Ofer - Fines, Membership/activity in unauthorized association

Translation: Marganit W.

“The two sides took into account the fact that the activities of the Council and of the defendant were all civil activities….”

Judge: Lieut.-Col. Zvi Heilbronn

Defendant: Lama Khater-Alfahouri

Defense: Atty. Akram Samara

After long negotiations over plea agreement, a revised indictment was presented today, containing only one charge: Holding a position in an unlawful organization.

Lama Khater was a member of the Hebron Women’s Council. A year ago she was arrested at her home in Hebron.

Many saw on social media the heartbreaking pictures of her parting from her 3-year old son. She was taken to the Shabak Interrogation Center in Ashkelon, where she was interrogated for a month.

The above quote describes exactly what the Women’s counsel was dealing with: civil activity. Seven of its members were arrested. The council’s activity included visiting prisoners’ families, meetings with students etc. But these activities were all part the council’s affiliation with Hamas.

The plea agreement includes a 13-month prison time and a 4000-shekel fine.

As in earlier hearings, Lama’s husband and her daughter were present in court. I noted in earlier reports that her husband is barred from visiting her in prison because in the past he was under administrative detention. They were able to exchange only a few words today.

She will be released in two months.