23 dec 2014
Tarek Kurd 21
Eight Palestinians from annexed East Jerusalem were indicted on Monday for inciting anti-Jewish violence and supporting "terror" in postings on Facebook, an Israeli justice ministry spokeswoman said.
The eight men, aged 18-45, were charged at Jerusalem Magistrate's Court with "incitement to violence or terror and supporting a terrorist group" on Facebook, a ministry statement read.
The incriminating posts were put online in recent months as a wave of violence rocked the city during which several Palestinians staged lone wolf attacks killing nine people.
The defendants "directly called for violence and terror against (Jewish) citizens and security forces and praised, encouraged and supported these deeds and their perpetrators" on the Internet, the statement read.
Among the remarks posted online were "It is good to kidnap soldiers", "Zionists flee because you'll soon be killed by a car" and words expressing hope that a right-wing Jewish activist, who survived an assassination attempt in October, would die a painful death, the indictment said.
All eight Palestinians were arrested earlier this month in what police said was their biggest operation yet aimed at halting incitement to violence on social networks.
Israelis on social media routinely and openly incite violence against Palestinians, especially during heightened periods of tensions such as this summer's military offensive on Gaza.
Eight Palestinians from annexed East Jerusalem were indicted on Monday for inciting anti-Jewish violence and supporting "terror" in postings on Facebook, an Israeli justice ministry spokeswoman said.
The eight men, aged 18-45, were charged at Jerusalem Magistrate's Court with "incitement to violence or terror and supporting a terrorist group" on Facebook, a ministry statement read.
The incriminating posts were put online in recent months as a wave of violence rocked the city during which several Palestinians staged lone wolf attacks killing nine people.
The defendants "directly called for violence and terror against (Jewish) citizens and security forces and praised, encouraged and supported these deeds and their perpetrators" on the Internet, the statement read.
Among the remarks posted online were "It is good to kidnap soldiers", "Zionists flee because you'll soon be killed by a car" and words expressing hope that a right-wing Jewish activist, who survived an assassination attempt in October, would die a painful death, the indictment said.
All eight Palestinians were arrested earlier this month in what police said was their biggest operation yet aimed at halting incitement to violence on social networks.
Israelis on social media routinely and openly incite violence against Palestinians, especially during heightened periods of tensions such as this summer's military offensive on Gaza.
29 nov 2014
Secertary General of Fateh Movement in Jerusalem taken into custody
The Israeli Minister of Internal Security has decided to transfer 20-year-old Islam Izzat Natsheh, from Anata, to conditions of administrative detention (imprisonment without charge or trial) for 6 months, in response to the young man's recent Facebook posts. Sadeq Ghaith, from Silwan, was also placed under similar orders.
According to Wadi Hilweh Information Center, in Silwan, Amjad Abu Asab, head of an East Jerusalem committee for families of detainees, explained that the Internal Security Minister transferred Natsheh to administrative detention just four days after he was arrested from his house, in the village of Anata.
Natsheh was interrogated in Al-Maskobyeh for his posts on Facebook and with special regard to a prayer expressing his wish to obtain martyrdom, several days ago. According to Ma'an, Mr. Abu Asab said that Israeli interrogators accused him of planning a terror attack as a result of his post. Al-Natsheh, however, reportedly denied the charge, saying that the post represented "just a wish."
After being unable to prosecute him, the Internal Security Minister decided to transfer him to administrative detention.
The minister issued a similar decision against one Sadeq Gheith, arrested with his brother Adnan, last Tuesday, following a raid on his house in Silwan. His brother is the Secretary-General of the Fateh Movement in Jerusalem, and remains imprisoned.
Ma'an further explains that "administrative detention" refers to the tactic of keeping a prisoner without charge or trial for extended periods of time, often for reasons of "security" concerns.
The tactic, dating back to the days of British Mandate Palestine, is routinely used on Palestinian prisoners by Israeli authorities, even though international law stipulates that it only be used in exceptional circumstances.
According to Israeli human rights groups B'tselem, in August of 2014, 473 Palestinians were being kept in administrative detention in Israeli prisons, down from a high of nearly 1,000 in 2002.
Furthermore, over 1,000 Palestinians from East Jerusalem have been arrested by Israeli forces since June, in one of the biggest campaigns of intimidation and incarceration the city has seen in modern history.
The Israeli Minister of Internal Security has decided to transfer 20-year-old Islam Izzat Natsheh, from Anata, to conditions of administrative detention (imprisonment without charge or trial) for 6 months, in response to the young man's recent Facebook posts. Sadeq Ghaith, from Silwan, was also placed under similar orders.
According to Wadi Hilweh Information Center, in Silwan, Amjad Abu Asab, head of an East Jerusalem committee for families of detainees, explained that the Internal Security Minister transferred Natsheh to administrative detention just four days after he was arrested from his house, in the village of Anata.
Natsheh was interrogated in Al-Maskobyeh for his posts on Facebook and with special regard to a prayer expressing his wish to obtain martyrdom, several days ago. According to Ma'an, Mr. Abu Asab said that Israeli interrogators accused him of planning a terror attack as a result of his post. Al-Natsheh, however, reportedly denied the charge, saying that the post represented "just a wish."
After being unable to prosecute him, the Internal Security Minister decided to transfer him to administrative detention.
The minister issued a similar decision against one Sadeq Gheith, arrested with his brother Adnan, last Tuesday, following a raid on his house in Silwan. His brother is the Secretary-General of the Fateh Movement in Jerusalem, and remains imprisoned.
Ma'an further explains that "administrative detention" refers to the tactic of keeping a prisoner without charge or trial for extended periods of time, often for reasons of "security" concerns.
The tactic, dating back to the days of British Mandate Palestine, is routinely used on Palestinian prisoners by Israeli authorities, even though international law stipulates that it only be used in exceptional circumstances.
According to Israeli human rights groups B'tselem, in August of 2014, 473 Palestinians were being kept in administrative detention in Israeli prisons, down from a high of nearly 1,000 in 2002.
Furthermore, over 1,000 Palestinians from East Jerusalem have been arrested by Israeli forces since June, in one of the biggest campaigns of intimidation and incarceration the city has seen in modern history.