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"a key human rights defender, well-known for his civil society activism on behalf of the Palestinian citizens of Israel. His arrest and continued detention smacks of pure harassment, designed to hinder his human rights work. If this is the case, we would regard him as a prisoner of conscience, (and) call for his immediate and unconditional release."
He added that:
"In the unlikely event that there are genuine grounds to prosecute Ameer Makhoul, he should be charged with recognizable criminal offences and brought promptly to trial in full conformity with international fair trial standards."
After arrest, Makhoul was taken to Petah Tikva interrogation center where a same day hearing authorized a six day detention. It was extended until May 17, and may be indefinitely if authorities wish, by renewals of maximum six month periods on the pretext that prosecutors need time to prepare charges, go to trial, or simply hold detainees administratively.
Secret Shin Bet evidence is commonly used, undisclosed to lawyers, in violation of international law that prohibits doing it arbitrarily, holding detainees for extended periods, or substituting repression for customary criminal proceedings with all evidence disclosed so counsel can prepare a proper defense.
Israel, however, uses criminal and administrative detentions abusively, in violation of international law standards to institutionalize injustice against targeted victims - in this case, two distinguished human rights advocates, perhaps to be imprisoned and silenced.
On April 21, Interior Minister, Eli Yishai, prohibited Makhoul from traveling, saying his leaving the country "poses a serious threat to the security of the state." The next day, he learned of the order en route to Jordan for scheduled meetings with other activists.
In January 2009, Israel's Central Election Committee (CEC) prohibited two of three Arab Knesset parties - United Arab List Ta'al and Balad (Saeed's party) - from participating in the February elections, bogusly claiming they don't recognize the Jewish state and call for armed uprisings against it. Israel's High Court of Justice (HCJ) subsequently overturned it.
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