With the arrest of two international human rights activists at Salem Military Court, in Jenin district, on Wednesday
29th January 2014, the total number of arrests of activists in the past month has risen to five, and the number of
deportations to four. Arrested activists have reported verbal and physical abuse while in custody. Concerns have been
raised within the human rights community as to whether the Israeli military is carrying out a concerted campaign of
intimidation and deportation against internationals.
Violations of due process
The most recent arrests occurred as two activists, Hanni Kamaly, a Norwegian, and a Canadian, were attending a hearing
for Ahmad Atatreh, a 20-year-old Palestinian activist who had been arrested ten days earlier at a peaceful demonstration in the Jordan Valley.
Following the hearing, which the activists had attended in solidarity with Mr. Atatreh and his family, Israeli soldiers
violently dragged the defendant by his handcuffs out of the courtroom. When the internationals asked why he was
receiving this rough treatment, the soldiers took the passport from Ms. Kamaly and arrested her on the accusation of
having “slapped a soldier.” Ms. Kamaly has a long-standing commitment to non-violent solidarity work.
The two remaining activists and the family of Mr. Atatreh left the court facilities and were getting into a car outside
when they were approached by another soldier, who subsequently arrested the Canadian, accusing him of interfering with
an arrest.
The activists were held overnight in the police station in the illegal settlement of Ariel. While in custody, Ms. Kamaly
was punched in the face by Israeli police.
Under Israeli law, the activists should have been taken before a judge within 24 hours of their arrest. However, as in
other recent cases the police disregarded this, instead initiating deportation procedures without following due process.
In the case of Vincent Mainville and Fabio Theodule, (Swiss and Italian citizens respectively), arrested 8thJanuary 2014 while trying to prevent Israeli soldiers from
firing live ammunition at schoolchildren, although the judge later ruled that the activists had been illegally arrested,
it was too late to prevent their transfer to immigration and therefore prevent their deportation. Neither man was
allowed a court hearing as required by law.
Another activist, Sven W, a citizen of Germany, was arrested 18th January 2014 while attending a peaceful demonstration in the Jordan Valley. Like Mr. Mainville and Mr. Theodule, he was deported without a civil court hearing.
“Since the outbreak of the Second Intifada,” says Neta Golan, co-founder of the International Solidarity Movement, “of
the thousands of international human rights activists who have have been arrested, deported and denied entry, no
criminal charges have been brought against any one of them. No international activist has stood trial for committing a
crime. Despite this de facto vilification by Israeli authorities, charges have not once been pressed against an
international human rights activist.”
Activists verbally abused, beaten while in custody
In addition to violating Israel’s due process laws, in each of these cases the Israeli military have beaten the
activists in their custody. Ms. Kamaly reports having been beaten at the police station in Ariel.
While in custody, Mr. Mainville and Mr. Theodule were dragged by their handcuffs, causing their wrists to bleed. Mr. Mainville was also kicked in his ribs and his face. After many hours of detention,
Mr. Theodule asked for water and was told by a border police officer, “If you want to drink, you can drink my piss.”
While in detention, Sven W. was blindfolded and forced to kneel on the ground for more than an hour. At this time, an
Israeli soldier purposefully pushed Mr. W’s face in dirty water before taking him behind a military jeep and repeatedly
kicking him in the ribs.
No help from embassies
As in other cases of illegal deportations of international activists, Ms. Kamaly reports that she contacted her embassy,
but they were unwilling to offer her assistance. “As a Norwegian citizen who was mentally and physically abused by the
Israeli police force,” she said, “I feel the lack of effort and help from my embassy to ensure my rights. I believe I’m
not the only one who has experienced this futility. This is when you begin to question the role of the embassy and who
they actually work for—their citizens, or Israel? The evidence of abuse is apparent whether it’s abuse towards
Palestinians or international activists. The constant violation of human rights has to be condemned and if my own
country’s representatives are not willing to do this and are not willing to fight for the rights of their own citizens
they should withdraw from their position in Israel. If we continue to let this abuse happen, without question, we are in
fact condoning it.”
ENDS