Detention house, Migrash HaRussim, Jerusalem, 3.1.2006Observers: Shosh A, Hava H (reporter)Translation: Brenda H.“For the sake of the investigation”In addition to the usual charade, we gained insight into what is meant by the phrase “actions against area security”.In the courtroom there were the usual police representative, (Shauli who may or may not be the investigator from GSS. We do not actually know his official title and do not dare ask) the judge, the recorder, two lawyers, one or two policeman and a translator.The prisoner was not brought into the courtroom and we did not see him because there is an order preventing him from meeting with a lawyer which means that he is prevented from meeting with someone who does not receive a salary from the military jurisdiction. The prisoner’s name was Othman Machmud Ziada. Othman was apprehended on 29.1.2006 and the prevention order is valid until this evening 3.1.06.The judge opened the judicial proceedings with the question: “Is there a confidential report?”The prosecutor: Yes. The request is to extend the detention order for a further 15 days.The lawyer opposed extension of the detention, and requested permission to question the police representative.The judge, just as if it were a regular court, warned the investigator that he should answer all questions with the truth and that there were legal penalties if he did not do so.At this point, we began to pay notice the way different people were dressed. The lawyers wear suits just like lawyers do, the military personnel and the police are in uniform, the prisoners, for the most part wear training clothes (brought to them by their families), which means that everyone is identifiable as belonging to some system, except the GSS man who wears regular clothes, like jeans and a sweatshirt, since he, it would appear, is not part of any system. He himself is the system, and establishes the law. Lawyer: Did the prisoner give his version of what happened?No answer, only a smile.Lawyer: Did the prisoner admit or deny the charges?No answer, only a thin smile.Lawyer: In what year did the suspected offenses occur? Was it some time ago or recently?The investigator showed him the confidential report.Lawyer: Is he cooperating with the investigators?Silence, a slow smile and a sweep of the hand towards the file which lay on the judge’s table.Lawyer: Are there additional incriminating charges against him?Smile and shrug of the shouldersLawyer: Is there involvement of other people according to the file?Shrug of one shoulder and a glance like a horse thief towards the judge.Has he been investigated by the GSS?This time there was an answer: Of course. Lawyer: When was he investigated? The daytime, or at night? Or continuously?The investigator drew circles on the floor with his shoe and said: When it is necessary to investigate.At this point, the judge interrupted and asked if it was possible to summarize. And they summarized.GSS representative: The criminal allegations are extremely grave. It is necessary to bring the investigation to a conclusion.He requested an extension of detention for a further 15 days for the sake of the investigation.The lawyer rejoined and complained that he had not met with his client, did not know about his condition and requested shortening the detention.The decision: The judge approved an extension of detention for 15 days.I have written this in lengthy detail because afterwards what happened was unbelievable. On the judge’s table was a further file and here again we did not see the prisoner who was not permitted to meet with a lawyer. The two sides, the judge and the lawyer agreed between them that the questions in the file were the same, and the answers were the same answers. Just like that. Like a photocopying machine. In spite of that the lawyer succeeded in throwing in the question: Of what was the prisoner accused?Of course of actions against area security, because the judge, the investigator, the police and the recorder, they and the system they represent the area.-Is he a member of an organization? The lawyer added this question.-Of course, said the investigator. And so we learned that each time they speak of actions against area security- it means that the prisoner in front of us is accused of not loving the State of Israel, its judges, policemen and soldiers who arrested him, and its bulldozers and separation wall and the its settlers with their disgusting youth.However, there turned out to be a special surprise because the judge summed up and said:Since the prisoner was not allowed to meet with a defense lawyer, I will wait for this and then give my decision. The investigator will fax my decision to the defense lawyer.After that we saw three prisoners, one was a tired and frightened old man, and there were two young men. The process was the same. The judge repeated the same thing, “ after reading the evidence of the investigation, I find that there is prima facie evidence linking the accused with serious breaches of security” and inevitably informing the investigation that a detention is extended by 15 days for the sake of the investigation.