The Middle-East Observer
Justice
Lebanon upholds verdict over general’s Israel leaks
Retired Lebanese general Fayez Karam’s sentence of two years in jail was upheld by a military court on Tuesday in Lebanon. The politician, member of the Christian Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), a group allied with Hezbollah, was found guilty of providing information to Israeli intelligence services n the two groups, but not of spying for … Continue reading
Israel orders 6 months jail without charge for Hamas speaker of Palestinian parliament
Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council – or Parliament – and member of Hamas Aziz Dweik was sentenced by an Israeli military court to six months of administrative detention, with no charges being pressed against him. Dweik was arrested on Thursday at an Israeli military checkpoint. The office of the PLC speaker denounced an ”abusive decision … Continue reading
Israel’s Lieberman looking to avoid fraud charges
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman’ lawyers will attempt on Tuesday to prevent the indictement of the ultra-nationalist leader by Israel’s attorney general. Lieberman, who is accused of fraud, breach of trust, money laundering and witness tampering, denies any wrongdoing. If indicted, Prime Minister Netanyahu will likely dismiss him, therefore triggering early elections. Reuters, United States Click … Continue reading
IDF court gives Palestinian five life sentences for Itamar murders
An Israeli military court sentenced 19 years old Amjad Awad, one the murderers of the Fogel family, to five life sentences on Monday. The second perpetrator, his cousin Hakim Awad, had already received the same sentence in October. The judges contemplated the death penalty for Amjad, saying he ”doesn’t have a fragment of regret in his heart.” In March 2011, … Continue reading
Turkey dropping Marmara lawsuits
According to sources in the US Department of State, Turkey will suspend all legal proceedings against the Israelis who were involved in the 2010 raid of the Gaza Flotilla’s Mavi Marmara – both those who actively raided the ship and those ordered the raid. The event led to the death of nine Turkish citizens and … Continue reading
Israeli Court upholds law banning Palestinian spouses from living in Israel
A law introduced in 2003 in the midst of the second intifada forbids Arab residents from the West Bank and Gaza to moving to Israel if they marry Israeli citizens. Israel’s Surpreme Court narrowly voted against revoking the controversial law, which human rights organizations call racist. Edmund Levy, who voted to revoke it, wrote: “This law … Continue reading
Prosecutor demands death for Mubarak, security boss
The prosecutor in the trial of Hosni Mubarak demanded on Thursday that the ousted Egyptian leader be sentenced to hang on charges of complicity in the killing of protesters during last year’s uprising against his rule. The Daily News Egypt, Egypt Click here for the full story
Israel Police struggling to suppress Jewish extremists in West Bank, says senior officer
More than 228 incidents of attacks by right-wing activists were recorded in 2011, with 65 indictments served on charges of account and vandalism, but Israeli police is hard-pressed to gather sufficient evidence due to the location of the crimes. Haaretz, Israel Click here for the full story
High Court rejects petition against ‘Nakba Law’
Israel’s High Court of Justice on Thursday rejected a petition against the “Nakba Law,” by which public funding will be cut off for organizations that recognize the foundation of the State of Israel as the national tragedy of the Palestinian people. Jerusalem Post, Israel Click here for the full story
Israel’s attorney general closes case against Israeli participants of 2010 Gaza flotilla
Israel will not pursue criminal charges against Israeli participants in the 2010 Gaza-bound aid flotilla, Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein said in a statement on Thursday. The decision will have an immediate effect on Israeli Arab lawmaker Hanin Zuabi, who was severely criticized for her participation in flotilla, which was eventually raided by Israel Defense Forces. … Continue reading
Rioting Jews to be tried in army courts
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu provided security forces and police with several new legal tools on Wednesday designed to enable them to stamp out radical nationalist attacks. According to one of the recommendations Netanyahu accepted a day after the vandalism and rock-throwing incident at an IDF base, Jews rioting in the West Bank will now be tried in military courts like Palestinians. … Continue reading
Lieberman’s hearing delayed by a month
Attorney-General Yehuda Weinstein decided on Tuesday to delay until mid-January a hearing that could decide the fate of Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman’s political career. Weinstein decided eight months ago to indict Lieberman, pending a hearing, on charges of fraud, breach of trust, obtaining something through deceit, money-laundering and witness harassment. Jerusalem Post, Israel Click here for … Continue reading
Gag order lifted years after undercover Hamas arrest
Israeli censors have finally lifted prohibition on publishing the arrest by undercover forces of a Hamas member allegedly involved in the capture of a soldier. An undercover Israeli force seized Mahawash al-Qadi in 2007 on suspicion of “indirect involvement” in the capture of Gilad Shalit, who was exchanged in October for several hundred Palestinian prisoners. Ma’an … Continue reading
Netanyahu: Jewish extremists not a ‘terror group’ but will be given military trial
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved Wednesday a series of steps that would crack down on Jewish extremists responsible for recent violent attacks on IDF soldiers and other targets, but rejected a recommendation to label them a “terror group.” Netanyahu approved issuing administrative detention orders for the Jewish extremists, as is usually done with Palestinians suspected … Continue reading
Opinion: Israel must enforce law on West Bank settlers
Monday night’s riots merely proves what has long since been obvious: In the West Bank, there is neither law nor judge as far as the settlers are concerned. They can run riot to their heart’s content. Haaretz, Israel Click here for the full story
Muslim charity leaders lose appeal in Hamas case
A federal appeals court on Wednesday upheld the convictions of five leaders of an Islamic charity on charges of funneling money and supplies to Hamas, designated a “terrorist” group following a 1995 executive order by President Bill Clinton. Reuters, United States Click here for the full story
Israel army fails Palestinian complainants: NGO
The Israeli army’s inquiries into Palestinian complaints against its soldiers are frequently flawed and less than four percent result in an indictment, an Israeli rights group said on Wednesday. In a report entitled “Alleged Investigation,” Yesh Din said more than a third of the 3,150 complaints against Israeli troops filed between 2000 and 2010, were dismissed … Continue reading
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