Mr. Dahamsha Visits Khader

17/11/2003

Mr. Abdel-Malik Dahamsha, the representative of the Islamic movement in Israel, managed to meet Mr. Hussam Khader, the PLC member, on November 17^th at the Shatah prison. Dahamsha also met various other prisoners and made an assessment of their situation along with the challenges facing them. As far as Khader is concerned, Dahamsha stated that the PLC member is in good health and seems to be in high spirits and is still determined to continue the path of struggle in support of his people in the territories. Since his imprisonment eight months ago, Khader remains confined to an isolated cell and has not confessed to any of the alleged charges the Israeli authorities have issued against him. Khader also addressed various issues with Mr. Dahamsha concerning the current political situation in general and the conditions of the Palestinian prisoners in particular. He called upon all peace-loving people around the world to help the Palestinians into pressuring Israel to free Palestinian political prisoners.

Khader & the Geneva Agreement

15/11/2003

Imprisoned PLC member, Hussam Khader, expressed his objection today to many of the key principles set forth in the new draft agreement that was signed by both Israeli and Palestinian activists. Khader’s objection to the Geneva Agreement stems from his defense of the right of the Palestinian refugees to return to their homes. He reminds Palestinians to learn from the lessons that resulted from the Oslo Agreement, which failed to bring Palestinians any closer to achieving their national objectives and claims. He urges the Palestinian leadership to maintain its commitment to the fundamental national claims and rights of the Palestinian people in general and the refugees in particular.

Khader also commented on the expected arrangement to be made between Israel and Hizbullah. Khader believes that an inclusion of Palestinian prisoners in the deal is welcomed as long as it does not entail deporting Palestinian prisoners into neighboring countries. He insists that Palestinian prisoners should be allowed to live freely in their homes in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. For his part, Khader continues to be confined to an isolated cell in his prison. A court date was set in December for Mr. Khader in order to face the charges fabricated by the Israeli government. Despite the challenges and the difficult circumstances facing him, Khader remains determined in his stance on Palestinian rights and on rejecting all Israeli charges against him.

 1/11/2003

Palestinian Prisoners Call for Help and Rescue

 The Mandela Center, which cares for Palestinian prisoners’ confined in Israeli jails, issued various statements on behalf of Palestinian prisoners expressing their desperation and frustration with respect to their treatment in Israeli penitentiaries. Over the past few days, Dr. Buthayna al-Daqqaq has managed to visit a number of Palestinian political prisoners in various Israeli jails. All of those she managed to speak with have generally revealed to her, in full detail, the type of inhumane treatment and torturous circumstances they are faced with on a daily basis in various prisons, notably the Shatah and al-Ramleh prisons. Among those she was able to meet was the PLC member, Mr. Hussam Khader, who spoke about the miserable and daily difficulties and challenges that confront Palestinian prisoners in all Israeli jails. Khader indicated that the Palestinian prisoners in general live in conditions that are contradictory to the basic standards of all international conventions and treaties regarding the treatment of prisoners. Contrary to international laws, Palestinian prisoners are denied their basic rights and claims. In most occasions, especially since the eruption of the Intifada three years ago, Palestinian prisoners are not permitted to have new clothes, proper food and drinks and are often denied visitation rights from their immediate family members and/or lawyers. All such things are considered serious violations to international provisions concerning the treatment of prisoners.

 Ms. Daqqaq’s visit to the Shatah prison and her meeting with Mr. Khader was a rare occasion, given that Khader has been, for the past few weeks, placed in solitary confinement until his trial, which is expected to resume in December. Despite these circumstances, Khader, along with other prisoners, expressed support for the legitimate resistance and struggle of the Palestinian people against the Israeli occupation. They also call upon the world community to intervene on their behalf and help ease the pressures on them in Israeli jails. Based on the conversations that Daqqaq was able to conduct with many prisoners, it appears that Israeli prisons lack basic services, and prison guards have for the most part been treating Palestinian prisoners in inhumane manners that fell short of the basic provisions concerning the treatment of prisoners in jails run by an occupying power like Israel.

 Given these conditions, the committees that support Palestinian prisoners are now intensifying their worldwide call for help in order for immediate measures to be taken and thus rescue the Palestinian prisoners from an eventual demise and a threatening future, before it is too late. The demands of the Palestinian prisoners are very basic, and do not exceed the need for necessary services, including clothing, blankets, medicine and visitation rights. It is hoped that the world community will be able to pressure Israel into meeting its obligation to treat the prisoners with dignity and respect.

06/10/2003

Conditions for a Serious Hudna

For the first time since his transfer to the Nefhah prison a few days ago, Mr. Khader’s lawyer was able to meet with the PLC member. As far as his status is concerned, Khader is now being placed in a special part of the prison, which was recently built in order to house high profile Palestinian activists in an attempt to isolate them from the rest of the common prisoners, and thus eliminate their ability to influence events in the occupied territories. Among the main points that Khader addressed, two are particularly important:

1. The need to establish a new hudna between Palestinians and Israelis, in which Palestinians would be able to pursue the achievement of their national goals, including the end of Israel’s occupation and the release of all Palestinian political prisoners as conditions for the success of the hudna.

2. National unity between and among all Palestinian political factions must remain a priority that would be able to force Israel into accepting the terms of the hudna, or otherwise face an escalation of Palestinian struggle to achieve their intended goals.

It must be emphasized that Khader calls upon Palestinians to continue their struggle against Israel’s occupation in the 1967 territories. In this respect, Khader discourages acts to be directed against Israeli civilians inside the green line boundaries. The reason for that is rooted in the fact that Palestinians need to entice more Israelis to pressure their government to end its occupation of the Palestinian territories. Therefore, it should not be the role of the Palestinian movement to try to unite the Israelis together, given that attacks inside Israel tend to unite Israelis behind their government at the expense of Palestinians in the territories. Finally, Mr. Khader calls upon leaders of the Arab communities inside Israel to support their Palestinian brothers in the territories to and struggle with them to put an end to Israel’s occupation.

22Sept, 2003

Today’s Hearings and the Potential for Unending Incarceration

After many delays and months of confinement to various Israeli jails, the Israeli military court has once again extended PLC member, Hussam Khader’s, court hearing until December 2003. In addition to the old charges raised against him, that includes, but not limited to, involvement in conspiracies to assist militant acts against Israel, the Israeli court has brought a new charge in today’s hearing that accuses Khader of allegedly withholding information that were threatening to the security of Israeli citizens. This new accusation, if proven, could likely imprison Khader to a life sentence. It must be noted, however, that Khader has denied all previous and current allegations and fabrications made against him by the Israeli security personnel. Khader is a political leader and an elected official that has been involved in political activities that promote a peaceful end to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the basis of a two-state settlement that would recognize the national goals of the Palestinian people, while at the same time, ensuring Israel’s security concerns. His vocal opposition to both the Israeli occupation forces in the territories and to the corruption that existed within the Palestinian Authority was likely to be the main factor behind his imprisonment. Khader has been in jail since March of this year and has been denied visitation rights where his family has not seen him for much of his incarceration. In today’s hearing, the Israeli military court rejected his lawyer’s appeal to allow Khader to meet with his young children. Nonetheless, he was allowed to meet with one of his sisters, who conveyed a message from him, calling upon Palestinians to remain united in their pursuit of their legitimate and internationally recognized and backed objectives.

17 Sept, 2003

Khader Reiterates Palestinians’ Priorities

In a recent statement launched from his isolated jail cell, the PLC member and al-Fatah activist, Mr. Hussam Khader urged Palestinians in general, and all PLC members in particular, to provide all necessary support for their newly appointed prime minister, Mr. Ahmad Qura’i, also known as Abu Ala’, in order to ensure his success. Khader’s views on the matter stems from his belief that Palestinians, at this difficult and perhaps catastrophic juncture of their lives, need to focus more on reorganizing and readdressing their priorities. The ultimate goals of the Palestinians remain focused on fulfilling all of their fundamental and minimal national claims, including the need to establish an independent state, the need to bring a solution to the Palestinian refugee problem and the need to extend Palestinian sovereignty over Arab East Jerusalem. In this context, it is necessary for Palestinians to downplay their personal and ideological differences and become more united in their efforts to re-engage themselves in a political struggle that would allow them to restore their fundamental objectives. Hussam urges Palestinians, the public at large and the PLC in particular, to do more and increase their pressure on the Israeli authorities and the international community in order to accelerate the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails. He calls upon the Palestinian leadership to act responsibly and provide the support for the veteran politician Abu Ala’ to work together with the Palestinian people in order to achieve their goals and live freely and independently from the oppression and repression they have endured throughout the past six decades.

In Need of National Unity

Following the gruesome assassination of Hamas’ main political leader and activist in Gaza, Mr. Ismael abu Shanab, the PLC member, Mr. Hussam Khader, has condemned the murderous attack and, once again, called upon all Palestinian factions to reunite and refocus their struggle on pursuing the achievement of Palestinians’ fundamental claims. Khader also addressed the difficult situation of Palestinian prisoners currently confined to Israeli jails and continued to call upon the Palestinian leadership and public at large to maintain and increase their support for the legitimate objectives of the Palestinian prisoners. Among these objectives, the focus should be centered on securing their immediate and unconditional release, along with addressing their demands for improving the prisoners’ living conditions and treating them with dignity and respect that conform to international regulations and treaties on issues concerning the rights of prisoners.

22/8/2003

Khader Rallying for More Support: 

From his isolated cell, Mr.Hussam Khadder, the PLC member, just issued a statement calling upon all Palestinian organizations and the Palestinian public to strengthen their support and backing for the legitimate claims and demands of all Palestinian prisoners. He described the conditions Palestinian prisoners faced in Israeli prisons as inhumane and deplorable, to say the least. While urging for more backing, Khadder warned that the prisoners were on the verge of declaring a hunger strike and went on to explain how this move may make the prisoners’ lives more difficult and threaten the continuation of the cease fire agreement. Khadder particularly called upon the members of the Palestinian Legislative Council to fulfill their national duties and support the Palestinian prisoners by all means available, including the launching of a hunger strike that may bring attention to the difficult and disregarded situation of the Palestinian prisoners. 

For the most part, since the start of his arrest in March 2003, Khadder remains in solitary confinement. His physical and mental health has reached a treacherous stage. Although he has been subjected to different methods of torture and abuse, Mr. Khadder continues to deny all alleged charges against him. His family and friends, and the public at large, continue to provide an ample level of support anticipating and praying for his release.

Khader’s latest departure: Not to his home but to another journey of brutal imprisonment

Contrary to claims concerning the release of significant numbers of political prisoners from Israeli prisons, the Israeli authorities have decided, on August 6, to transfer the PLC member, Mr. Hussam Khader, from the Ramlla Prison into the Bir el Sabi’i Prison. Instead of releasing the PLC leader back to his family and friends, Khader is now been confined to an isolated cell in the new prison. By carrying out such brutal action against Khader, along with similar acts carried against other political leaders, the Israeli authorities are trying to pressure the Palestinian leadership into making fundamental concessions that entail, among other things, the abandonment of basic Palestinians national goals. Against Israel’s expectations, however, Khader along with the majority of the Palestinian public, insists that Israel need to release all political prisoners and must accepts the Palestinians demands for establishing a viable and independent state over the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, along with addressing the Palestinian refugees in ways that are consistent with international laws regarding the refugees. Without the achievement of these fundamental goals, Khader states that Palestinians would have no choice but to continue their ongoing resistance and struggle against Israel’s occupation.

Khader’s situation remains unchanged:

Over the course of the past four months since his captivity, PLC member Hussam Khader continued to experience cruel, brutal and unusual types of treatment. Although he have shown no signs of resisting an arrest at the time when Khader was detained at his home in the Balata refugee camp some four months ago, the Israeli soldiers, who carried out the arrest, have managed, among other things, to inflict a partial damage to Husam’s home, along with the homes of his brother and parents, and aside from terrorizing Khader’s entire family, causing his young children to experience extended nightmares and fears. Moreover, a significant amount of money and other articles of personal property were confiscated illegally from Khader’s house. While in jail, Khader has been, for a lengthy period, subjected to various types of physical, emotional, mental and psychological pressures that aimed, among other things, at dehumanizing and demonizing him. The goal was centered on breaking down Khader’s determination to resist all fabricated allegations made against him. Consequently, in a rare response to a complaint that was launched by Mr. Khader few months ago, through his lawyers, and as a result of continued outcries that came as a subsequent outcome to the deterioration of Khader’s health, the Israeli authorities had finally agreed to investigate the matter of Khader’s arrest and treatment. In the past few days, an Israeli representative has been dispatched to investigate Khader’s complaints. Although he had met with Khader and listened to his complaints, it remains to be seen if such a meeting will result in any tangible conclusions concerning the status of Mr. Khader along with similar other  cases of political prisoners.

At his latest meeting with an Israeli-Arab Knesset member, Dr. Jamal Zahalqah, Mr. Hussam Khader conveyed several important messages that seem particularly important at this juncture in modern Palestinian history. Among other things, Mr. Khader indicated that Palestinians must not abandon any of their fundamental and basic national goals. These goals include the need to establish an independent, geographically continuous and viable Palestinian state on an area that consists of all of the territories that were occupied by Israel since the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, including Arab East Jerusalem. The PLC member also stated that negotiations aiming at finding a solution to the Palestinian refugee problem must be based on the United Nations Security Council Resolution 194, along with other subsequent resolutions concerning the issue of refugees. Finally, Mr. Khader stated that the release of all Palestinian political prisoners must be carried as quickly as possible, considering that most of those prisoners have been arrested on illegal grounds that were fabricated by the Israeli authorities. This reminds us of an interview made with Nelson Mandela, following his release from prison, where Mandela was asked if he would thank the apartheid government, that existed in South Africa at the time, for releasing him. Mandela’s answer was simple: “I should have not been imprisoned in the first place.” Similar to the case of Mandela and other revolutionaries worldwide, a large majority of the Palestinian prisoners happen to be no more than political leaders and activists who are determined to lead their people into victory and independence.

At this Juncture

Once again, PLC member, Mr. Hussam Khader spoke in support of the struggle of the Palestinian people to achieve their legitimate national objectives, and stressed the need to strengthen Palestinian national unity as a necessary and essential step for the fulfillment and the achievement of their goals. He urged the Palestinian Authority to stand firm in demanding and pressuring for the release of all Palestinian political prisoners, regardless to their political and/or regional affiliations. Finally, Mr. Khader warns that the release of any or all of the prisoners should not to be established in a manner that may compromise and/or hinders the achievements of other fundamental national claims.

Mandela Institute visits imprisoned lawmaker Hussam Khader

After a visit of the lawyer Buthaina Daqmaq to the Palestinian lawmaker Hussam Khader, who is being held by Israel since March 17^th , the Mandela Institute for Political Prisoners declared their concern about Mr Khader’s state of health.

As a result of prolonged questioning sessions which went on for hours on end and during which he could not get up from his chair nor sleep, Mr Khader suffers from severe back pain and exhaustion.

Ms Daqmaq reports that Mr Khader is subject to physical and psychological stress that amounts to torture, including on several occasions interrogations that lasted up to 60 hours.

Mr Khader told the lawyer that between interrogations he had been transferred back and forth several times between Petah Tikva, Akko, Jalameh and a secret interrogation center whose location he was not told.

On one occasion, after being transferred back to Petah Tikva on May 19^th, he remained tied to a tiny chair for 60 hours during an interrogation, not being allowed his most basic rights, such as sleep, food or water.

The israeli authorities are charging him with allegedly financing the Al-Aqsa Martyr’s Brigade. Mr Khader continues to deny these baseless accusations. He says he is being persecuted solely for his political views.

After two court sessions which took place in Salem Military Court, his trial has now been postponed to September 22^nd. In the meantime Mr Khader remains imprisoned in Ramle Jail.

More Delays??

Four months following his initial arrest, and after failing to secure any confession from him, in spite of intense pressures and different methods of tortures utilized in the process, the PLC member Mr. Hussam Khader continues to reject all of the allegations raised against him by the Israeli authorities. Faced with his determined rejection to the Israeli charges and convincing arguments that highlights his innocence, the Israeli authorities have decided to delay Mr. Khader’s trial until the September 22, 2003 session. Mr. Khader is generally charged with alleged involvements in aiding and participating in so-called illegal activities associated with militant organizations in the Palestinian territories along with connections with so-called hostile foreign countries, notably Iran. For his part, Mr. Khader continues to reject all such charges, insisting that his efforts has been and will remain focused on restoring the fundamental claims of the Palestinian people, that includes, among other things, the establishment of their cherished Palestinian state in the Palestinian territories and the need to resolve the Palestinian refugees problem. For many, it became generally known that Khader has been kept in prison for this long time in an effort to isolate his influence upon the Palestinian public and thus, discredit the popular appeal of his views on the Palestinian cause. Contrary to their expectations, the popular appeal and relevancy of Hussam’s ideas among the Palestinian public continues to rise.

Israel’s Occupation Must End:

In one of their latest desperate attempts, the Israeli authorities and their intelligence circles began pressuring Mr. Hussam Khader, the jailed PLC member and leading Fatah political activist, into calling upon the Palestinian people and their national organizations in the territories to bring a halt to their Intifada and resistance to Israel’s occupation in return for his immediate release from prison. In a detailed plan offered by the Israeli authorities, as a condition for his release, Mr. Khader has also been ordered to participate in launching a press conference in an undisclosed location and declares his condemnation of all forms of Palestinians’ resistance acts against Israel while, at the same time, urging Palestinians to put an end to their uprising in the territories. Believing that the Palestinian resistance to Israel’s occupation is legitimate and must continue as a means to fulfill Palestinians’ fundamental national goals, Mr. Khader rejected the offer and insisted instead that the Palestinian resistance movement will only be halted if and when Israel ends its brutal military occupation of the West Bank, Gaza and Arab East Jerusalem, along with addressing the right of the Palestinian refugees to return to their homes.  As a well-admired, popular and respected national leader who accepts the principle of a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Khader warns that the need for ending Israel’s military occupation and the subsequent restoration of the national claims of the Palestinian people are goals that can never be abandoned, downplayed and/or compromised, neither by himself nor by anyone else. Indeed, Khader understands that the offers made to him, and to others in similar situations like his, are simply reflective of the cruel intentions of the Israeli intelligence authorities who, among other things, wish to instill divisions, clashes and perhaps civil conflicts among and between the various ranks of the Palestinian resistance movement in the territories. Expectedly, Khader, once again, expresses in a clear, vivid and determined voice that Palestinians have no choice but to continue their legitimate struggle in order to pursue the achievement of their rights, which, to say the least, enjoys widespread international backing and support. He calls upon the Palestinian leadership to support the struggle of their own people who, like many other nations around the world, wish to live a normal life by ending foreign occupation as a necessary step toward achieving their own liberty and prosperity

An Unending Ordeal: 

On Monday, June 17, 2003, the Israeli military authorities began a series of court hearings charging PLC member Hussam Khader with allegations that range from planning to assisting acts of so-called violence against Israelis. Regardless to all the pressures imposed upon him over the course of the past three months, Mr. Khader continues to deny all of the charges fabricated against him by the Israeli authorities and their own collaborators. Khader insists instead that his involvement in the Palestinian resistance to Israel’s occupation has been and remains legitimate and political in nature. Despite all methods of torture, isolation and other forms of physical and psychological pressures used against him by the authorities, Khader maintained his innocence and rejection of all alleged charges made against him. At the same time, the PLC member continues to urge the Palestinian public and all peace loving people around the world to increase their pressure on Israel in order to bring about the release of all Palestinian prisoners and begin withdrawing its occupying forces from all of the Palestinian territories.

For its part, the popular committee that supports Khader along with other political prisoners continues to gather more momentum and support for its efforts and plans in organizing Palestinians’ public pressures and demonstrations in various towns and cities, notably Ramallah, in an attempt to secure an immediate release to all Palestinian political prisoners. At these and other popular gatherings and demonstrations sites, various Palestinian political leaders and activists, from both nationalist and Islamic organizations, have also managed to participate and offer statements of support for Mr. Khader and other Palestinian prisoners. It is hoped that these and other similar means of resistance to Israel’s occupation will not only bring about the release of all Palestinian political prisoners, but also help in advancing a more just and fair political process that would lead to the removal of Israel’s occupation and the creation of a viable Palestinian state that could coexist peacefully and side-by-side with Israel

Back to Square One

In a court decision issued on June 4, 2003, the detention of PLC member Hussam Khader has once again been extended for the seventh time. Since his arrest, some 80 days ago, Mr. Khader has maintained a firm and unequivocal denial to all charges and allegations made against him.  Despite failures to connect Khader to any militant activities and/or unlawful finances allegedly associated with the Al-Aqsa Martyr Brigades, and regardless to disagreements often found among the various intelligence and military agencies in Israel over his continued detention, the Israeli authorities remain opposed to demands calling for Mr. Khader’s immediate release from jail. Given the potential changes in the current political situation in the territories along with the apparent dangerous deterioration of Khader’s health, objections to his detention are indeed on the rise. It is hoped that such continued efforts will eventually lead to securing Khader’s, along with other Palestinian political prisoners, release from the harsh realities and inhumane conditions of Israeli jails.

Representatives of several nationalist and Islamic organizations, along with the families of many Palestinians’ political prisoners in Israeli jails and a number of prominent Palestinian leaders have been in the past several months actively involved in utilizing every political means possible in order to bring about the immediate release of all Palestinians’ political prisoners. In one of their most recent activities, the popular committee representing nationalists and Islamic groups expressed their deep support and backing for all Palestinian political prisoners, including PLC member Hussam Khader, who over the past three months has been unlawfully detained and tortured in several Israeli prisons. Khader, along with thousands of other political prisoners, have and continue to be subjected to harsh and inhumane circumstance and conditions that, to say the least, contradicts the basics of international laws and provisions regarding the treatments of political prisoners in areas subject to foreign intrusion and control.

Lawmaker Khader’s detention extended for sixth time

On May 21, 2003, Hussam Khader’s detention was once again extended for the sixth time since his arrest. It was now extended another 15 days and he has been transferred back from Akko to the Petah Tikva jail.

Although he is being questioned since 66 days already, the secret ser vice feels it will need another two weeks to try and press a confession from him that would confirm the false accusations still upheld against him.

Khader’s lawyer Riad Al-Anees demanded that Khader either be released or officialy charged, but the court refused to comply.

Al-Anees emphasized that his client maintains his innocence and denies all the charges brought against him. Khader thinks his arrest is a direct result of his political opinion,  his rejection of the israeli occupation and his ambitions for the freedom and independence of the palestinian people.

Before being transferred back to Petah Tikva, Khader was held for a week in absolute isolation in his cell. He was not allowed to see anybody, not even the guards. After this week of absolute isolation he was questioned for 60 hours (2 ½ days) without break. In this time he was not allowed to sleep or eat. His family fears that this method may be repeated in an effort to break him. They are also  extremely worried about his health, especially because he suffers from a heart problem and has not been able to take his medicine since he was arrested.

Tayseer Nasrallah, the coordinator of the Popular Committee for the Release of Khader and Soliadrity with Political Prisoners, criticised the indifference of Human Rights Organisations, especially the Red Cross which has so far made no effort to visit Khader who was arrested on March 17^th 2003.

Through his lawyer Khader sent his greetings to the palestinian people asking them to solidarize with the political prisoners and to resist the occupation.

Khader’s lawyer, Mr. Anees Riyad, after meeting with his client on May 13, 2003, reported that Hussam still subjected to harsh treatment, torture and ongoing investigations. The PLC member continues to suffer from serious physical pain and medical challenges which, if left untreated, may threaten his life.

More Extension to Khader’s Illegal Detention

On May 5, 2003, Khader’s detention was once again extended for the fourth time since his arrest. Raising the same false charges and justifications for his arrest, an Israeli military court at the Jalemeh prison has decided to keep the PLC member in jail for another 17-day period. Despite pressures made by Khader’s lawyer, along with other efforts launched by other committees and groups defending prisoner’s legal rights, and regardless to the fact that he continues to suffer from serious medical problems, the Israeli authorities continue to prevent the International Red Cross members from visiting or assisting Hussam with any medical help. For his part, Mr. Khader maintains his innocence and continues to challenge and deny all fabricated allegations raised against him. Hussam’s arguments remain centered on the fact that he is an elected political leader that happens to hold views that aim at serving the Palestinian public and therefore has a right to challenge Israel’s brutal occupation. For its part, Israel is trying to silence all forms of resistance to its illegal and cruel occupation of the Palestinians in the territories.

From his prison cell, PLC member Khader urges the newly appointed Palestinian government to focus on releasing all Palestinian prisoners. 

On Friday, April 25, Mr. Khader was able, for the first time, to meet face-to-face with his lawyer, Mr. Riyad Anees. In this rare opportunity, Mr. Khader conveyed to his lawyer the status of his health, the allegations still facing him and the miserable living conditions that all Palestinian prisoners are subjected to in Israeli jails. As expected, Hussam remains subjected to daily interrogations and continued pressures from prison authorities in order to confess to baseless and fabricated allegations. Despite his growing physical weakness and health problems, Hussam appears to have a high moral and strong determination to survive this ordeal and thus, continue the struggle to serve the Palestinian public in his capacity as a member of the Legislative Council and as a loyal defendant of the rights of the Palestinian refugees. He conveyed his best wishes for the newly appointed Palestinian government, urging its members not to abandon the Palestinian prisoners, among other things, and sent his strongest words of support for the Palestinian people in their determination to resist Israel’s occupation and achieve their fundamental and basic rights.

Despite Deterioration to his Health, Khader’s Arrest has Once Again been Extended

Khader’s lawyer, Mr. Ra’ed Mahameed, has been informed in a special session convened at an Israeli military court at al-Jalameh prison that the detention of PLC member Hussam Khader has been extended. Over the past 36 days since his arrest from his home in the Balata Refugee Camp, Mr. Khader’s detention has been extended four times. His lawyer demanded his quick and immediate release arguing that allegations raised against Mr. Khader were groundless. Thus far, the Israeli authorities have been unable to substantiate their claims against Khader. In the past few days, several new allegations have been fabricated against the PLC member, including, but not limited to, alleged involvement in militant attacks against Israelis, charges that the defendant and his lawyer categorically deny. 

For his part, Mr. Khader has insisted that he is an elected official and his involvements have and remain political in nature. He has no ties to militant attacks or plans to carry out such attacks against Israelis. Mr. Khader has a long history of involvement in defending Palestinian rights and in calling on resisting Israel’s occupation in the territories. In an effort to block the Palestinian resistance, Israel has been subjecting Palestinian political leaders, such as Khader and others, to harsh treatments, imprisonment and assassinations. In the meantime, Khader continues to deny all allegations against him. In an attempt to break his silence, the Israeli authorities have denied him access to basic medical assistance, despite the fact that he has suffered from long-term medical problems. They also have been subjecting him to emotional and psychological pressure that includes solitary confinement, exposure to extremely loud noises, and lengthy interrogations.     

Today the ban on visiting the Palestinian parliamentarian Hussam Khader, who is being held in an Israeli jail, has been prolonged till April 18th without an explanation.

Already on the 8th of the same month Mr Khader's lawyers were banned from contacting him for 5 days. The new ruling extends this ban to 10 days. His lawyer Riad Anes was supposed to have visited him today. Apart from the lawyers, Mr. Khader has not been allowed to receive visitors or even to call his children and family. We are extremely worried, that the reason or this sudden decision might be, that he is being tortured and that his lawyers should not see the state he is in. He has been in solitary confinement since his arrest on March 17th.