Israel Wages War on Human Rights

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Last August, Israel called Addameer co-founder Abdullatif Ghaith a "threat to state security." No evidence, of course, suggests it. He was told to appear for questioning. On arrival, he was ordered to sign a statement. It bans him from traveling abroad. 

He was targeted earlier. Supporting human rights in Israel or Occupied Palestine is hazardous. Since becoming Addameer's chairman, Ghaith was administratively detained uncharged three times. 

Each incarceration lasted six months. He endured brutal treatment. So do all Palestinian prisoners under gulag conditions. Most recently, Ghaith was held from June 2004 - January 2005.

At the time, a joint statement signed by 11 Palestinian and Israeli human rights organizations strongly condemned Israel's action. 

They said incarcerating Ghaith "cannot be viewed in isolation but must be viewed within a much broader context of a systematic attempt by Israel to suppress Palestinian civil society and stifle Palestinian development"."

It's also about strengthening Israel's occupation, they added. Civil society organizations are especially vulnerable. Supporting human rights can land advocates in prison. Israel also terrorizes them other ways. At the time, Ghaith said:

"Israel considers every activity that tackles Israeli violations of human rights as a threat to state security. Israel wants its occupation to proceed without any accountability. This is not an issue of an individual. It involves all Palestinians."

On October 15 at 1:00AM, Israeli soldiers raided Nasser's home. They terrorized his wife and children. They were held at gunpoint for over 90 minutes. 

Every room was ransacked. His computer and cell phone were confiscated. Other belongings were taken. Some belonged to his children. Nasser was arrested. 

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