26% Increase in the Number of Palestinians in Israeli Prisons

The number of Palestinian security prisoners in Israeli jails has increased by 26% in less than four years, reaching 5,686. The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported on Friday, July 12, that this statistic was presented to the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, by Ehud Halavi, an advisor to the Israeli government on prison affairs. According to Mr. Halavi, 1,610 of these prisoners are Palestinians held in 'administrative detention' by Israel. Under 'administrative detention,' prisoners can be held for extended periods without charges being filed. Halavi also noted that when the exchange deal for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit with Hamas was made, 4,500 security prisoners remained in Israeli prisons. In the fall of 2011, Israel agreed to release 1,100 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Shalit. Meanwhile, Haaretz reported that Osama Saadi, an Arab member of the Knesset, stated in a parliamentary session that some security prisoners who have been in Israeli jails for over thirty years are deprived of the right to make phone calls. Haaretz added that several Jewish Knesset members, including former minister Benjamin Begin, opposed 'illegal actions' against Palestinian security prisoners. Since 2011, when the number of Palestinian prisoners has significantly increased, Israeli-Palestinian political talks have been completely stalled. On the same day, during a demonstration held in memory of a slain Palestinian teenager, another Palestinian was killed. Muhammad Hani al-Kasabeh was shot dead by Israeli patrol soldiers at the 'Al-Ram' checkpoint between Jerusalem and Ramallah on the morning of Friday, July 12. Palestinian protests intensified in memory of Muhammad Hussein Abu Khdeir's killing. The Israeli army claimed that this 17-year-old Palestinian was among youths throwing stones at an Israeli patrol vehicle, and a military commander defended himself by exiting the vehicle. Israeli media reported that the shooter, Brigadier General Yisrael Shomer, is a senior commander in the Israeli army and the commander of the military brigade in the West Bank. However, Palestinian media stated that this fasting Palestinian teenager, residing in the 'Qalandiya' camp, intended to jump over the fence to enter Jerusalem and pray at Al-Aqsa Mosque.