27 August 1997

On 25 August, Palestinian administrative detainee Imad Sabi’ negotiated a “release” with the Israeli Security Service (Shabak). Imad Sabi’ agreed to four years of exile in exchange for his release from continued administrative detention (detention without charge or trial). Imad Sabi’s release does not constitute an acquittal, but is rather an alternative punishment to administrative detention. This punishment, like administrative detention, has been imposed without charge or trial. His 400 fellow administrative detainees now at best face the choice between two punishments - continued long term imprisonment without trial or exile for many years.

More than 100 of the 400 Palestinian administrative detainees are serving detentions longer than Imad’s 1 1/2 years of administrative detention. These detainees have little chance of release by the Israeli security service. Like Imad, each has his own story. Take Khalid Deleishe, an engineer in administrative detention for three years whose daughter Majd writes, “Nothing in this world can tempt me anymore, not new clothes, or sweets, or even the fun fair. All that I need is for Daddy to be at my side....When will Daddy come home?” Or Ahmed Qatamish, who has spent four years in administrative detention. He has been prohibited from seeing his wife now for nine months. Or Dirar al-Aza, a worker, who was arrested a month after his mother died and whose father died while he languished in administrative detention. His orphaned sisters refuse to dance at weddings until their brother is released.

The Israeli security apparatus has turned administrative detention from a short-term preventative security measure into a means to imprison indefinitely Palestinians for whom there is not sufficient evidence to convict of a crime. This violation of due process and individual liberties contradicts the most basic protections of the individual in democratic countries. For the past year, LAW along with other Palestinian, Israeli and international human rights organizations has called on the Israeli government to bring to trial all the administrative detainees or release them immediately. This demand has fallen on deaf ears.

With his writings from prison, Imad Sabi’ recently opened international and Israeli consciousness to the plight of the detainees. Recently Israeli army officer Yuval Lotem courageously refused to serve as jailer in the Megiddo military prison in Israel, which houses many of the administrative detainees, stating “there’s no good jailer when the prisoner is jailed without justification.” In addition, four prominent Israeli authors published a statement in the Israeli newspaper condemning administrative detentions.

With the momentum internationally and inside Israel moving towards releasing the administrative detainees, now is the time for the international community to step up its demand on the Israeli government to immediately charge or release the administrative detainees. Write to: Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu (972) (2) 566 4838, Minister of Foreign Affairs David Levy (972) (2) 530 3506, Defense Minister Yitzhak Mordechai (972) (3) 691 6940, Chief Justice Aharon Barak (972) (2)675 9648, and the State Attorney General’s office (972) (2) 6708655. Electronic mail to: Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu: pm@pmo.gov.il, the Office of the Prime Minister: feedback@pmo.gov.il, the Israeli Government Press Office: gpo@pmo.gov.il, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: ask@israel-info.gov.il.

LAW - 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. LAW is also an affiliate member of the Paris-based International Federation for Human Rights.