Special report from the Jerusalem Magistrate’s CourtSunday 17.9.2006Observer: Michaela R.I went to hear the case because I knew the accused woman. I did not take notes, and I’m reconstructing the events from memory.Judge: Joel TsurAccused: Salawa Mantsur ArminDefense Attorney: Yossi Arnon and Tamar (volunteer)Also present: The prosecutor, a stenographer, and a translator.In the audience: Salawa’s husband and children, 3 peace activists.The charge: Harboring an illegal/undocumented person in her house in the village of Anata.The defense attorney denies the charges: She did not harbor him – the house was his, and they have been married for 13 years, and had had 6 children. The judge seems surprised and asks: “Children in common?” Yes, children in common. Moreover, the charges against the husband, “the illegal alien,” have been dropped a long time ago.The judge wonders whether, since they cannot find the husband, he ran away. It is then pointed out to the judge that the husband is in the audience, right in front of him. The judge asks the prosecutor whether they should separate the husband and wife.The defense attorney cannot resist and says: “That question would sound better in German.”The prosecutor states that the current case is certainly complicated; an argument ensues between her and the defense attorney regarding whether this is a unique case or an indication of a general situation.The judge’s decision: The prosecution should seriously consider the defendant’s claims. He asks the prosecutor if she has anything to add. The prosecutor replies that yes, she does have something to add but she is prohibited from doing so. If that is the case, replies the judge, it’s better that you don’t speak up.And there the proceedings ended. As we were leaving, I felt a little tap on my shoulder. I turned around, and was surprised to see the prosecutor standing in front of me. Very embarrassed, she said that she was happy to have sat on the bench with us. I responded that we were present in a “theatre of the absurd” that was a disgrace to the judicial system. She replied that our country is a twisted one.She’s right.A half hour after we left, a phone call was received at the defense attorney’s office. It was the prosecutor, saying that she wanted to find a way to close this case. to find a way to close this case.