya voiced his hope that the talks would be successful. He said the talks would be conducted "on the basis of the prisoners document with the aim of strengthening national unity, lifting the siege on our people and obtaining the release of the ministers and lawmakers" detained by Israel.... The document implies recognition of the state of Israel, calls for an end to attacks against Israel and the creation of a Palestinian national unity government. 2400 prisoners in hunger strike in Negev prison Ma''an News 8/16/2006 Ramallah -- Ramallah - Ma''an – Over 2400 Palestinian prisoners at the Negev desert prison have, on Tuesday morning, started a hunger strike to protest the new policy of "naked inspection" of both prisoners and visitors which the Israeli prisons'' authority has started to follow. The prisoners have told the Prisoners Media Center that all prisoners started to refuse to take meals as a protest against the prison police searching visiting family members, including females, naked. These searches took place during the last visit of families from the Qalqilia, Salfit and Bethlehem areas. Detainees reported that a sister of a detainee from Qalqilia refused to undress, and so was prohibited from visiting her brother. The same thing happened to both Wiliam Jalal from Salfit, and Khalid ''Asakra from Bethlehem. Israeli forces arrest 5 Palestinians from Hebron City and southern Yatta Village Palestine News Network 8/16/2006 Israeli forces took five Palestinians at dawn Wednesday from Hebron City and the town of Yatta in the southern District to unknown locations. The Israeli invasion was wide-scale after yesterday’s in which Israeli forces took another several, including brothers, into its interrogation rooms and prison system. Israeli forces have been attacking this southern West Bank district on a regular basis, confiscating land, breaking into homes, and arresting its population. They even a arrested a female doctor yesterday. Wednesday’s raids came pre-dawn as they normally do. The Palestinian security joint operations room reported that the Israeli military launched searches within minutes of one another throughout Yatta and the Hebron City. Prisoners'' Supporters ask Nasrallah to stick to detainee position Ma''an News 8/16/2006 Gaza -- The Prisoner''s Support Society has, on Wednesday, asked the secretary general of Hezbollah to stick to his position about the release of Arab and Palestinian prisoners. In a statement that reached Ma''an, the organization called on all the national formal Arab institutions to support that position and protect the prisoners'' right to freedom. Nasrallah has stressed the importance of a united Palestinian – Lebanese stance, which will support the resistance efforts to free all prisoners from Israeli jails. The great experiment of the Lebanese resistance, according to the Prisoners'' Supporters, was a victory for the Palestinian resistance; enough to assure freedom for the Palestinian and the Lebanese prisoners. [end] New Egyptian plan to mediate Palestinian political prisoner exchange for captured Israeli soldier Palestine News Network 8/16/2006 Sources close to the Hamas linked resistance movement said Wednesday that Egyptian mediators will be involved in procuring the release of 600 Palestinian political prisoners from Israeli jails, including women and children. The exchange will be for the Israeli soldier who the Hamas resistance wing Al Qassam Brigades captured earlier this summer while he was invading the southern Gaza Strip Rafah District. Under the terms of the Egyptian agreement Israel will later release another group of Palestinian political prisoners, but this is yet to be seen as the Israelis are notorious for reneging on their end of deals struck with the occupied. A leader in the resistance movement pointed out that Israel, despite its failure to accept the terms of the resistance until this point, have begun to accept the principle of a prisoner exchange... Israeli forces invade Nablus area refugee camps, bulldoze a shop & family home after arresting six Palestine News Network 8/15/2006 Israeli forces invaded eastern Nablus City’s Askar Refugee Camp early Tuesday. Israeli soldiers incurred without discovery and surrounded several homes. Eyewitness reports indicate that at least 20 military vehicles followed the soldiers just moments later. Israeli forces took three brothers from the Nadi family to unknown locations, adding to the approximate 10,000 Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli jails. A member of the administrative services of Askar Refugee Camp told PNN Tuesday afternoon that Israeli forces left the Nadi family home in rubble, with five brothers and many children homeless. Israeli soldiers also took the young Murad Abu Sir to an unknown location. All are residents of Askar Refugee Camp. Eyewitnesses report that Israeli bulldozers razed the Abu Se''da shop and the Nadi family home... Hamas demands prisoners for Shalit Jerusalem Post 8/15/2006 Kidnapped IDF soldier Cpl. Gilad Shalit, who is being held in the Gaza Strip, will be released only if Israel agrees to free thousands of Palestinian prisoners, a senior Hamas official announced on Tuesday. The announcement came as Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas held a closed meeting in Gaza City with PA Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh and urged him to release Shalit immediately. The two also discussed the possibility of establishing a national unity government. Abbas, who arrived in the Gaza Strip on Monday, called on Hamas to release Shalit in return for promises that Israel would free Palestinian prisoners in the future. Abbas suggested that the soldier be handed over to the Egypt, which has been acting as a mediator ever since Shalit was kidnapped by Hamas last June. Egypt: Gilad Shalit for 600 prisoners YNet News 8/15/2006 Mediators present Hamas with new proposal calling for Hamas transfer of Shalit to Egypt in return for 600 Palestinian prisoners. Concurrently, PA hopes end of conflict in Lebanon will bring about end of sanctions on PA -- Egyptian mediators have presented Hamas and other groups with a new proposal aimed at ending a six-week-old standoff over an Israeli soldier seized near the Gaza strip, Hamas officials said on Tuesday. A source close to the negotiations said the proposal called for Hamas to transfer Corporal Gilad Shalit to Egyptian authorities in return for Israel''s release of up to 600 Palestinian prisoners, including women and minors. Another group of Palestinian prisoners, including many who have served longer sentences, would be freed by Israel at a later date. Child injured in Rafah, two brothers taken prisoners east of the city International Middle East Media Center 8/15/2006 The Palestinian News Agency, WAFA, reported on Monday at night that one child was injured after the Israeli tanks stationed near Arafat International Airport shelled several houses in Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. Two brothers were taken prisoners in a separate attack in the town. A medical source at Abu Yousef Al Najjar Hospital in Rafah reported that the child, Abdul-Hamid Es''efan, 14, was hit by several rounds of live ammunition in his right leg; his injury was described as moderate. Eyewitnesses reported that tanks stationed around Arafat International Airport fired at dozens of houses east of Rafah. In a separate attack also on Monday at night, soldiers took two brothers prisoners after invading Al Shouka area, in Rafah, and breaking into several houses. Israeli intelligence may be planning Gaza incursion to retrieve captured soldier Palestine News Network 8/14/2006 After fierce Israeli aggression against Lebanon and a win in the United Nations, Israeli forces are reported to be planning their next victory. This time the target is one of their own; the Israeli soldier captured while he was invading the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah. An Al Qassam Brigades armed resistance leader in Khan Younis said Monday this is the likely scenario and that the Hamas resistance movement will move the soldier and fight back if need be. The predominant thought is that Israeli forces will take advantage of the moment, believing that with talks under way to obtain his release through a prisoner exchange for Palestinian women and children in Israeli jails, Israeli intelligence has something else in mind. Israelis release another Palestinian Cabinet minister The Daily Star 8/15/2006 Israel released Palestinian Cabinet Minister Mohammad al-Barghouti on Monday after detaining him for about six weeks, the minister said. Barghouti was arrested along with dozens of Palestinian officials, ministers and lawmakers following a June 25 cross-border raid by Hamas and other militant groups in which an Israeli soldier was abducted. "They did not find anything against me. This is a political arrest. All [other] ministers and lawmakers should be released too," Barghouti told Reuters by telephone after he was set free from an Israeli prison in Jerusalem. One of his lawyers, Ahmed Safeyyeh, told Reuters that Barghouti was not charged and that Israel did not have the right to try him because he was a minister. Barghouti said he did not belong to Hamas but that he was close to the group. Two residents taken prisoners from a town near Hebron International Middle East Media Center 8/14/2006 Troops took two residents prisoners during a predawn invasion to the town of Halhoul, near the West Bank city of Hebron on Monday. The arrestees were identified as Sameh Al Atrash, 23 and Ali Al Baba, 18, both were taken when troops searched several houses; they were taken to an unknown location. [end] Army takes two prisoners from Kofer Ra''ee and invades Al Yamon International Middle East Media Center 8/14/2006 Israeli forces took two prisoners on Monday morning from the village of Kafer Ra''y, and invaded the nearby village of Al Yamoun, west Jenin, in the northern part of the West Bank. The prisoners were identified as Othman Melhem, 18 and Mohamed Melehm, 18, both were taken to unknown locations after troops searched their houses and ransacked them, eyewitnesses reported. Also, local sources reported that troops invaded AL Yamoun village and searched dozens of houses. Soldiers fire tear gas and concussion grenades at the houses, no injuries were reported. [end] Iran''s Holocaust cartoon exhibition AlJazeera 8/15/2006 An international contest of cartoons on the Holocaust has opened in Tehran in response to the publication of caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad in a Danish newspaper last September. The exhibition, launched on Monday, shows 204 entries from Iran and abroad. Masoud Shojai, head of the country''s "Iran Cartoon" association and the fair organiser, said that "we staged this fair to explore the limits of freedom Westerners believe in". He said: "They can freely write anything they like about our prophet, but if one raises doubts about the Holocaust he is either fined or sent to prison. "At the opening ceremony of the month-long fair in Tehran''s Palestine contemporary art museum, Shojai said: "Though we do not deny that fact that Jews were killed in the [second world] war, why should the Palestinians pay for it? " Fatah-Hamas joint "popular festival" in Gaza to bring National Accord Document to the people Ma''an News 8/11/2006 Khan Younis -- Officials and members of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) from both the Fatah and Hamas Movements in the Khan Younis governorate in the southern Gaza Strip, called on Thursday for a "popular festival" to be held during which they would clarify the National Accord Document, also called the Prisoners'' Document. This accord was aimed at ending the in-fighting and resentment amongst the supporters of the two Palestinian political movements by way of encouraging national reconciliation. During a meeting held in Khan Younis to follow up the previous meetings held between Fatah and Hamas leaders, the officials confirmed that such meetings would continue in order to wrap up the unfortunate events witnessed in the governorate recently. Israeli troops arrest Fadi Abu Tal''at in Jericho Ma''an News 8/11/2006 Jericho – Early on Friday morning, Israeli forces arrested Fadi Abu Tal''at after they besieged his house in the city of Jericho. 13 Israeli military vehicles invaded the Aqabat Jaber refugee camp in the city of Jericho early on Friday morning, and surrounded Fadi Abu Tal''at''s family home. Using loudhailers, troops demanded he surrender himself. After seizing him, the troops withdrew without any resistance. Fadi, 27, is a father of 3 children, a previous detainee and works at the Jawwal telephone company. [end] Ukrainian female detainee sentenced by Israeli court to twenty years International Middle East Media Center 8/12/2006 An Israeli military court sentenced a Ukrainian female detainee to twenty consecutive years after charging her with transferring a bomber to Israel. Her Palestinian husband, is currently imprisoned by Israel after he was sentenced to 6 consecutive life terms on the same charges. The Ofer Israeli military court decided on Thursday that Erena Sarahna, 27, transferred a suicide bomber to tel Aviv. Sarahna was arrested three years ago while her two daughters are living separately in Palestine and Russia. The youngest daughter, Ghazala, 6 years old, is living with her Palestinian grandparents in Duheisha refugee camp, in Bethlehem, while her other daughter Yasmin is living with her Ukrainian grandparents. Palestinian youth stabs guard in Hasharon prison YNet News 8/11/2006 Palestinian prisoner in juvenile wing of Hasharon prisoner stabs guard in the back with 15 cm knife -- Friday morning, a prison guard was moderately injured after being stabbed in the back by a prisoner from wing 8 in the Hasharon prison – the wing housing underage Palestinian prisoners. The incident took place when the guard visited the prison wing to perform a routine a prisoner count. Upon entering one of the cells, a seventeen year old youth, originally jailed for throwing Molotov cocktails, attacked him, wielding a makeshift knife 15 cm in length. The youth managed to stab the guard twice in the back, before being restrained by another prison guard. MDA paramedics were called immediately. They transferred the officer to the Meir hospital in Kfar Saba, upon identifying that he had sustained moderate injuries. Palestinian teenager stabs Israeli prison guard as guards begin attacking political prisoners Palestine News Network 8/11/2006 At noon Friday 100 Israeli soldiers stormed the Palestinian prisoner cells of Hadarim Prison, as reported by human rights sources. The soldiers fired tear gas throughout the Palestinian sections, with special attention paid Section 8. Several prisoners fainted due to gas inhalation, while all scheduled visits were cancelled. The day was described as “lonely” because Friday is a major day for families. Israeli prison administrators forced all waiting visitors to leave. At the same time inside the prison Israeli guards took some 10 political prisoners to solitary confinement and confiscated all televisions, radios, and the personal affects of others. Trained military dogs also searched the cells while the Palestinians were forced to wait outside in the heat of midday. The situation was described as, “difficult and tense. ” PLC member for Salfit being held in solitary detention in Megiddo prison Ma''an News 8/11/2006 Bethlehem – The detained Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) member, Dr. Nasser Abdul Jawwad, has been held in solitary isolation for over one week, Ma''an has learnt. Dr. Jawwad, the PLC member for the West Bank governorate of Salfit, is currently being held in the Israeli prison of Megiddo. Palestinian sources close to the politician reported that news leaked from the prison said that Dr. Jawwad, and the other PLC members being held captive there, are enduring "catastrophic conditions". It is reported that the PLC members are being denied visits or consultations with lawyers. Dr. Jawwad has been held in solitary detention since Wednesday 2 August 2006 when he protested against the prison administration for their repressive and aggravating practices used against the prisoners. [end] In an army operation in Ramallah: two residents injured three taken prisoner International Middle East Media Center 8/10/2006 Two Palestinian residents were injured and three were taken prisoners in an Israeli military operation in the West Bank city of Rammallah which started Thursday morning and lasted until the afternoon hours. According to Maan news agency, the three prisoners are members ofAl Aqsa martyrs brigades, the armed wing of Fatah. Local sources said clashes took place between the activists and Israeli troops who surrounded them in the Al Murjan building in the Am Asharayit area in the city. The building is located near the headquarters of the Palestinian intelligence. Mahmod Jabarein sustained a hand injury during clashes between Israeli soldiers and local youth. He was rushed to the city''s public hospital for treatment, medical sources reported, the other one injured remains unknown. Army takes four prisoners from Tulkarem International Middle East Media Center 8/10/2006 The Israeli army took four residents prisoner from the West Bank city of Tulkarem and neighboring villages during a morning invasion Thursday. In Kofer Zeid, troops stormed the residents houses, searched and then ransacked them. Ahmad Ghaniem, 35 and his brother Maher, 30, both working for the Palestinian Authority security forces, were arrested, local residents reported. Meanwhile, troops stationed at Beit Iba military checkpoint at the entrance to Tulkarem took Montaha Boshnak, 21, and Hia Mazen, 20, prisoner while trying to cross the checkpoint to go to their university in the West Bank city of Nablus. [end] Army invades Jenin and the nearby Al Yamon village International Middle East Media Center 8/10/2006 The Israeli army invaded the west Bank city of Jenin its refugee camp and the nearby village of Al Yamon, early Thursday morning. Army jeeps and bulldozers stormed the area, soldiers fired tear gas and live rounds randomly at residents houses, then searched several homes and farm lands. The army took no prisoners, eyewitnesses reported. [end] Report: 2,650 Palestinian political prisoners in 5 Israeli jails in missile range as human shields Palestine News Network 8/10/2006 A Palestinian human rights document issued Thursday indicates that many Palestinian political prisoners are now at greater risk than just being captive in Israeli jails inside Israeli borders. The Israeli prison administration has transferred several Palestinians from the central prisons in the lower regions into jails within the line of Hezbollah fire as Israeli forces continue to wage war on Lebanon. The prisons and detention centers are in the northern Israeli region and inside the West Bank’s furthest reaches of Jenin in Jelameh Prison. This is extremely dangerous for Palestinians, according to the Foundation of International Solidarity for Human Rights report. Several prisoner families are pushing for an investigation as to why their loved-ones are being used as “human shields” for the Israelis who imprison them. Israeli Army: Palestinian Speaker, Held by Israel, Transferred to Hospital with Chest Pains An Nahar 8/8/2006 The Palestinian parliament speaker, held by Israel, has been transferred from a military prison camp to a Jerusalem hospital after complaining of chest pains, the army said Tuesday. Speaker Abdel Aziz Duaik, a leading Hamas official, was arrested by Israeli forces over the weekend, and is being held at the Ofer prison camp near the West Bank town of Ramallah. On Monday evening, he complained of dizziness and chest pains and was taken to Jerusalem''s Shaarei Zedek Hospital for a checkup, the army said. A diagnosis was not immediately available. As part of its six-week offensive against Palestinian militants in Gaza, Israel has rounded up several senior members of the Hamas government, which came to power in March. (AP) [end] PLC Speaker Moved From Hospital to Kafr Youna Jail International Press Center 8/9/2006 GAZA, Palestine, August 9, 2006 (IPC+RAMTTAN) - -Reliable source at the office of PLC speaker in Rammallah said that Dr. Aziz Dweik , PLC speaker, was evacuated Tuesday night from Tshari Tesedeq hospital in Jerusalem to Kfar Youna prison inside the Green Line under very severe security measures. The source told Ramattan News Agency that PLC speaker''s legal advisor Advocate Essam Abdeen who was disallowed to visit Dweik, met him while he was moving from the Israeli hospital to the prison, he was allowed to speak with him briefly and quickly. Abdeen said that Dwiek, who was handcuffed and shackled, was pale and very exhausted and put under strict security measures. Army takes four prisoners from Balata refugee camp International Middle East Media Center 8/9/2006 Israeli army troops took four prisoners from Balata refugee camp in the West Bank city of Nablus Wednesday at dawn. The four arrested are brothers from the Abu Ayyash family and were arrested after troops stormed their house, destroyed their family belongings, fired heavy machine guns inside the house and then took the four brothers to unknown locations. According to neighbors, soldiers surrounded the house and fired gas bombs and tear gas around the exterior of the house before storming it. Nawwaf Abu Ayyash, the owner of the house, described the attack as “barbaric” and added, “soldiers left the house with massive destruction to the house and family belongings. ”The four prisoners were identified as Hani, 35, Mohammad, 28, Hussein, 21 and Jihad, 17. None of them belong to any resistance group the family reported. [end] Fateh political party calls on Israelis to stop arresting Palestinian women and girls Palestine News Network 8/9/2006 The Information of Office of the Fateh Movement is calling for public attention to Israel’s policy of arresting women and girls intended to pressure other Palestinian political prisoners. Wednesday’s call comes in the wake of Israeli forces arresting 32 year old Roidah Taher during the middle of the night in the northern West Bank city of Nablus. Her husband is Samer Taher, a member of Fateh and a political prisoner in Israeli jail. Last month Israeli forces arrested two young women from Nablus, one from Balata Refugee Camp in eastern Nablus City, and the other from a nearby village. The first, a mother of six, was interrogated and intimidated for five continuous hours, according to local reports. She was then dumped off in a deserted area in rural Nablus.... Her husband is a political prisoner. 600 Palestinians Taken Prisoner in July Palestine Chronicle 8/8/2006 GAZA - In an official report, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Israeli soldiers took 600 Palestinian residents prisoners since the abduction of the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit from a military post in the southern Gaza Strip last month. The minister added that a total of 10,073 detainees are currently imprisoned in 30 prisons, detention facilities and interrogation centers. Following the capture of Shalit on June 25, Israeli soldiers carried out wide scale invasions in the West Bank and Jerusalem, taking a total of 600 Palestinians as prisoners. Among the arrestees are 27 elected legislators with the Palestinian Legislative Council, and 7 Hamas cabinet ministers, the ministry reported. Also, the ministry added that 31 members of the Palestinian police and security force are among the arrestees. Army takes one prisoner from Bir Al Bash village near Jenin International Middle East Media Center 8/8/2006 Israeli army troops took, Sami Ghawadra, 20, prisoner during an invasion to Bir Al Bash village near the West Bank city of Jenin on Tuesday. Soldiers searched several houses and farmslands before arresting Ghawadra and taking him to an unknown destination, local sources reported. Also, troops searched farmlands located between the village and the nearby village of Ya''bod and several surrounding villages, and installed a military roadblock at the entrance of Ya''bod. [end] Army takes one prisoner from Qarowwit Beni Hasan village International Middle East Media Center 8/8/2006 The Israeli army took one prisoner during an invasion of Qarowwit Beni Hasan village near Sulfit city in the West Bank late Monday night. The prisoner was identified as Aziz Marai, the General Secretary of Qarowwit Beni Hasan Charitable Educational Society. The organization provides educational and charitable services to the village and has no political activities. Most of the beneficiaries are orphans. [end] Palestinian government speaker not charged following kidnap Ma''an News 8/8/2006 Nablus -- Ma''an-The Palestinian Minister of Prisoners'' Affairs, Wasfi Qabaha, said on Tuesday that speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council, Dr Abdul Aziz Adwaik''s health has improved. Dr. Adwaik was kidnapped by Israeli forces earlier this week. Qabahs spoke to the Prisoners'' Media Centre on Tuesday and was quoting the Ministry''s lawyer, Shirin Al Isawi, who visited Dr Dwaik at the Sha''are Tsedik hospital. Al Isawi said that Dr. Adwaik''s health is much better. The Minister confirmed that Dr. Adwaik did not have a stroke as was earlier thought, but that he was maltreated by the Israeli forces. This abuse led to him being admitted to hospital for treatment. Dr. Adwaik told his lawyer that he has not been charged with any crime even though he has been arrested by the Israeli forces. [end] Israel, North, direct action against the war in Lebanon A-Infos 8/8/2006 Antiauthoritarian anticapitalist direct action initiative made its point to day. It was mentioned by the main radio news channel, it was also in electronic media. Pictures from Direct action against the war, Ramat David Israeli Air Forces base,8/8/06, Israel at www. flickr. com/photos/activestills - Hebrew article at and also as translated below [see following link]: PROTEST - Jonathan Polak: "This is a war of choice"... 12 activists of the left were arrested in demonstration in front of the air force base. About 25 activists stood this morning (Tuesday) in front the Ramat David base carrying placards on which was written: "stop killing of civilians", "stop the war crimes". They called for immediate cease fire and releasing all the prisoners and war prisoners. They were confronted by police and 12 were arrested. The cease-fire / Siniora insists on simultaneity Ha''aretz 8/8/2006 The French-American draft Security Council resolution is stuck between the total rejection of Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Beri, and the "disappointment" of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.... Siniora is opposed to the two-stage proposal in the draft resolution mainly because he is concerned that in the period between the first stage, "cessation of major hostilities," and the second phase, full cease-fire, the situation will deteriorate further.... He would like to concentrate his efforts on passing two articles that could deny Hezbollah excuses to continue fighting. In addition to the principle of simultaneity, Siniora chooses to push the Shaba Farms issue, skipping over the problem of the prisoners... and demanding that the Shaba Farms be brought under international control as a first stage before transferring it to Lebanese control. PLC Member taken prisoner from Ramallah International Middle East Media Center 8/7/2006 Fadil Hamdan, Hamas Legislator in the Palestinian Legislative Council, was taken prisoner by the Israeli army from the West Bank city of Ramallah, late Sunday night. Soldiers surrounded Hamdan''s home for several hours before storming the house, ransacking it, and then taking him to unknown locations. Earlier on Sunday, the Israel army took Dr. Aziz Dweik, Chairman of the Palestinian Legislative Council, as a prisoner from his house in Ramallah. [end] Jenin Mayor in dire health in Israeli jail, family asks for help to bring his medication Palestine News Network 8/7/2006 An urgent appeal was issued Monday for the release of Jenin’s Mayor from Israeli prison where he is held without charge. His health situation is rapidly deteriorating. The appeal, penned by local humanitarian organizations, is intended to garner international intervention in the case. They hope that someone other than themselves can successfully pressure the Israeli government to release the ailing Mayor. Dr. Hatem Jerrad is not the only Palestinian official to be languishing in Israeli prison, and not the only ailing Palestinian political prisoner. However his case represents that of many. Israeli prison authorities notoriously do not provide adequate health care for Palestinians, the common “cure-all” for heart disease to cancer being a single Acamol tablet, a pill similar to Tylenol. 6 Palestinians Killed and 3 Injured by Gunmen in an Attack on Jericho Central Prison Palestinian Centre for Human Rights 8/6/2006 PCHR is Concerned Over the Repeated Attacks on Prisons, and Calls for Investigating these Attacks -- PCHR strongly condemns the gruesome crime committed by gunmen inside Jericho Central Prison on the evening of Friday, 4 August 2006. The crime resulted in the death of 6 inmates, two of them by mistake, and the injury of 3 others. PCHR also condemns the failure of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and law-enforcement bodies to fulfill their duty to protect prisoners. The Centre views this crime as an indicator that many insist on maintaining a state of security chaos, undermining the rule of law, and practicing vigilante justice. PCHR''s preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 15:30 on Friday, 4 August 2006, six Palestinian gunmen disguised in police uniforms... Israeli forces raid Hebron and take five Palestinians to unknown locations Palestine News Network 8/7/2006 Israeli forces arrested five Palestinians from Hebron Monday. The raid began in the northeast and including breaking into several homes. The Palestinian Security Joint Operations office gave a detail that among the arrested was a Palestinian official, 31 year old Abdel Nasser Mir’i. Official sources in the Hebron office of the Palestinian Prisoner Society reported that Israeli soldiers also took 23 year old Sharif Saleh Mahfouz from his home on Salam Street in the southern West Bank city. In the southern neighborhood of the city Israeli forces took three more Palestinians to unknown locations. Their identities have not been released. Reports of the break-ins include extremely violent behavior on the part of Israeli soldiers, including tearing apart homes and injuring two Palestinians, including infants and a young boy. [end] Palestinian ministry of prisoner''s affairs meets with UNRWA Ma''an News 8/7/2006 Gaza --A delegation from the Palestinian ministry of prisoners’ affairs discussed with the manager of the UNRWA in Gaza, John King, means to help the refugees in the Gaza Strip. Dr Husam Ahmad, the general manager of coordination in the ministry applauded the efforts of the UNRWA in supporting the refugees and easing their suffering. He also said that the Palestinian people are victims of Israeli atrocities and the UN remains the witness of those atrocities, and has great responsibilities towards those victims. [end] Armed Palestinians kill 6 inmates at Jericho prison in West Bank Ha''aretz 8/5/2006 Five Palestinian gunmen dressed in military uniforms broke into a prison Friday in the West Bank city of Jericho and shot six inmates dead, security sources said. The assailants were armed with handguns equipped with silencers. The Israel Defense Forces acquiesced to the Palestinians'' request to seal entrance and exit routes to the city. Four of the six inmates were arrested by Palestinian intelligence services on suspicion of involvement in the killing of Haj Ali Farj, a well-known Fatah official from the village of Kfar Kablan, a year and a half ago. The other two inmates in the same cell may have been caught in the crossfire, as they were not believed to be linked to the Farj murder. On exiting the prison grounds, the armed Palestinians exchanged gunfire with prison guards. [end] Three soldiers killed in south Lebanon clashes Ha''aretz 8/4/2006 IDF says captured Hezbollah prisoners of war -- An Israel Defense Forces officer and two soldiers were killed and six others hurt in fighting with Hezbollah guerrillas Friday as Israel continued its ground forces campaign in South Lebanon. The officer and two soldiers were killed in fierce gunbattles in the village of Markaba. Golani Brigade infantrymen were marching near the village when an anti-tank missile was launched at the force. Since the outbreak of hostilities, 44 IDF soldiers have been killed. Two other soldiers were wounded, one seriously and the other lightly.... Northern Command Brigadier General Shuki Shihrur said Friday that IDF soldiers operating in Lebanon had taken into captivity at least six Hezbollah gunmen in addition to the two men seized on Thursday. 6 Palestinians killed in Jericho prison YNet News 8/4/2006 Gunmen disguised as police officers infiltrate prison, assassinate prisoners suspected of collaborating with Israel -- Security sources in the West Bank said that Palestinian gunmen dressed in police uniforms on Friday broke into a prison in the West Bank city of Jericho and shot dead six Palestinian inmates. Ynet has learned that the gunmen were looking to avenge the death of two activists, residents of Nablus, who were assassinated by the IDF a few years ago. Some of those incarcerated in the prison are suspected of cooperating with Israel in the assassinations, while other prisoners are suspected of attacking the gunmen’s family members in response to the execution of collaborators’ relatives. Israeli forces arrest four Palestinians in Hebron and surrounding towns Palestine News Network 8/3/2006 Israeli forces arrested four Palestinians during an early morning raid in the Hebron province Thursday. Officials sources from the Office of the Palestinian Prisoners Society in Hebron told PNN that two young men had been arrested from Hebron, and another two from the neighboring towns of Yatta and Beit Khael. Following a raid of their homes in Hebron’s old city, Israeli forces arrested 19 year old Omran Al Inwitasib and 19 year old Mohammed Saqer Abido. The sources added that Israeli forces conducted similar raids in the towns of Yatta and Beit Khael, detaining 30 year old Usama Abdullah and 22 year old Mohammed Abdullah. [end] Palestinian prisoners participate in hunger strike at Jalameh Prison Palestine News Network 8/4/2006 In a statement released yesterday, the Palestinian Prisoners Society said that more than 30 Palestinian political prisoners in Jalameh Prison are carrying out a hunger strike in protest against harsh prison conditions. The organization said that the prisoners are being subjected to cruel treatment, which includes depriving prisoners of their right to see lawyers and family members. Officials report that prison authorities also use sleep depravation as a tool in “questioning” the prisoners. In addition, sources from the Prisoners Society tell PNN that more than 20 detainees have been unable to shower for three weeks and have not been given a change of clothes. Hamas: Israel theoretically agrees to prisoner exchange YNet News 8/4/2006 According to Khaled Mashaal''s deputy, Israel and Egypt are talking about possible prisoner exchange, in order to secure return of Gilad Shalit. ''Only need to determine names and numbers'' -- Muhammad Nazal, Hamas media consultant and a member of its political bureau, said that there has been contact between Israel and Egypt regarding the possibility of securing the return of kidnapped IDF soldier, Gilad Shalit , through a prisoner exchange. The factions that kidnapped the soldier are demanding the release of some thousand Palestinian prisoners, but the final number and the specific identity of those released still needs to be determined, stated Lebanese newspaper al-Nahar, Friday morning, reporting on an interview with Nazal. Attacks on Ambulances and EMTs During the Invasion of the West Bank, March 29 – May 10, 2002 (PDF) Palestine Red Crescent Society 6/1/2002 There was a complete shutdown of emergency medical services provided to the majority of the population in the West Bank. [From Table 4, pg 10:] Emergency Medical Technicans (EMT’s) and Rescue Workers under Fire During Invasion (March 29 2002 to May 10, 2002) -- Total Attacks on Ambulances: 12 / Total Attacks on EMTs: 39 / EMTs Killed: 0 / EMTs Injured: 39, 37 beaten, tortured and used as human shields / EMTs Detained: 52 Of the 52 EMTs detained; 37 EMTs were beaten, 9 were tortured; 6 were used as human shields; 5 required hospitalization. A few were subject to death threats or mock executions. PCHR Concludes the First in a Series of Training Courses on Women’s Rights Palestinian Centre for Human Rights 8/3/2006 On Thursday, 3 August 2006, PCHR has concluded the first in a series of training courses on women’s rights and gender, in the context of a project directed to serve women. The course is also the first of training courses organized by PCHR for the female police this year. The 16-hour course has been held at PCHR’s office in Gaza City in the period 31 July – 3 August 2006. Eighteen members of the female police in Gaza have participated in the course. The course has included training sessions on women’s rights, human rights in the administration of justiceand the rights of prisoners, as prescribed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women; Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women... PM: IDF stays until international force in place Jerusalem Post 8/3/2006 Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told The Associated Press on Wednesday that Israel''s three-week-old offensive in Lebanon will stop only once a robust international peacekeeping force is in place in southern Lebanon. In an interview in his Jerusalem office, Olmert also said the release of two Israeli soldiers captured by Hizbullah must be unconditional - signaling Israel does not favor a prisoner swap. The 60-year-old prime minister also predicted that the outcome of the Lebanon fighting would create "new momentum" for Israel''s plan to separate from the Palestinians by withdrawing from much of the West Bank. He had harsh words for Syrian leaders, calling them "reckless," "immature," and promoters of terror. Egypt-Hamas negotiations resume over Shalit release; Shaath says deal is close Jerusalem Post 8/2/2006 Egypt has resumed its efforts to persuade the Palestinians to release kidnapped IDF soldier Cpl. Gilad Shalit, who is being held in the Gaza Strip, amid unconfirmed reports that Israel has agreed to release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Meanwhile, Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip continued to express their full support for Hizbullah and its secretary-general, Hassan Nasrallah. In Ramallah, one of the main streets has been named after the Lebanese town of Bint Jbail in honor of the Hizbullah gunmen who managed to kill eight IDF soldiers last week. Video tapes and discs containing Hizbullah literature and footage have flooded the markets of several Palestinian cities. A new song hailing Nasrallah as the "Hawk of Lebanon" and "Master of the Resistance" has become one of the most consumed products... Israel claims to have carried off Hizbullah fighters'' bodies The Daily Star 8/3/2006 BEIRUT: The Israeli Army has announced in the last week that it collected the bodies of several Hizbullah fighters killed in South Lebanon, a claim denied by Hizbullah officials. Media reports circulated with photos of Israeli troops carrying body bags of what they claimed were bodies of Hizbullah fighters killed in combat in Bint Jbeil and Maroun al-Ras after Israel''s invasion of those areas. "We are currently occupied with collecting evidence, bodies of Hizbullah terrorists, and various testimonies, while preparing for the next stage," Lieutenant Colonel Itzik Ronen of the Armored Corps'' Division 7 said in the Israeli newspaper Yediot Ahronot earlier this week. IDF sources said they are storing the bodies of six dead Hizbullah fighters in refrigerated containers for use in a possible prisoner swap. Israeli forces continue arrest campaign in Hebron Palestine News Network 8/2/2006 Israeli forces invaded the southern West Bank town of Hebron today in their latest operation to detain Palestinians from the Israeli “wanted” list. Officials sources from the office of the Palestinians Prisoners Society in Hebron told PNN that the Israeli forces invaded the town, stormed several houses, and arrested two young men. Within a matter of minutes, several Hebron homes were ransacked for no clear reason. Israeli forces then took 18 year old Anas Al Merkheh and 22 year old Ahmed Al Awawdeh to an unknown location. Palestinian security sources are reporting that a total of 15 Palestinians were arrested in Hebron and Ramallah Wednesday. Israeli motive for the arrests appears to be party involvement and political affiliation... Palestinians living in exile urge leaders for a comprehensive prisoner exchange Palestine News Network 8/2/2006 Palestinians living in exile have united to urge Palestinian and Lebanese leaders to resolve the current conflict in the region. The Palestinian citizens sent letters to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, stressing the need to push not only for an exchange of prisoners, but also for a return of Palestinians in exile. The family of Abdullah Daoud, a Palestinian living in exile, told PNN that their loved one is currently living in Mauritania after having been rejected entry to numerous other countries. The family members said that they are appealing to the Palestinian and Lebanese leaders to allow for the return of their son to his homeland of Palestine. While the Middle East burns, Palestinian prisoners celebrate Ma''an News 8/2/2006 Bethlehem --"Despite the fact that the sounds of the roaring artillery didn''t reach inside the Israeli high-security jails where Palestinian prisoners are detained, a state of joy prevails in those prisons whenever Hezbollah fighters shoot their rockets into the depths of Israel. "That was the introduction to the article published in the Israeli paper "Yideoth Aharanoth" by the political analyst Roni Shakid. He added that the events of the last two weeks have become a glimpse of hope in the minds of Palestinian and Lebanese prisoners, whose leaders are preparing lists of those expected to be freed. The initial talks related to the most famous prisoners, Marwan Barghothi and Samir Quintar, the latter of which was visited by his lawyer, Buthayna Duqmaq. Palestine Info: “Palestinian captives in Negev wage hunger strike over Qana massacre” International Solidarity Movement 7/31/2006 Ramallah - Palestinian prisoners in the infamous Israeli Negev prison went on a hunger strike Monday in condemnation of the Israeli massacre in the Lebanese town of Qana as well as the intensified quelling measures the IPA is exercising against them. More than 2,320 Palestinian detainees in that prison heeded calls from their jailed political blocs and returned their meals, adding they were on a hunger strike over the Israeli butchery in the tiny Lebanese village where 60 Lebanese civilians, 37 of them children, sheltering in one of the town’s buildings were buried under rubble at dawn Sunday. Israeli warplanes dropped their heavy bombs and unleashed a number of their missiles at the building; thus, leveling it to the ground. Rescue workers spent a hard time in getting the severed small bodies from under the debris. |
The occupier defines justice By Amira Hass, Ha''aretz 8/23/2006 On Jerusalem''s Jabotinsky Street, opposite the President''s Residence, a medium-sized plaque is fixed on a locked gate, enclosing a broad building and a lovely garden: "This building was the location of the British Mandate Government''s High Military Court, which held the trials of the Hebrew resistance fighters from the Haganah, Etzel and Lehi." The sign bears the emblems of the Jerusalem municipality and the three resistance organizations. It further notes: "The resistance fighters refused to acknowledge the authority of the court to judge them, and asked to be recognized as prisoners of war." The speaker of the Palestinian Authority''s parliament, who was arrested two weeks ago by the Israel Defense Forces, also refused to acknowledge the authority of the Military Court to judge him. Obviously the two latest detainee |