[E-rundbrief] Info 493 - Bethlehem 2006 - Prisoners

[Matthias Reichl]

E-Rundbrief - Info 493 - Bethlehem Prisoners' Association report: 
1250 Bethlehemites in Israeli jails; repressions by Israel's army.

Bad Ischl, 29.12.2006

Begegnungszentrum für aktive Gewaltlosigkeit

www.begegnungszentrum.at

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Bethlehem Prisoners' Association report: 1250 Bethlehemites in Israeli jails

Date: 28 / 12 / 2006  Time:  13:42

[Could it be that Bethlehem is receiving special attention in the 
matter or arrests in an attempt to encourage its Christian population 
to leave? - Comment by Elana]

Bethlehem - Ma'an - The year 2006 has witnessed the largest ever 
Israeli military campaign of arrests and detention of Palestinians 
from the Bethlehem governorate, in the south of the West Bank. The 
number of apprehended citizens reached 650, ranging from young 
children to elderly men and women.

The apprehension policy over the last year was marked by the 
aggressive storming of homes by the Israeli soldiers. They arrested 
both collectively and randomly.

Most apprehensions took place after an almost daily invasion of the 
governorate by military vehicles and troops, shooting live 
ammunition, sonic and tear-gas grenades, in addition to the detention 
and assaulting of citizens.

Fighter jets and special units, in addition to military bulldozers, 
were used in many of the arrest raids.

The prisoners' association has announced in their annual report that 
the number of prisoners from the Bethlehem governorate has now 
reached 1250 in 10 Israeli jails. The prisoner who has so far already 
served the longest term from the area is Isa Abid Rabbo, who has now 
entered his 23rd year of incarceration. The man is serving a life 
time sentence, issued in 1984.

The association stated that 12 prisoners from Bethlehem have now 
served more than 15 years: Adnan Al-Afandi, Aamir Abu Sarhan, 
Muhammad At-Tous, Khalid Al-Azraq, Khalid Asakra, Mahmoud Mu'ammar, 
Mahmoud Abu Sroor, Riziq Salah, Muhammad Taqatqa, Walid Az-Zir and 
Adel Shawawra.

Furthermore, the association stated that 10 women from Bethlehem are 
serving in Israeli jails:

Irna Sarahna, sentenced to 20 years, Aisha 'Bayyat 6 years, Rasha 
Al-Azza 3 years, Shirin Masalma 4.5 years, Rawan Thawabta 4 years, 
Arin Shu'ibat 7 years, Firyal J'arah 40 months, Duaa Masalma awaiting 
trial, Nivin Abu Dukka, awaiting trial and Shirin Khalil Hasan who is 
also awaiting trial.

According to the report, there are 80 children from Bethlehem 
governorate serving in Israeli prisons..

There are currently 120 detainees held under administrative 
detention, without charge, from the Bethlehem area, including Mahmoud 
Al-Wardyan, who has served 36 months in administrative detention, and 
Jamal Farraj and Tayseer Abu Mfarrih, whose administrative detention 
had been renewed 5 times.

In addition, there are 43 detainees from Bethlehem governorate who 
are serving life sentences.

See also The Alternative Information Center Israel/ Palestine (AIC): 
www.alternativenews.org/

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Matthias Reichl, Pressesprecher/ press speaker,
     Begegnungszentrum fuer aktive Gewaltlosigkeit
     Center for Encounter and active Non-Violence
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