RAMALLAH: Journalists in Ramallah and Hebron held sit-in protests today in Ramallah and Hebron, Palestinian News Network (PNN) reports. The protests were against the arrest of two reports by Israeli forces and took place outside of the Ofer military prison outside Ramallah. Today a hearing for Amer Abu Arafeh was scheduled at the military prison. Abu Arafeh is being held under administrative detention, a contentious policy of the Israeli forces by which Palestinians are held for extended periods without charge. According to Addammer, under Israeli Military Order 1651, “A Palestinian detainee subjected to an administrative detention order must be brought before a military court in a closed hearing within eight days of his or her arrest, where a single military judge can uphold, shorten or cancel the detention order. In most cases, however, administrative detention orders are confirmed for the same periods as those requested by the military commander. While the detainee can appeal the decision at the judicial review, in practice, the vast majority of appeals are rejected. By comparison, administrative detention under Israeli domestic law requires a detainee to be brought before a judge within 48 hours, and orders can be given only up to three month periods." A single period usually lasts around six months. Abu Arafeh has been held for four consecutive periods. The protests come as Israel is under increasing scrutiny for its treatment of domestic and international journalists. The military recently detained a properly accredited Associated Press photographer for over five hours without food, water or the chance to relieve himself. The protestors also support the politically active cartoonist Muhammad Sabaneh, from Jenin, who was arrested this past Saturday crossing back into the occupied West Bank at the Allenby Bridge. Sabaneh's wife says that she has not heard anything from his since his arrests and that the Red Cross has not yet been allowed to visit him. BN
