Ofer - Release on Bail, Women
Translation: Marganit W.
How to square a circle
The Palestinian Authority was set up in 1994 as part of the Oslo agreement. On 29.11.12 the UN general assembly granted the PA non-member observer status. The Legislative Council is the Palestinian Parliament. Khalida Jarrar is a member of the Legislative Council for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine party, elected in a legitimate democratic process. Israel recognizes the Palestinian Authority but continues to define the organizations that comprise it as terrorist organizations.
Shosh Kahn (Women for Women Political Prisoners) and I, together with numerous diplomats, representatives of media organizations and members of family, came to observe the follow-up hearing in the case of
Khalida Canaan Muhammad Jarrar, ID 846614138 - Case 3058/15
(See earlier reports concerning Khalida Jarrar)
Justice Major Haim Balilti read a very long decision that covered the charges and various claims by the prosecution and the defense.
Decision regarding the indictment and detention process:
The indictment of 15.4.15 includes 12 charges relating to membership and activity in an unauthorized organization, services rendered, participation in rallies, and one charge of incitement. The activity covers a period between June 2009 and December 2013, except the charge of participation in a Popular Front rally in September 2014 when the accused attended a book fair organized by the Popular Front.
The prosecution argued for endangerment and flight risk.
The judge agreed that there is reasonable ground for indictment, mostly due to the defendant’s membership and participation in the Popular Front and her position as representative of the organization in the legislative body of the Palestinian Authority.
The judge rejected the endangerment and flight risk claims.
Thus, he ordered the release of Khalida Jarrar under the following conditions:
-20,000-shekel deposit
-Third party guarantee (by owner of an Israeli ID or entry permit to Israel) of 20,000 shekels
-Providing a phone number for summons.
The prosecutor requested – and received – a 72 hours postponement to consider an appeal, and also to allow the military commander time to decide about issuing an administrative detention order. In other words, if the appeal is rejected, an administrative detention order will be issued.
This is a typical example of the abuse of administrative detentions by Israel.
When the judge read his decision, there were spontaneous shouts of glee in the hall. However, even if Jarrar is sent home for the time being, a difficult political struggle is bound to ensue.