Migrash Ha’Rusim, Jerusalem Thursday 17.8.06 AM Observers: Michal Z; Chava H. [reporter]Translation: Miriam E.There is no regular starting time for hearings at the Russian Compound, so by the time we arrived at 10:30 a.m., the hearings were already nearly over. We saw three remand extensions and four preventions of meetings with lawyers (which are also preventions of meetings with us). The lawyer in all of the remand extensions that we saw was Fahemi Awiwie from the “Nadi el-Asir” organization .Again we saw the detainees standing in the hall, facing the wall or the door, hands and feet bound, blindfolded, waiting for someone to lead them into the courtroom. In the courtroom, as usual, the discussion was conducted in whispers. The lawyer whispered to the detainee; the investigator conferred with the judge in whispers; as did the judge with the court reporter.Four or five police officers were in the room the entire time. We asked one of them for assistance, needing to know the name of a detainee. He indicated gleefully that he didn’t have to reply, and added that in Arab countries, we wouldn’t even be allowed to attend the hearing. He went on singing the praises of Israeli democracy, yet when we said, “OK, then never mind”, he did tell us the detainee’s name.1. Detainee Ahmed Zidan – has been detained for two months. This is his fifth remand extension. Accused of participating in the Ramallah lynching. He denies having participated. The judge extends his remand by another week until Thursday August 24th.2. Detainee Muhand Muhamed Sabari Shahadeh – arrested July 24, 2006. Accused of attempted murder. The lawyer explained to us (later, in the hallway) that he threw rocks at a car on the road. The investigator requests a 22-day remand extension. The decision: Extension of remand until Tuesday, August 28, 2006.The next three detainees were prevented from meeting with their lawyers and also with us.3. The last detainee that day arrived himself, with no police escort, neither bound nor blindfolded. He is handicapped, his legs crooked, and he makes his way into the room half crawling, half dragging himself. It seems that he doesn’t “need” the same “protective measures” taken with the other detainees. He is suspected of being a security risk to the region. He does not have a lawyer, or if he has one, the lawyer is not present in the courtroom.With this detainee, the judge actually takes an interest in his detainment conditions, and asks if he is being taken out to exercise (as if in his condition he really needs it). In his case, the decision is characterized by consideration that we aren’t accustomed to seeing: His remand is extended until August 28, 2006 (the following Monday), yet if the investigation does not reveal more grounds for suspicion, a hearing will be held on August 27th, and the police must inform his family. It’s not clear to us of what the police are supposed to inform his family―that he’s being held, or of the hearing date.