13 JANUARY, 1997

PRESS RELEASE

B'TSELEM AND LAW TO THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT:

FREE ADMINISTRATIVE DETAINEES NOW!

The Palestinian human rights organization LAW (The Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment) and the Israeli human rights organization B'tselem today called upon the Israeli government to use the opportunity of the Hebron agreement to release all administrative detainees.

Israel currently holds some 270 Palestinians and one Israeli under administrative detention orders. Administrative detention is a prerogative of the military commander to detain a person for extended periods without trial. The Israeli authorities often detain Palestinians solely for their political opposition to the Oslo accords which many Palestinians and Israelis, including prominent members of Israel's Knesset and government, oppose as well. Many of the Palestinian detainees have been held for over a year, and numerous detainees have had their detentions extended several times. In the past month, the Israeli authorities extended the detention of thirteen Palestinians. Among them was Usama Barhan, who received his eighth extension and has by now been held for a total of approximately three years in administrative detention.

The arbitrary and indiscriminate manner in which Israel has used administrative detention violates both the letter and spirit of international law, as well as Israel's commitment under the Oslo Accords to respect human rights.

Persons who are suspected of an offense must be duly charged, and given the opportunity to challenge the charges in a fair and open trial. Otherwise, they must be released. International law prohibits the arbitrary imprisonment of persons without charge or trial. People's freedom must not become a playing card in the hands of military commanders.

B'tselem and LAW therefore call upon Israel to release immediately all administrative detainees. Full respect for human right is vital for any peace process which purports to create mutual trust and uphold internationally accepted norms.

For more information call:

B'tselem: the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories - (02)5617271

LAW: the Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment - (02) 5812364/5824559