Israel declares stone-throwers terrorist, approves 20 years prison

Israeli authorities failed to inform parents of their children’s arrest or whereabouts, the New York-based watchdog added, drawing on accounts of several children detained during intense unrest in east Jerusalem and the West Bank late a year ago.

Right-wing Jews toured the Al-Aqsa mosque compound Tuesday morning, while Israeli police restricted the access of Palestinian worshipers entering the compound, witnesses said.

As the law stood prior, those who throw stones at cars could be convicted and sentenced for up to 20 years without the state having to prove the throwers’ intent of trying to damage cars or harm their occupants. Indeed, the act has become largely synonymous with resistance, and the mere image of people throwing rocks is associated with the decades-long Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

“Today justice has been done”, said Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked of the Jewish Home party after the vote.

“Tolerance toward terrorists ends today”.

Quadra Fares, head of the Palestinian prisoners’ society, an organisation that advocates on behalf of Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails, said the new law was “racist”.

“You are picking on the person who responded to the major injustices, such hypocrisy”.

Human rights groups have criticised Israel for using excessive force including live fire in suppressing Palestinian demonstrations, causing dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries.

The law would cover territory, including East Jerusalem, but not the occupied West Bank, most of which is under the jurisdiction of the Israeli military.

“Forces have choked children, thrown stun grenades at them, beaten them in custody, threatened and interrogated them without the presence of parents or lawyers, and failed to let their parents know their whereabouts”.

Since 2011 three Israelis, including a baby and a girl, have been killed in the West Bank after rocks were thrown at Israeli vehicles.

The legislation, originally promoted by Shaked’s predecessor Tzipi Livni, has prompted anger and outrage among many, including Israel’s Arab lawmakers.

In his interview with Al Jazeera, Abunimah accused Netanyahu’s government of “appeasing the Israeli far-right” by passing the measure.

Palestinian throwing a rock during a riot in 2013.

The Association of Secondary School Teachers in Israel, in partnership with a group that monitors Palestinian texts will present an worldwide teachers’ conference with a report claiming the Palestinian Authority “glorifies terrorism”.