Dozens of Palestinians have been affected. No one's safe from Israel's long arm. Pre-dawn arrests occur often. Innocence is no defense.
Charges are entirely spurious. Justifiable evidence doesn't exist. Uncharged detainees can be held forever if Israel wishes. Those released face constant rearrest threats.
Prolonged arbitrary detention breaches international law. Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights states:
"Everyone has the right to liberty and security of person. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention.""Anyone who is arrested shall be informed, at the time of arrest, of the reasons for his arrest and shall be promptly informed of any charges against him."
Everyone deprived of liberty by arrest or detention is entitled to judicial fairness. Israel provides none.
Administrative detention never substitutes for doing the right thing. It's permitted only to prevent lawless acts.
Even if Israel acted legally, said Haaretz, draconian sentences "reek of cruelty and abuse. There is no measure of justice or reason in jailing a man for minor offenses.""If none of the Palestinians committed any terrorist activities, Israel should free them immediately." They never should have been arrested in the first place. Rearrests shouldn't have followed.
Israel does it abusively. It's official policy. It's unconscionable. Israel's High Court should reverse it. What's lawless for Jews should be so for Arabs. Fairness demands no less. So does inviolable international law.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at Email address removed .
His new book is titled "Banker Occupation: Waging Financial War on Humanity."
http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanII.html
Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.
