ISRAEL TO RELEASE MP KHALIDA JARRAR UNDER HOUSE ARREST

Bethlehem, 4 Sya’ban 1436/22 May 2015 (MINA) – An Israeli court on Thursday ruled to release imprisoned Palestinian MP Khalida Jarrar under house arrest, the head of the Palestinian Authority’s Prisoners’ Affairs Committee said.

Issa Qaraqe told Ma’an that Jarrar will be released to house arrest and forced to pay a 20,000 shekel ($5,180) fine. The court gave the prosecution 72 hours to appeal the decision, Ma’an News Agency quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

Jarrar was detained on April 2 from her home in the Ramallah neighborhood of al-Bireh, and was held and interrogated at the Ofer detention center before being taken to Hasharon prison inside Israel.

She was charged by the Israeli military prosecution later in April.

According to a report by Amnesty International, Jarrar was charged by the Israeli military prosecution for membership of an illegal organization, participation in protests, and incitement to kidnap Israeli soldiers.

Jarrar’s defense team argued there was no basis to the incitement charge and that it was vindictive, Amnesty said.

The majority of Palestinian political organizations are considered illegal by Israel, including those that make up the PLO, and association with such parties is often used as grounds for imprisonment, according to prisoners’ rights group Addameer.

Jarrar was elected to the Palestinian Legislative Council in 2006 as a member of PFLP. (T/P006/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)