A Call for Supporting Palestinian Prisoners 

8/12/2003

A statement recently issued by the Committee for the Defense of Prisoners, who undertook to defend PLC member Mr. Hussam Khader, along with the rest of the Palestinian prisoners, addressed the difficulties and threats that continue to face all Palestinian prisoners confined to Israeli penitentiaries. In the statement, the Committee calls upon the Palestinian people and the world at large to increase their pressure on Israel and the Sharon government to improve the living conditions of the prisoners. Among other things, the Committee demanded that the following issues must be considered when supporting the Palestinian political prisoners:

1.      A need to monitor Israeli authorities’ handling of the Palestinians prisoners, expose Israel’s brutal actions against the incarcerated Palestinians and attempt to improve their living conditions.

2.      The Palestinian Authority, and its various institutions, including the Legislative Council and the executive branch, must fulfill their duties and responsibilities towards the Palestinian prisoners. Part of that responsibility is to increase the pressure on Israel until the release of all prisoners is secured.

3.      More pressure needs to be exerted upon Israel in order to meet its obligations and be forced to treat Palestinian prisoners in ways that are consistent with international norms, regulations and treaties.

4.      Local and international legal institutions and activists worldwide must expose Israel’s mistreatment of Palestinian prisoners to the rest of the world.

5.      Palestinian public pressure on the Israeli authorities must also be maintained as part of the general struggle that Palestinians are engaged in their daily lives in the occupied territories.

10 Nov 2003

In Defense of the Refugees

At their fourth annual conference in London, Palestinian activists have gathered to defend and support the legitimate claims of the Palestinian refugees, who continue to live in the Diaspora away from their historical homeland and original communities. In their statement, the attendees acknowledged and recognized the important political contributions made by PLC member Mr. Hussam Khader who has been considered as one of the most forceful defender of the Palestinian refugees’ right of return. The right of the refugees for either compensation or return to their homeland has been supported and acknowledged by a number of United Nations resolutions, which thus far Israel has refused to recognize. 

Given the current threats facing the political future of the Palestinian refugees, the conference called upon various international and local organizations to pressure the Israeli government to release the imprisoned PLC member. Khader’s imprisonment has, according to the activists, weakened a vociferous supporter of refugee rights in the Palestinian Authority’s institutions. A refugee himself, Khader maintain his commitment to serve his people at all costs. He, on various occasions, has objected to any calls that implicitly attempted to abandon the refugee question.

 28 Sep 2003

Renewing Commitments with the Palestinian People

On the third anniversary of the Intifada, the committee that has been formed to defend PLC member, Hussam Khader, and other prisoners confined in Israeli jails, has issued a statement of support for the protracted struggle that has been provided by the Palestinian Intifada in the pursuit and fulfillment of Palestinians’ legitimate national rights. The Committee stresses the fact that despite Israel’s military might and supremacy, the occupation forces have failed to break the will of the Palestinian people and/or end the Intifada. The Committee also indicates that through their struggle, over the past three years, Palestinians are now closer than ever to achieving their intended goals. The pessimism that has shaped the political climate in the Palestinian territories and in the region, namely following the U.S. invasion of Iraq, has not destroyed the will of the Palestinian people nor their determination to continue their struggle in order to achieve full independence and establish their cherished Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. Conversely, this situation has fueled the Palestinian resistance and has produced a younger, more determined Palestinian generation that is focused on the achievement of Palestinians’ rights, including the rights of Palestinian refugees’ return to their original homes. On this difficult juncture in the Palestinian struggle, the Committee emphasizes the following points:

1. The need to emphasize Palestinian national unity is, and must remain, a fundamental factor that guides the struggle of the Palestinian people.
2. Under no circumstances should any political leader accept anything less than the fundamental political goals of the Palestinian people to achieve an independent state in the post-1967 territories, with Jerusalem as its capital and recognizing the refugees’ right of return.
3. It must be highlighted that any political settlement must also include the release of all political prisoners from Israeli jails.
4. It is essential for the Palestinian Authority to also pursue fundamental and honest reforms that would be sufficient to put an end to all forms of corruption within its rankings and institutions.

Maintaining material and moral support for the continuation of the Palestinian uprising until the Palestinian people achieve their political goals.

More Calls for Unity:

2/9/2003

In a statement issued by the committee that defends the rights of the Palestinian prisoners who are still confined to Israeli jails, the organization calls upon Palestinians to face the new challenges at this dangerous historical juncture and to affirm their commitment to national unity and their determination to pursue the fulfillment of all legitimate fundamental Palestinian national goals, that have, for the past few decades, enjoyed considerable international backing and support. Among other things, the committee points to and revels the various aspects of the inhumane treatment that Palestinians prisoners are subjected to, and the unacceptable conditions and situations that Palestinian prisoners still face in most, if not all, Israeli jails. The Committee calls upon Palestinians and the world at large to address the prisoners’ humanitarian demands for survival, and insists that pressure must be made in order to improve prisoners’ living conditions and to secure their eventual release. Although very dangerous and very destructive, many prominent Palestinian prisoners have declared a hunger strike in an effort to improve their living conditions and circumstances while staying in Israeli prisons. The committee points to many challenges that remain a threat to the life of many prisoners, including, Mr. Hussam Khader, the PLC member who has been imprisoned since early March of this year. Khader has been confined to isolation, mistreatment and has suffered previously from severe pain that is a result of inflicted physical and mental repression he has been subjected to since the time of his arrest. The committee also warns that the challenges facing Palestinian prisoners may, if not addressed soon enough, bring about serious harm and/or death to a large majority of the prisoners. It must be pointed out that most of these prisoners have done nothing more than to be politically active in Palestinian affairs in an attempt to secure Palestinian goals through political means. Furthermore, even militant prisoners are entitled to receive treatment that must be consistent with international laws and regulations concerning the responsibilities of occupying powers.

A statement of support for PLC member Hussam Khader was issued on April 17, 2003, by the Committee that defends the rights of Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli jails, condemning Israel's arrest of PLC member Khader, calling for his immediate and unconditional release."

March 17, 2003

PHRMG Demands Immediate Release of Husam Khader from Arbitrary Arrest

 PHRMG demands the immediate release of Husam Khader who was illegally detained this morning by the Israeli army.  At 4 o’clock in the morning, over 30 Israeli soldiers invaded the home of Mr. Khader in Nablus, forcefully arresting him and taking him to an unknown location while he was still in his pajamas.  Additional soldiers were guarding this illegal operation from the vantage point of the rooftops from the neighboring seven houses.  Mr. Khader’s house was also surrounded by army tanks, personnel carriers, and an ambulance for possible wounded soldiers.

Mr. Khader’s house was forcibly evacuated as Israeli soldiers blew the doors off with dynamite, damaging the windows and walls, and then fired excessively at the house causing wreckage.  They then confiscated Mr. Khader’s computer, telephones, official stamps, files, and documents.  Witnesses in Nablus, well acquainted with the extreme violence of the Israeli military, said this was the most horrific arrest they have seen in the entire Intifada.

Mr. Khader is a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, a leader in the Fateh movement, and since 1997, an independent member of the PHRMG Board of Trustees.  In 1997, Mr. Khader became an outspoken pioneer in raising the issue of corruption within the Palestinian Authority.

Israeli forces claim Mr. Khader is affiliated with al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade and a recipient of illegal funds from Iran.

PHRMG demands the immediate release of Husam Khader from Israeli imprisonment.  Arbitrary arrest, though normal procedure for Israel, is clearly a violation of international law and human rights.  Article 9(1) of the U.N. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights states “Everyone has the right to liberty and security of the person. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention.”  PHRMG is also gravely concerned for Mr. Khader’s personal well-being, as torture and degradation are typical Israeli procedures and abusive force has already been demonstrated in the manner of this arrest.

PHRMG condemns the relentless violence of the Israeli army, who terrorizes citizens in the night, arresting without warrant, violating innumerable human rights and international laws.  PHRMG beckons everyone concerned with human rights to protest to the Israel embassy in their country with letters, faxes and phone calls on behalf of Mr. Husam Khader.  A list of appropriate contacts follows below. 

London

Public Affairs info@israel-embassy.org.uk

Tel 0171-957 9500

Fax 0171-957 9555

Rome

Tel. centralino 0636198500

Fax 0636198555

israel.roma@agora.stm.it

Japan

igto@israel.co.jp

Netherlands

Telefoon 070-3760500 (centrale)

Fax 070-3760555

EMAIL ambassade@israel.nl 

New Zealand

Embassy of Israel, Wellington

Tel 04 472 2368

Fax 04 499 0632

E-Mail israel-ask@israel.org.nz

Stockholm

08-661 33 09 Fax 08-662 53 01

israel.embassy@swipnet.se

Washington DC

Tel (202) 364-5500

Fax (202) 364-5423

The PHRMG is a Palestinian, independent, non-governmental

organization working to end human rights violations committed against

Palestinians in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem,

regardless of those responsible.  The members of the Monitoring Group

believe that the strength of democracy and civil society in

Palestinian society will be determined by the Palestinian people,

through their defense or neglect of human rights.

Ragheb Nashashibi Street 5

Sheikh Jarrah-Jerusalem

P.O. Box 19918

East Jerusalem 91198

admin@phrmg.org

www.phrmg.org

tel. 972-2-582-3372/3

fax. 972-2-582-3385

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