An Open Letter
To Defense Minister, Yitzhak Mordechai

Dear Minister,

Today, some 250* Palestinians are being held in prisons in Israel, without trial, under administrative detention. Many have been in detention for a year, two years, three and even close to five years. The administrative detainees do not know the reason for their detention: the information against them is classified. Hence neither the detainees nor their lawyers are able to confront the allegations. Moreover, none of the detainees know when they will be released; theoretically their detention can be prolonged indefinitely.

International law, including treaties which Israel has signed, allows the use of administrative detention only in cases of emergency, for limited periods of time, as a preventive measure only - not as a punishment. There can be no doubt that administrative detention which lasts for years does not fall within these criteria. The use of administrative detention as punishment, whether against Palestinians or Israelis, is totally unacceptable, legally, practically and morally.

Out of deep concern for the protection of Israel’s moral fiber, we call upon you to act urgently in one of two ways: if there is evidence against the administrative detainees, bring them to trial without delay; if not, release them at once.

We cannot allow human beings to rot in Israeli prisons for years without trial!

Sincerely yours,

Haim Guri
A. B. Yehoshua
S. Yizhar
Amos Oz
Yehoshua Kenaz

* July 1997. In December 1997, the number of administrative detainees is over 400.

Published in Ha’aretz, July 24 1997