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<font size=3><br>
</font><font face="arial" size=3><b>Who Needs Food When Yearning for
Freedom!</b> <br>
August 31, 2004 <br>
By MIFTAH <br>
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<font face="arial" size=3><a href="http://www.miftah.org/Display.cfm?DocId=4646&CategoryID=11">http://www.miftah.org/Display.cfm?DocId=4646&CategoryID=11</a><br>
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<font face="arial" size=3>Palestinian prisoners held captive in Israeli
Jails, have been on hunger strike as of August 15th, 2004. An estimated
7500 Palestinians are said to be held illegally by Israeli Prison
Authorities. These prisoners have been, cumulatively captured since the
beginning of the Palestinian civil uprising which began on September
28th, 2000. The hunger strike is entering its 18th day, with no predicted
end in site. <br>
</font> <br>
<font face="arial" size=3>The Palestinian hunger strikers are following
this form of non-violent protest, which was set as a precedent by Kurdish
inmates in Turkish prisons as well as, Irish prisoners in British Jails.
Israeli prisons are notoriously known for their savage treatment of
Palestinian prisoners; (much like the scandals that broke out concerning
Abu Ghraib in Iraq) being the only country in the world which legally
permits the use of torture as a form of interrogation. That is just to
mention one of the downsides of being held in an Israeli prison. <br>
</font> <br>
<font face="arial" size=3>This huger strike finds its roots, firstly
because of the ridiculous claim that 7500 Palestinians are deemed by
Israel as terrorists and thus a threat to Israel’s vulnerability.
Secondly, for the inhumane treatment that Palestinians have had to endure
for so long. The list of violations is quite nifty: <br>
</font> <br>
<font face="arial" size=3>1) Arbitrary and indiscriminate beating of
prisoners in their cells, in prison courtyards and during transportation
to and from prisons. <br><br>
2) Arbitrary and indiscriminate firing of tear gas into prisoner’s cells
and prison courtyards and intimidation of prisoners by guards entering
their cells with guns. <br><br>
3) Humiliating strip searches of prisoners in full view of other
prisoners and guards each time they enter or exit their cells.<br><br>
4) Subjecting prisoners to solitary confinement for excessive periods of
time, for months and even years. <br><br>
5) Arbitrary imposition of financial penalties on prisoners for minor
infractions, arbitrary revocation of visitation rights and extended
confinement to cells as punishment for minor infractions such as singing
or speaking too loudly.<br><br>
6) Confining children with adult prisoners and political prisoners with
criminals.<br><br>
7) Withholding or delaying medical treatment and the provision of
medication to sick detainees.<br><br>
8) Severely restricting the category of family members entitled to visit
prisoners thus denying visitation rights to other close family
members.<br><br>
9) Arbitrary denial of travel permits to family members of prisoners
living in the West Bank or Gaza so that they cannot travel to prisons to
see their relatives.<br><br>
10) Imposing conditions on travel for family members and obstacles that
result in travel of a few hours being prolonged to 16 or 17 hours for a
45-minute visit.<br><br>
11) Conducting humiliating strip searches of visiting family members even
though they are usually separated from the prisoners by a full glass
barrier as well as a wire mesh barrier.<br><br>
12) Providing such poor visitation facilities that prisoners find it
difficult to see or hear their loved ones.<br><br>
13) Maintaining prisoners on near starvation diets that are insufficient
to sustain health. <br><br>
14) Applying rules concerning items that prisoners may receive from their
families arbitrarily and inconsistently, on the whim of the guards, with
each visit.<br><br>
15) Withdrawing studying privileges that in the past allowed prisoners to
continue their high school or university education through correspondence
courses. <br>
</font> <br>
<font face="arial" size=3>Throughout its 18 days, the hunger strike
staged by the prisoners has gained in momentum and exposition, though
nothing to compare with the scandalous status that Abu Ghraib has
reached, snatching headlines around the globe. It is becoming evermore
apparent to the world what these prisoners have to cope with. <br>
</font> <br>
<font face="arial" size=3>With concerns to Israel there seems to be no
common ground to negotiate or strike a deal in order to free the
abductees. Statement such as, “as far as we are concerned they can starve
to death,” given by Israel’s Public Security Minister Tzachi Hanegbi or
"I reject outright all the terrorists' requests,", can only be
interpreted as an attempt to show utter defiance. As if this was not
enough, Israel’s defiance with respect to the prisoners does not end
here. In an attempt to psychologically demoralize and dispirit the
Palestinian captives Israeli Prison Authorities staged a Barbeque
adjacent to the prisoners’ cells, to test their steadfastness. <br>
</font> <br>
<font face="arial" size=3>In the initial stages of the hunger strike,
Palestinian captives made an explicit point that they were refraining
from food given to them by prison authorities, however not salt and
water, which are so vital when undertaking such an endeavor. In several
petitions issued by the Arab-Israeli Human Rights Organization Adalah,
the organization made it clear to the government of Israel that the
confiscation and refusal, of giving prisoners sufficient water and salt
supplies is in contravention to International and Israeli domestic Law.
Then again, when has Israel ever abided by any law? <br>
</font> <br>
<font face="arial" size=3>However the saga does not end here, following
reports that on Sunday the 29th of August, the prisoner’s detained
Ashkelon had temporarily suspended their hunger strike, in an apparent
deal struck with Israeli Prison Authorities, turned out to be a failed
attempt by the Prison Authorities to ‘Out Smart’ the Palestinian
Prisoners. The inmates at Ashkelon resumed their hunger strike the
following day. <br>
</font> <br>
<font face="arial" size=3>What a cheap price to pay for freedom! At least
for Palestinians that is. August 30th, marked the first Martyr fasting in
solidarity with the prisoners, 55 year-old Aisha el-Zaben mother of the
Palestinian detainee Ammar al-Zaben who has been detained for some 20 odd
years died of a heart attack sustained following the stresses related to
her fasting. With no end in site, it remains a riddle, what the fate of
the Palestinian prisoner issue will be. <br>
</font> <br>
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<font face="arial" size=3>Forwarded by:<br>
_________________________________<br>
Ravi Khanna, Director<br>
voices from the global village<br>
1world communication<br>
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