Palestine:  Courting Disaster

GB and I went to court on Thursday for what was supposed to be Majd and Abdelateef's hearing. However, there was a slight issue in that the Israeli military had decided that it was a good day to implement full body searches on all of the Palestinian lawyers. Understandably, the Palestinian lawyers were not too pleased about this and decided to go on strike.

We arrived at the court anyway, having heard that we might still be able to see Majd and Abdelateef. The military court complex is a maze of alleyways made of wire cages, turnstiles and is swarming with soldiers. We were initially greeted with the sight of 3 Palestinian men lined up outside of a car with a soldier stood pointing a gun at them. No one else seemed fazed by this - suggesting that it is a regular occurrence.

We entered the first wire cage behind a line of Palestinians and were immediately singled out to be shouted at by a soldier. We had applied and been granted permission days before and were there at the correct time - but of course, the soldiers told us straight away that we were not allowed in. A couple of well placed calls from the striking lawyer and an Israeli activist and we were eventually able to enter.

Turnstiles, queues and metal detectors later, we found ourselves in a courtroom along with Majd and Abdelateef's family - some of whom we had met previously when we visited them in Kufr Qaddoum. As it is a military court, the court itself was also full of soldiers (who took great pleasure in shushing the family and us as we were chatting) - including the judge.

Majd and Abdelateef were brought in - giving me major flashbacks from when we were taken to court. Like us, their handcuffs had been removed as they entered, leaving them just in leg shackles. Unfortunately for them, leg shackles are incredibly uncomfortable - especially if you have a soldier right behind you ordering you to 'go faster!'

The two men looked so relieved to see their family - they immediately broke into smiles and conducted hurried communications through nods, waves and mouthed questions. We waved to them as well and I think that they recognised us from the time that we spent together (the bit that they weren't blindfolded for, that is). They were still wearing the same clothes that they were arrested in - after two days in prison in the same clothes I was thoroughly uncomfortable - I can't imagine three weeks worth of it.

The hearing was short and held in Hebrew, with an Arabic translator. The conclusion was that their full hearing would be delayed once more until Monday - giving us a bit more time to garner international support for freedom for Majd and Abdelateef - so, PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION NOW telling the judge that they should not imprison these men on evidence which has already been shown to be doubtful in our case. 

It seemed appropriate following the hearing to attend the regular Friday demonstration in Kufr Qaddoum today - for the first time since being arrested there, three weeks ago. I was most certainly not without anxiety. For the first time in many weeks, the army had not set up roadblocks or invaded the village before the demonstration. All I could think was that they were trying to lull us into a false sense of security.

GB and I in front of Majd and Abdelateef's house at the demonstration today

The soldiers did end up invading the village many times in the demonstration - prompting cries of 'YALLA' and a lot of running away as they chased protesters - at one point we ended up running down towards the olive groves that we were caught in previously, but luckily we didn't end up having to reenact our arrest. The soldiers also broke into two homes, using them as vantage points to attack the village more easily. We found out at the end of the demonstration that they had entered one home and arrested a Palestinian man and his cousin who had been visiting from Jordan, neither of whom were reportedly at the demonstration. An Israeli activist was also arrested.

I can't see an end to these series of arrests of Palestinians - each time the men (they are pretty much invariably men) are likely to be sentenced to several months of jail-time, probably in a plea bargain situation, as pleading innocent is a sure way to more time in detention, waiting for a trial at which you are likely to be found guilty anyway. 

However, if the Israeli prison system affects these young men as it did me, then after they have been arrested, beaten, processed and eventually spewed out, they will be more active, more revolutionary and more determined. Israel may be creating its own worst enemy.