Palestinians Detained, Media Freedoms Violated

Tamimi is to go on trial Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2018, before an Israeli military court, for slapping and punching two Israeli soldiers in December.

The judge ordered the proceedings to be held behind closed doors and journalists were removed from the Ofer military base near Ramallah, despite a request by the defence lawyer for the media to be allowed to observe proceedings.

“The court understands that this trial interests many people outside of the courtroom, that people know that her [Ahed’s] rights are being violated and that this trial is entirely unnecessary”, Lasky said following the judge’s decision.

About 1,400 Palestinian minors have been prosecuted in special juvenile military courts over the past three years, according to the Israel Defense Forces.

Closed-door proceedings were held for a couple hours before adjourning. “But what I think is that the court doesn’t think it’s good for the court”, Lasky told reporters.

The next session in the case was set for March 11.

He added that European Union Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini has emphasized, following her meeting with Abbas, the need to find such a mechanism, stating that the USA could not be excluded from any political settlement, but affirming that Washington should not have a unilateral role in managing the peace process.

The incident unfolded earlier Monday in the West Bank city of Jenin, when the soldiers were pelted with rocks and one had her gun stolen, after they drove their military vehicle into the city’s outskirts, and were immediately identified by locals.

Tamimi is being tried over 12 charges, including assault and incitement and obstructing the work of soldiers, in addition to “participating in violence”. Demonstrations take place in her village of Nabi Saleh, in the occupied West Bank, every week, with residents priding themselves on their peaceful resistance, though they regularly descend into stone throwing and clashes. Tamimi and her mother, Nariman, were arrested a few days later. Nariman Tamimi also was charged with incitement to terrorism on Facebook for posting the video of the incident.

But it has been criticised by Palestinians, human rights groups and members of the worldwide community who say Israel abuses the policy.

Basseem defended his daughter, telling the Al-Arabiya news channel that Ahed “stands for a cause”, yet admitted he was saddened by her imprisonment.

Irish artist, Jim Fitzpatrick, dedicated a copy-right free Logo painting to Ahed Tamimi, in which she was portrayed standing and holding the Palestinian flag.

The Palestinian leader has boycotted the Trump administration since the US president declared last month that Jerusalem is recognized as Israel’s capital.

Tamimi’s Israeli lawyer said the family wanted the proceedings to be open and that the Israeli military was preventing scrutiny of the trial.