NO REPRIEVE: ISRAELIS CONTINUE TORTURE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETENTION OF PALESTINIANS

November 8, 1996

On November 7, 1996, the Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment ("LAWE) visited Palestinian political prisoners in administrative detention in Megiddo military prison and a detainee under interrogation at Jalemah/Qishon prison. Both of these prisons are located near Afula in northern Israel. Under international law, it is illegal for Israel to detain Palestinians from the occupied territories in prisons located in Israel. Contrary to the international legal requirements, the Israeli security services transferred all Palestinian prisoners to prisons inside Israel after it withdrew from the six Palestinian cities. There are approximately 300 administrative detainees and 50 Palestinains under interrogation by the Israeli security services.

Continued Use of Torture by Israeli Security Services:

In the morning of November 7, LAWE's attorney Allegra Pacheco visited Azam Aarda 22 years old from Araba, Jenin under interrogation for three weeks in Jalemah/Qishon prison. Azam was arrested at 1:00 am on October 16, 1996 and taken to interrogation. Azam reported that during the last three weeks, the Israeli security services (the "Shabak") tortured him and put him in contorted and painful sitting positions for continuous periods of five days denying him sleep. While his head remained covered with a thick sack, Azam was handcuffed for days to a small chair slanted in the front making it very difficult to sit. Each time Azam fell asleep the interrogators hit him to prevent him from sleeping. The Shabak interrogators also beat Azam occasionally and shouted insults to him. Aarda remains in interrogation in Jalemah/Qishon prison.

Administrative Detention Continues:

The administrative detainees in Megiddo prison informed Advocate Pacheco that the situation there is very tense. The Israeli authorities are extending many of the detentions and releasing few. The detainees have been protesting the continued extensions - by demonstrating at the gate of the prison with signs each time another extension is issued. At these demonstrations, the detainees shout slogans like "End the extensions" "Stop Administrative Detention" and hold signs stating the same.

It is clear that these demonstrations have pressured the prison administration. A few days ago the prison administration announced that it will scatter all the prisoners and detainees among various non-military Israseli prisons. The prison officials told the detainees that it will start with the administrative detainees since they are causing the most trouble. When the prison administration came to take the first detainee to transfer him to Ashkalon prison, the detainees protested and refused to let the administration enter their section The leaders of the detainees then met with the prison administration who stated that if the detainees stopped demonstrating, then they would reconsider the transfer. The situation remains at a standstill; but it seems unlikely at the moment that the detainees will be transferred.

The detainees also have been carrying out one day hunger strikes and other passive protests. They are considering a full hunger strike if the extensions continue and they are not released. Under Annex VII2(c) the Oslo Agreement, the Israelis committed to release all detainees accused or charge for offenses not involving fatality or serious injury. Since the administrative detainees have not been charged or tried, but are being held for their political views, they should have been released when the peace agreements were signed. Instead, since the signing of Oslo 2, the Israelis added over 200 Palestinian political to administrative detention tripling the number of detainees before the signing of the agreement.

LAWE considers the continued detention of these Palestinians without charges or trial a violation of all basic principles of democratic society and international law. In addition, the detention of these Palestinians because of their political views on the Oslo Agreement (views held by most Palestinians today) contravenes all standards of free and open society and should be stopped immediately.

LAWE calls on the international and Palestinian communities to: (i) protest the continued use of administrative detention and torture against Palestinians and (ii) and request the Israeli government to refrain from these practices as a demonstration of its commitment and good will to the Palestinian community. Write to: Yitzchak Mordechai, Minister of Defense 972-3-691-6940

LAWE - The Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment is a non-governmental organization, dedicated to preserving human rights through legal advocacy. LAWE is also an affiliate member of the Paris-based International Federation for Human Rights.