Palestinian minors held 3 weeks on suspicion of arson
Two under-aged boys were each detained for a total of three weeks, including 10 days in a Shin Bet security, and six days in isolation.
By Amira HassPalestinian minors suspected of perpetrating even minor crimes against settlers are subject to extreme pressure during detention and interrogation in an effort to extract a confession, the Palestinian branch of Defense for Children International claims.
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One of the arrested minors, aged 16, with his mother. |
| Photo by: Defense for Children International |
The group, which represents hundreds of minors in Israeli military courts every year, cites as an example the case of two 16-year-olds from Assira al-Qibalya, near Nablus, who were suspected of setting fire to a field near the settlement of Yitzhar. They were each detained for a total of three weeks, including 10 days in a Shin Bet security service facility in Petah Tikva. Six of those 10 days were spent in isolation. In the end, they were released without charge.
The fire near Yitzhar started on June 2. At 2 A.M. on June 10, the army raided the boys' homes and arrested them.
Both were handcuffed, M.M. in front, but F.A. from the back - even though army regulations forbid handcuffing people from the rear. They were blindfolded and taken to a lock-up in Hawara, where they were held for two weeks. At that facility, they said, the food was insufficient and almost inedible, and they were allowed outside for only half an hour a day.
From Hawara, they were taken twice to the army's Salem lock-up, where an interrogator who called himself "Jihad" threatened to torture them with electric shocks unless they confessed, the boys said. F.A. said Jihad also threatened to charge him with illegal possession of a rifle and stone-throwing if he did not confess to the arson.
On June 17, Capt. Gil Elharar of the Salem military court remanded them for another eight days. That hearing was the first time since their arrest that they had seen their parents, though they were not allowed to speak with them.
On June 21, bound hand and foot, the boys were taken to the Shin Bet facility in Petah Tikva. When M.M. told his interrogators that he was at school taking an exam when the fire started, they claimed F.A. had already incriminated him. F.A. in turn was told that people had seen him start the fire.
Both boys said the six days they spent in isolation was the worst part of their detention. The isolation cells had no windows, and the lights were on 24 hours a day. M.M. said he would bang on the door and beg the jailers to move him to a cell with other people, but they just yelled at him to shut up.
The boys also said that after discovering a crack in the wall between their cells that enabled them to communicate by shouting, they discussed confessing to the crime they had not committed, because they could no longer endure the isolation cells.
On June 23, they were remanded for 10 more days, by Lt. Col. Vered Ornstein of the Petah Tikva military court, and on June 30, for another five days. The judge at the latter hearing, Lt. Col. Eliyahu Nimni, wrote that the evidence justified their continued detention on the grounds that they were dangerous.
But on July 1, the two were suddenly released without charge.
The IDF Spokesman's Office said the nighttime arrest was to minimize friction with the Palestinian population and denied that handcuffing regulations were violated. The Hawara lock-up, it added, has been visited frequently by Red Cross personnel and other professionals "who praised the way the facility is run."
The Shin Bet denied that the teens were held in isolation. It said their interrogation had been completely legal, and they were never prevented from seeking legal advice.
Neither the army nor the police would say whether the actual arsonists were ever found.
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The israeli system of democracy continues the education of the next generation of Palestinian freedom fighters !
It really is a pity the IDF and its spokesmen have lost all credibility. Unless there are internal contradictions, all Palestinian statements now go essentially unanswered. The denials are meaningless.
have people who support criminal acts like these. It is amazing to see that some posts here are really disgusting. They support the very inhuman treatment of the IDF. Stop support the IDF blindly, stop support Israel blindly, please use your mind not your sentiments. Right is right and wrong is wrong no matter who perpetrates it, We should be human being first and Israeli or Palestinian second. Untill we reach that point, we would never even get close to making peace . It is really troubling to see blind supporters on both sides. These blind supporters justify every and each attrocity their side commits and that is by itsellf a bigger crime.
since its founding israel hasn't had a Palestinian human right they did not egregiously violate
Utterly despicable...
In fact, unlike Jewish children, Arabs are considered adults, for the sake of punishment, at the age of sixteen. The Age for Jewish children is eighteen. And, Israel brags about being a democracy?
then there is something wrong with the law. Imagine if a Jewish child was kept in solitary in the United Kingdom? I mean I know we are anti semitic according to Peres but can you just imagine the Israeli reaction? The fact that there are people posting here that there is nothing wrong with a bit of solitary confine ment for a Palestinian child just shows how Israeli society has dehumanised the Palestinian.
but teenagers do. So chris dont pad the truth. This teenager should of thought of the cosequences of his actions. But no worries he will commit more crimes and he probably Wont reach his 25 birthday. Teenagers like him and his kind move on to more serious crimes, he prabably end up dead in a few years. You can thank the pali establishment for the hurt and hateful education these children recieve.
Don't bend it to suit your needs. It is what it is and all are innocent until proven guilty, so treat them as if they were innocent. The fact that they are 16 is of no consequence. But Israel doesn't care one iota. They shoot rubber bullets at these same 16 year olds and younger. What's 3 weeks in prison compared to that...
No. You can thank the endless cruelty and degradation meted out to Palestinians, from the cradle to the grave.
did these children commit? You write as though they had been convicted rather than released for lack of evidence.
So who are you, mr. Brazen, to foresee such misery on THEIR part? Appearently you need a microscope to detect what everybody else sees with open eyes.
took trophy photographs of how clever they were when they held children in solitary confinement
Israel is the main cause of antisemitism.
Put them under oppression at young ages. They'll be filled with hatred and do anything. That's the way. Hey Israel, is this what you really want?
Why didn't the Israeli police exert pressure on him as well?
16 year old arabs are fully indoctrinated and ready to kill as any other full grown terrorists. This happens in every guerrilla movement everywhere
...they set fire to Palestinian crops and olive trees? It happens all the time by the way but somehow doesn't always hit the headlines. We saw it on Palestine TV yesterday.
should be arrested by the PA authorities, and charged accordingly.
Since you were silent then, it is proof that you do not consider this a point of principle. So you only issue is that a Leftist was arrested.
These would be the hilltop youth who refused to give their names, addresses and dates of birth to the auithorities on their arrest?
Here in the US we speak of people with the key in their hand. Those arrogant young women could have walked any time they wanted to - they chose not to. Anyone who chooses to stay in jail has the perfect right to do so, and, as far as I am concerned,should say there until they rot.
And setting fire to fields is not a minor matter ,it's arson ,pure and simple.
Well, have to say this is the first time I've heard about pals allegedly setting fire to fields. Now the settlers on the other hand have real form for this.
Mr. Absolute (is that a Vodka, by the way) - we do not discuss the imprisonment of these youngsters, but their treatment. Plus, if setting fire to fields is arson "pure and simple" --- how about the settlers actions on Palestinean territories? HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO THE WESTBANK - I BELIEVE NOT.
That's the disease of the bullies .... They tend to be small minded... Dutch
In a nutshell Amira is upset that the Palestinians live under military rule. Well, in Gaza they live under Hamas rule and in Judea and Samaria they live under Palestinian Authority and Israeli military rule. These situations could have ended in 2000, 2001 or 2008 when Israel offered peace and a state to the Palestinians, but in each case, they said “no” and preferred more war. As a consequence, they are subject to Israeli military justice. This is international law. In fact, this situation has been confirmed by the UN Security Council’s Resolution 242 and affirmed in 338. Security Council resolutions of a certain form, including 242 and 338 are considered to be international law. Amira Hass is someone who, for years, has written articles attacking Israel with a slant that is so pervasive, that she may as well simply write in the op-ed section of Ha’aretz and directly copy her stories to the PA and Hamas public spokespeople Im sure they would appreciate her blind support for their stone throwers and "Minor future bandits and thieves"
The inhumanity defies belief. But it doesn't seem unique, so I guess it may be happening. Whoever's lying, detaineee or detainor, deserves a generous dose of hell (whether they believe in it or not) for what is going on here. Regardless, arrests in the middle of the night, extended detainment of children before trial, etc. are barbaric, in my opinion. It reinforces my opinion that Israel's judicial system (national or military) is a bit corrupt and/or impotent. In my country, the supreme court shoudl intervene and stop such atrocities.
Israel's jails/prisons are far from prefect but still better than many Arab/Muslims countries or even S. American jails. The IDF many time is caught in middle better Politics and the courts, getting results is more important than following the rules, just keep it quite.
MORAL ARMY.... Just wait...what goes around comes around
And about your "coming around" :-do you think Muslims one day will burn Varanasi in revenge for destruction of their Ayoda Mosque by Hindu ?
and sad
This is what being an Occupier does to the occupier. Lynndie England was a symptom as is the treatment of these kids as are the Abergil photos. This is first and foremost a leadership problem in the occupation infrastructure and with your secret police. Nobody is ever accountable. or if held so, for only the barest minimum of time for appearance sake. Rumsfeld and Cheney writ small.
So? Where is it Mark,I want to see it.
There is. The Geneva Conventions. Art. 27. Protected persons are entitled, in all circumstances, to respect for their persons, their honour, their family rights, their religious convictions and practices, and their manners and customs. They shall at all times be humanely treated, and shall be protected especially against all acts of violence or threats thereof and against insults and public curiosity. Get it.
A smile doesn't hurt someone's rights or honor,doesn't show any disrespect and is not violating religious convictions and customs so I think showing the law saying explicitly 'Smiling is forbidden when or if....and sitting next to a detainee and smile is err a war crime' would help to get it. So what law smiling soldier violated Mark?So far it seems that soldiers violated just your own homemade laws.....
Israel is fulfilling all what the Arabs claimed since 1949 about the Zionists, and then some more. These and similar acts were not committed by those Israel labels as terrorists! But then, Israel is in a class of its own. That is why its legitimacy is withering with the sands of the Negev!
This has a similar smell to it as the case of a Canadian citizen, Omar Khadr, who is now being tried as a war criminal by an American military court for allegedly killing an American soldier during a fire fight in Afghanistan - WHEN HE WAS 15 YEARS OLD - even though " child solders " are supposed to be protected under the Geneva Convention, to which the USA is a signatory.
Omar is a killer no matter if he was 15 years old, he killer an american medic soldier. Before you talk look what are you doing with the first nations....
Before you talf, you should know that I am related through marriage to members of our first nations community.
While it would be possible to charge and try a sixteen year old as an adult if there had been a fatality in the fire, the better handling of the suspect(s) would have been to have their parents brought in to be present when they were questioned. That would have stopped many of the questions about improperly handling juveniles who were subsequently released without charges.
Why is a 16 year old Palestinian seen as an adult under Israeli law, but an Israeli has to be 18 to be tried as an adult?
In the U.S. , the various states have varying laws regarding the handling of juvenile offenders. In some states, juvenile offenders as young a seven have been tried as adults for murder while the same offence is prosecuted in other states in special juveniles courts where the maximun penalty is only incarceration until the offender turns twenty-one. That is why we have a union in which the state laws vary--so people can live in a portion of society that suits them best. To the best of my knowlege, all states require that juvenile suspects be questioned under the supervision of their parents or guardians.
All civilized countries have these conditions and protection for children, except for Israel when dealing with Palestinian children.
Didn't I say that the better way was to bring in the parents to be present for questioning? If you live over there, why don't you fix the problem.
The dark underbelly of the Jewish state exposed once again. And it continues to disgust in the extreme.
And leftist Haaretz did not have problem with this.
No Palestinian ever gets released from Israeli detention unless there is absolutely no proof. These boys were eventually released without charge, which speaks for itself.
No Palestinian ever gets released from Israeli detention unless there is absolutely no proof. These boys were eventually released without charge, which speaks for itself.
As Israel's human rights record increasingly deteriorates with each passing day, I become more convinced that I made the right decision in ending my membership with AIPAC and becoming a member with J Street. If the country, who is home to a people who has been subjected to human rights abuses for centuries, continues the way they are acting now, I feel they will be no better than those same people who hurt the Jews foe centuries.
But that is not what disturbs me. What disturbs me is that were they Hill Side Children, they would probably never been arrested, and most certainly they would not have been held long. I and a friend were once handcuffed to a fence at MIA while the police tore his van apart looking for drugs. I, dressed as an upper middle class kid, and my friend dressed as a hippy were treated differently. He was threatened and I was not. We were both let go. Perhaps nothing other is common practice in Israel.
There have been dozens if not hundreds of "Hill side Children" who have been arrested (sometimes for months on end with no rights). not allowed to pray, beaten, etc. It shows your aim when you bring up the Jews from the WB when they have nothing to do with the case here. and that they are given the same treatement. As for the White Secular elite lets see something like this happen to their children.
Isreal is the M/E's only democracy?????? A big joke. As soon as you land at Tel Aviv's B/G air port it will remind you any airport of the former USSR. You are interrogated as you are here to plant some explosion. At the time of departure you are searched so abusively if you are taking some very sensitive Israeli secrets. In fact it is amilitary state.
israel seems to be scared of it's own shadow
israel seems to be scared of it's own shadow
Welcome to the Israelizionist justice!!!
The Pearlman story just negates your OPINION as there is no evidence against him and its another example of the Shabak harassing a Jew for being zionist.
Oh I forget they are Palestinian and therefore untermenschen who have no rights.