Petach Tiqwa Military Court, Wednesday, 21.6.06Reporting: Rachele MAttorneys: Advc. Raid Mahamid from “Nadi el Asir” (substituting today for Nizar Mahajna), and Advc. Sheikh Muhammad Sephuan, working with Advc. Abed Muhammad from “Anasser a-Sajin”Judge: Itai RegevSeven prisoners, male and female, and among them one on the Shabak prohibition list (denied a meeting with a lawyer)Summing UpI arrived at 10:00 but it became clear that proceedings would begin at 12:00. I returned at the set hour.All the “extras,” 12 in number, are in place: Military Police man and woman, both armed (I wondered exactly what a prison in handcuffs and leg chains could do, and what the two weapons could achieve), a superannuated policeman listing everybody, obviously having volunteered because he could not be without work, a representative of the police, three Prison Service warders, the judge, a translator, two lawyers and me – and the heroes of the piece, the prisoners, of course. A somewhat exaggerated set for the play, the theme of which is automatic remands in custody until submission of a charge sheet. “The banality of evil” Hannah Arendt would have called it, and it would have been banal if I hadn’t seen here for the first time a Palestinian woman prisoner. It is a rare sight , and I have to admit that it caused me a great urge to identify with her.Extensions of RemandThe first prisoner, family name Harzallah, represented by Advc. Sephuan. Extension by 23 days during which the charge sheet will be submitted.The second prisoner, Fatba Tarek Salem el-Cochon, represented by Advc. Sephuan, extension by 23 days during which the charge sheet will be submitted or she will be released. She came from Tel Mond, has been arrested since 19.5.06.Third prisoner, Ihsan Razek Hassan Adil, aged 53, represented by Advc. Mahamid. Has beenn in custody 27 days, interrogated a number of times, denies all charges. He works for the Palestinian Administration according to the laws of the Oslo Accords. The attorney requests completion of the investigation, transfer of all the material, and decision whether to submit charges or not. Extension of remand eight days.Fourth prisoner, Daud Muhammad Atiyani, represented by Advc. Sephuan. Extension by 23 days during which the charge sheet will be submitted. Appears worn out.Fifth prisoner, Sirhan Jamal Elwan, about whom I have already reported twice, represented by Advc. Mahamid. Interrogation has ended. Extension by 23 days during which the charge sheet will be submitted. Requests a Koran. Will he get?(Sixth prisoner, represented by Advc. Sephuan – I didn’t manage to record his name.)Seventh prisoner, prohibited list, Maher Mofid Shtaya, represented by Advc Mahamid. Imprisoned since 16.6.06 – in other words, another 22 days without seeing a lawyer.The usual dialogue:Advc. Mahamid: has the prisoner confessed?Police representative: directs to secret file.Advc. Mahamid: are there other suspects?Police representative: directs to secret file.Advc. Mahamid: asks for reduction of the remandd (22 days).Judge: extension – 22 days.Another prisoner, Saad Bassem Yassin, Head of the Legal Bureau of Anasser a-Sajin Club in Nablus. Advc. Abed Muhammad reported that his trial will take place at Salem on 3.7.2006.Prisoner Hussan Hamran, Advc Yusuf Amar reported that his trial is set for Salem on 6.8.2006, and then the charges will be read.Reminder – the lawyers from Nadi el Asir continue to work pro bono.