The Untold Story: Palestinians in Palestinian Jails
March 3, 2013 16:06 by Simon Plosker
Tim Marshall
Credit to Tim Marshall of Sky News who consistently analyzes Middle East issues with an expert eye and the rare ability to put stories into a proper perspective. While so many in the international media tend to focus on Israel alone, Marshall is not afraid to ask difficult questions of the other side as well.
This from his Sky News blog:
The death of another Palestinian in Israeli custody has quite understandably generated headlines in many countries, including Israel.
It is the subject of questions in the Israeli parliament, and debate about Israel’s human rights record.
Contrast this with a subject which rarely gets headlines, and which fails to spark debate; the conditions of Palestinians in Palestinian jails. Few people speak for them, their fate does not generate demonstrations or agonised debate, nor righteous anger in the outside world.
…
For ordinary Palestinians, demonstrating against Israel can be inherently dangerous as they often end up confronting Israeli troops, but it does not bring them into conflict with their own government, and that bring us to the untold story.
Palestinians are well aware that few people will stand up for them if they are taken into the police stations and prisons run by the Palestinian authorities in either Gaza or the West Bank. They know that torture in these establishments is routine and that deaths in custody occur there as well.
Tony
7:50 pm
Mar 03, 2013
Like I have said, and will say over again,,
The International community does not really care about what happens in Gaza and Judea & Samaria,, “Under the Palestinian leadership”. As long as they don’t hear about it. BUT As Israel is Concerned with the Palestinian Rioting in their Prisons,, Its Israel who will feel the Brunt of the International Communitys Rage.
Threatened and Manipulated by their own leaders, the population remains silent and hopes for “human rights watch” to do their job. But It looks like HRW prefers to Critisize Israel and her “Apartheid” manners, rather than ruffle the clothing of Abbas and Hamas.Once again The INT COMM, Looks on with EYES WIDE SHUT.
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Gary Katz
9:21 pm
Mar 03, 2013
I appreciate Mr. Marshall questioning what happens in Palestinian prisons. However, he makes it sound like Palestinian deaths in Israeli prisons is a common event. He states, “The death of another Palestinian in Israeli custody…” I wasn’t aware of any other deaths, at least not in recent memory. The way Palestinians crowed about the recent death makes me think I would have heard about any other such incidents. Again and again.
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Ofra Ben David
1:35 am
Mar 04, 2013
I agree with you tony,He should have said that the death of Palestinians in jail under the PA. leadership it’s every day thing and no one cares or talk about it, but it makes head line news when it does happen in Israel.
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J.Ondrá?ková
7:51 pm
Mar 05, 2013
I appreciate Tim Marshall ? comments. He is a lone fopreign correspondent in that part of thre world who us not biased towards the Israelis. Being British makes him even more rare. jo
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Daniel
12:35 am
Mar 07, 2013
I think you meant “who is not biased [AGAINST] Israelis.”
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Mohammad
8:49 pm
Mar 05, 2013
To reply to Mr. Gary’s statement. It doesn’t matter how many died! You clearly showed us that you do not care for others! It is as if the Palestinians are not Humans and that a Palestinian death is less significant.
I tell you Mr. Gary, just like Israeli’s have the right to grieve over the deaths of their beloved by terrorists, so do the Palestinians deserve to grieve over the loss of a fellow Palestinians. Bear in mind that one Israeli prisoner sparked up all this attention, but Palestinians are not allowed to say anything about the thousands of prisoners in Israeli jails??? I have had relatives in Israeli jails, and I have the right to speak up for their innocence just as much as any one.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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Michelle
1:13 am
Mar 06, 2013
Yes Mohammad saying that the Palestinian-Arab prisoners in Israel are innocent LOL I wouldn’t expect from you and other like you anything less,they are in prison because they are guilty of terrorism, murder of innocent people, children, babes, but for you that’s OK why I’m not surprised, no mention of yours relatives in Palestinian prisons? I’m sure there is some, but if you would you would be dead but not by the Israelis but by yours own kind. .
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Roy
7:53 am
Mar 06, 2013
Here again, you are mixing up things. The issue raised by Tim Marshall is about Palestinians rotting in Palestinian-owned and operated jails, where beatings, torture, humiliation and death is a frequent occurrence. Since people like you are more concerned with people in Israeli jails; who will be speaking or taking up the cause of Palestinians in Palestinian jails? Does this show your latent faith in the Israeli prison system that at least your concern will be redressed one-day-or the other. On the other hand, your lack of focus and willful neglect of your own people in Palestinian jails, does it reflect your loss of faith in Palestinian prison system that it is beyond any reform?
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Gary Katz
8:28 am
Mar 06, 2013
Roy, good point. I think it’s also a political thing. Focusing on Palestinians in Palestinian jails doesn’t advance the “Palestinian cause.” But Israel bashers figure if they throw every possible accusation at Israel, a few things might stick, facts be damned.
The old adage about glass houses doesn’t seem to apply to the Palestinians. Too bad, because it removes incentive for them to clean up their act.
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Daniel
12:44 am
Mar 07, 2013
Spare us your crocodile tears. No one was suggesting that one death means any less than the other.
Your little spiel about “palestinians” in Israeli jails is rubbish. It doesn’t belong here because it doesn’t pertain to the topic at hand. The article is about media bias and you’re bringing up sob stories of your terrorist family members and other terrorists like al-Assawi! You’re a brainless twit. If a terrorist in Israeli jail dies from voluntarily starving himself makes more headlines than torture and brutal police murders in “palestinian” jails, then that is media bias. BIAS!
Now get lost.
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Elana
2:15 pm
Mar 10, 2013
You said: “just like Israeli’s have the right to grieve over the deaths of their beloved by terrorists, so do the Palestinians deserve to grieve over the loss of a fellow Palestinians”.
Yes of course Palestinians have a right to grieve over the loss of Palestinians. But.. Palestinians who murdered Israeli citizens and babies are hailed as heroes and have streets,squares and schools named after them as were some of the 1,000 prisoners released in exchange for Gilad Shalit.The murderers of the Fogel family (parents,children and a three month old baby) are hailed by Palestinians as heroes – to Israelis that is unforgiveable and unforgettable as are fake Palestinian media and photographs
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Gary Katz
9:11 pm
Mar 05, 2013
Mohammad, yes, you have the right to speak up, but if you think any of the prisoners in Israeli jails are innocent, then you and I will probably disagree. Most of the prisoners have been given fair trials and convicted. I didn’t say a Palestinian death is less significant; I said it’s less common. The Palestinians act like it’s more significant.
Comparing scale doesn’t mean I don’t care about others. I care more about victims of terror than I care about convicted terrorists. If you conspire to explode a bus, you are less than human. If a mother is crying over her son, who’s in jail for murdering a Jew, I wouldn’t pat her on the shoulder; I’d ask her why she raised a terrorist.
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Mohammad
9:57 pm
Mar 05, 2013
Thank you Gary for being understanding and willing to bargain. I usually face difficulty in debating such topics. I presume you do as well.
My friend, by no mean would I ever consider a terrorist that has been legally convicted a hero. However, I sympathize with political prisoners (and there are many of them) that have been locked up because they protested the building of illegal settlements or the slow peace negotiations.I think that Israel has to change its policies with teenagers and young men that go out to protest in the streets in order to gain their trust. We need to achieve something, no Palestinian is content with with the progress in the 2-state solution. We need to make a change
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Gary Katz
10:17 pm
Mar 05, 2013
A political prisoner is someone who’s imprisoned for the non-violent expression. There is not one such prisoner in Israel. If you know of a single prisoner who did not at least throw a rock or fund terrorists, please name him (I worked as a volunteer for Amnesty International for years, and I spent 100′s of hours working to free political prisoners all over the world, so I know what constitutes a political prisoner.).
In contrast, both the PA and Hamas will not hesitate to arrest someone criticizing their governments. Insulting Mahmoud Abbas can land a Palestinian in jail. Now, THOSE are political prisoners!
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Daniel
12:53 am
Mar 07, 2013
What is your definition of an illegal settlement? There are none. That is a lie perpetuated by your ilk with the cooperation of the Left. Israel has no political prisoners. Name one, you twat.
You talk about these protests as if they are harmless expressions of free speech. They are not non-violent protests. They throw rocks at cars and hit babies in the face. They throw rocks at people. They provoke the IDF for a money shot for Pallywood “journalists.” The set fire to fields. They obstruct people’s freedom of movement by blocking roads, and so on.
Israel surely does need to change its policy towards teen and young adults who “protest.” Send them back to their countries of origin.
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Mohammad
10:35 pm
Mar 05, 2013
I have not mentioned political prisoners in the West Bank. Although it is an important matter, I do not want to debate about it as you and I share the same views towards this topic and we both (hopefully) have attempted to appeal to the world about this issue. To go back to our topic, the prisoner Hasan salamah for example, another would be the journalist who was arrested because he protested the construction of the latest Israeli settlement in the West Bank. The whole world acknowledges his right to protest that as these settlements are all completely and utterly illegal. They also sometimes get in the way of people’s homes and make their lives harder.
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Daniel
1:01 am
Mar 07, 2013
“I sympathize with political prisoners (and there are many of them) that have been locked up because they protested the building of illegal settlements or the slow peace negotiations.”
That statement is strategically broad, so as to offer a picture of complete authoritarianism. If no one questions you or calls you on it, you’re happy to let people think Israel imprisons many (palestinians?). But once we call you on it, you retreat like the sniveling coward you are.
“I have not mentioned political prisoners in the West Bank.”
As you can see the second statement directly contradicts the first, since he was referring to Israel (all of it) in the first-and he continues on his tirade. Shmuck
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Daniel
1:07 am
Mar 07, 2013
SALAMEH IS SUSPECTED OF BEING BEHIND THE ATTACKS ON THE BUSES IN JERUSALEM AND THE HITCHHIKING POST IN ASHKELON.
TERRORIST HASSAN SALAMEH CONFESSES DURING INVESTIGATION: “I TRAINED IN IRAN.”
This was in 1996. Spare us your propaganda. We can see right through your taqiyya, or at least I can.
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Kessef
11:39 pm
Mar 05, 2013
It would seem to me, that if both Israelis and Palestinians, could get together, and work together, they would have economies of untold wealth, education and wonderful tourist opportunities. However, because the leaders, of these countries, have their own agendas, there is little opportunity, at the moment, for both sides to settle their differences.
The status quo, allows many politicians, to make a great of money.
Just look how wealthy, many of the Palestinian families, closely connected to the political leaders.
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Daniel
1:14 am
Mar 07, 2013
I am astounded that at your age you are still as uninformed and naive as you were when you were 18. Israelis have been trying to “get together, and work together” with the “palestinians.” We’ve given up land, uprooted hundreds of thousands of Jews, recently–not in 1948! We allow them into our country knowing full well the risk of attack. No other country on the planet would allow tourism or work visas from its immediate neighbor that is bombarding them with missiles and rockets on a daily basis. We still work with them and negotiate. And they still spew venom about Israel in the media, they teach it to their children in their schools, and they spread it globally. “Just get together?” hmph
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Brent Pudsey
2:15 pm
Mar 10, 2013
Excellent commentary and a vital issue to bring up. It is one thing if enemies treat their prisoners badly but if their own people and government treat them worse, this is a major concern.
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Augustus Silverton
12:10 am
Mar 14, 2013
WOW so many comments here. good. will read em all and reply.
I wanted to say: Hey, it IS surely in ALL countries the CASE, that SOME (in ISRAEL VERY few!) VIOLENT ones can ESCAPE justice by the “good image” of the country.
That is a problem in USA. NOT to this immense degree in ISRAEL.
Drones and US single cases of “killing sprees” in Afghanistan, and the Iraq war’s many unneded anti-muslim (!) US hatred-murders don’t quite help it, but “CREATE NEW ALKAIDA-RECRUITS”, as da NY Times wrote. The NY Times IS concerned about fanaticism and violence. Sure, they JFK. Which now, they are not. Obummie ok, but he shouldn’t hammer against Israel. I’ll write him bout that. No, it’s not easy. No.
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Augustus Silverton
12:15 am
Mar 14, 2013
THEY PLAY JFK.
We have to be fair. We have to disclose abuse, RAPE, and VIOLENCE, in ANY prisons.
For Israel, this might seem difficult, because one would want to strengthen control there. But whom obeys the police — in GAZA? To HAMAS. That is VERY bad. They ARE NOT far from ALKAIDA. The Hamas leadership (Mehsal) openly disacknowledges Israel’s right to exist, but says he’s sorry for the STREET-MURDER of PALESTINIANS, alleged “spies” for Israel, murdered by HAMAS — in the MIDDLE of the STREETS of GAZA. The hamas dragged him across the streets behind their mopeds and waved guns.
it is hamas which is intimidating and torturing the Palestinians, and not is it Israel who’s doin that. !!!
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Augustus Silverton
12:22 am
Mar 14, 2013
da real american is the one who HELPS any other one in need. THAT ALONE is JESUS.
WHO WAS a Jew.
NOT a real “Jesus-follower”, but, in rightwing nazi newspaper language speak I now, haha, he is “SATAN” !!!
but he AIN’t QUITE as good as da ADDAMS family. Nope. Mel Gibson is a nazi. An antisemite. a really evil ugly person, ugly inside, in the heart.
the huffington post tries to putsch the us government constantly. the huffies are the extended arm of marlboro and the KKK — kakaka indeed, simply KAKA. KAKA. poo. insanoes. like breivik and hitler and pinochet and mao and stalin and jiang zemin and iranian ayatollas oy oy oy indeed
im only against racists from anywhere. period. amen.
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Augustus Silverton
12:23 am
Mar 14, 2013
… speak I now of mel gibson, wanted I to say first, skipped that in writing. Pilate was the REAL devil, hitler too, “reincarnations of the antichrist”, if ye willst. mel gibson is the devil.
period.
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Augustus Silverton
12:32 am
Mar 14, 2013
and of course, the “good”, or, rather, the really bad ol’ talk about the almost eternal abuse in all our penal systems:
anywhere: I’d say, I wouldn’t like to be, “even” as a Palestinian, in a Palestinian prison. But this is not a general assessement. There are places, prisons, where people are treated well, and other places where that is not the case.
in ww2, and before it, the nazis simply cheated the red cross, while the nazis were already murdering Jews in the Ghettos, and then in the KZs — the world looked away, until in 1940 or so, Roosie was convined BY CHURCHILL to ATTACK HITLER.
this courage, we miss today. the UK statement against the murder in NIGERIA was too weak, still. !!!
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Augustus Silverton
12:37 am
Mar 14, 2013
US prisons are filled to even some 75 percent (!) with — abusively !!! – so-called “drug offendors”.
Iran’s govenment spokespeople held speeches at the international drug conference, which were simply only antisemitic, not even “anti-zionist” anymore, but antisemitic. 100 %.
The iranian government spokespeople said: ” ALL ZIONISTS ARE DRUG DEALERS”.
This of course sounds like all of their childish and nazi statements of total actual ridicule. They think they’d convince people with their “jihad”. but it’s only a silly “wave”, which IS fascism, and we will all die, if we don’t fight against real massmurderers like “BOKO HARAM”, alkaida, hizbolla and hamas and jihad. they are mad and injust
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Augustus Silverton
12:45 am
Mar 14, 2013
Dear Mohammad, Alhamdoulila Habib, I have taken up your statement, thank You. I also think, that you are correct, and evryone has a right to peacefully protest and demonstrate.
often, the police and army goes against people who DO NOT endanger the state, but it’s some bad cops and bad commanders who let their cops have “fun”. INDEED. we MUST SEE that, LOOK EVIL iN ITS UGLY FACE. I COULD be a LEFT-EXTREMIST like DA RAF, concerning PALESTINE —- I COULD have become that, would I not be A JEW. !!!!!!
!!!!
By G”d, Alla hu Akbar, Habib Mohammad. You have mine Sword. I’d make People like You highest politicians. Be that. I’ll try too. actually. VIVA. PAL + ZION BE SALAAM !!! Shukran. Aruat
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Augustus Silverton
12:52 am
Mar 14, 2013
It’s very good, the will to equal justice on “both” sides.
Does THAT put away with all this ULTRA-HATRED-VIOLENCE by ALKAIDA AND CO ???
NO !!! sadly NOT.
France MUST stAY in MALI. BAMM BUMM. there.
and UK must BE STRONG NOW. IT IS the CULTURAL BACKBONE of EUROPE. IT.
and NOT the RACIST grunts. AND NOT that MINORITY among MUSLIMS in LONDON and UK, who ARE FANATIC. THEY DO NOT represent ANY majority among MUSLIMS — even ANYWHERE.
BOTH Islam AND Christianity MUST be CLEANSED from FASCISM, FROM ABUSE (TO CHILDREN !!!!!!!!!) (!!!!!!), and IT’s now EXTREMELY some muslims in really primitive countries like afghanistan who RAPE and TORTURE CHILDREN. The west was appalled. Appalled. Pua. PUA.
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Augustus Silverton
12:57 am
Mar 14, 2013
b4 u all cry to me “ahh what “primitive” “, I do say:
Yes, there are HUGE efforts of culture and peace in Afghanistan — by THE GOOD Muslims. The BEST ones.
Also those WOMEN’S RIGHTS ACTIVISTS in PAKISTAN who were SHOT IN THEIR FACE, the other one in her HAND, BY YOUNG TALIBAN. the women’s rights activists were even younger than the youthful TALIBAN.
in also GERMANY, AND RUSSIA, HOMELESS and FOREIGN People are BEATEN UP on the STREETS by NEONAZIS.
the “BLICK”, a copy of the german “BILD”, DISCRIMINATES Receivers of social wellfare.
The “Blick” must be accused and forbidden to be furtherly printed. Period. I accept no excuses.
It is clear, that we can NOT let HITLER rise again. !!! !!!
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Augustus Silverton
1:04 am
Mar 14, 2013
also: one year ago indeed Jewish-media-related Editors attacked by antisemite violent people.
We all need security and fairness. Dignity.
I hope this Kenyatta in Kenya is not like the MASSMURDERER IDI AMIN.
And I hope and write and think for it, that we can have a future, in which all People are treated fairly.
That some people are very rich, only few ones, and most others very poor, must be changed. All economic boycotts against Israel must cease. How: An unarmed Palestine which at first is ENTIRELY steered by Israel, without its own commanders or leaders. The self-rule of the Palestinians has failed. Away with hamas and fatah and the violent ones of PLO. i want libs who ain’t nazis!
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