Palestinian-Israelis from Gaza Aid Flotilla Face Extended Detention

Wednesday June 02, 2010 09:46 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC News

A court hearing held in Ashkelon Tuesday resulted in the decision to extend the detention of four Flotilla detainees who are prominent Arab Israeli ctizens.

The Palestinian Arabs detainees (who hold Israeli citizenship as a result of the establishment of the Zionist state) are Shaikh Raed Salah, the Head of the Islamic Movement in Israel (north); Shaikh Hamad Abu Da'abes, the Head of the Islamic Movement in Israel (south); Muhammed Zeidan, the Chairman of the High Follow-up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel; and Lubna Massarwa of the Free Gaza Movement and Al-Quds University.

These activists were arrested off of the Marmara, one of the ships sailing in the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, which was attacked by the Israeli navy Monday morning. The four Arab Israelis will be represented by Adalah Attorneys Hassan Jabareen and Orna Kohn.

While the nearly 700 foreign activists who were on the ships will be deported, it is unclear what will happen to the four Arab Israelis who participated, Israeli media reported. Although the Israeli occupation government has continued to refuse to release information about who was killed or injured in the commando raid on the Flotilla, Israeli officials confirmed that none of the four Arab Israelis were killed or wounded.

After the Israeli attack, and subsequent media and communications blackout implemented by the Israeli military, rumors floated that Islamic Movement leader Sheikh Raed Salah had been killed or injured, but Salah appeared at his court appearance unharmed on Tuesday afternoon.

Palestinians inside Israel make up 20% of the population of what is now Israel, and Israeli officials have called these Palestinians with Israeli citizenship a 'demographic threat' whose growth rate threatens the 'Jewish character' of the Israeli state. Recent legislation passed by the Israeli Knesset calls for the expulsion of any Palestinian-Israeli who is considered to have loyalties to anything other than the Jewish state, and some legislators and Cabinet members have called for required 'loyalty oaths' by these indigenous residents of what is now Israel.

Israeli occupation government court extends detention of Sheikh Salah

[ 02/06/2010 - 07:49 AM ]

RAMALLAH, (PIC)--

The so-called Israeli magistrate court has extended the detention of Sheikh Raed Salah, the leader of the Islamic movement in 1948 land, for eight more days until completion of interrogation by Israeli intelligence.

Sheikh Kamal Al-Khatib, the deputy leader of the movement said that Israel was trying to fabricate "heavyweight charges" against Sheikh Salah.

The ruling followed nine hours of discussion on the legality of those Arab Israelis' participation in the Freedom Flotilla heading to Gaza with necessary medical and humanitarian supplies.

The head of the Arab follow up committee, in the 1948 land, Mohammed Zeidan, and Sheikh Hamad Abu Daabsa, the head of the southern branch of the Islamic movement, were also remanded along with Sheikh Salah for the same reason.

The court is leveling ten charges against the Arab detainees including causing serious injuries to policemen, illegal gathering, participation in disturbing peace, violations regarding weapons, and disobeying police and army orders.

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