B’Tselem: Courts turning into ‘hollow formality’ for Palestinians in West Bank

[Little Tich]

Source: Jerusalem Post

The overwhelming rule now, the report maintains, is for Palestinians to be detained until the end of their trial – the opposite of what Atzmon said should be happening.

B’Tselem was set to publish early Monday a report that argues that pre-verdict detention of Palestinians in the IDF’s West Bank courts forces huge numbers of Palestinians into plea bargains and turns the whole system into a “hollow formality.”

The extremely thorough 41-page report, based on 260 case files, gathers an unprecedented amount of data from both independent and IDF sources on the topic and includes a myriad of quotations from hard-to-get IDF court opinions which explain a wide range of issues.

Quoting Judge Lt.-Col. Ronen Atzmon, who wrote: “Always remember that the primary rule is that suspects or defendants are entitled to their freedom, and one should not arrest them. Detention is the exception rather than the rule,” the human rights group says that judges’ actual application of the law has turned this principle on its head.

Read more: http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/BTselem-Courts-turning-into-hollow-formality-for-Palestinians-in-West-Bank-406721

[DetlefK]

1. That small every-day discrimination.

Quote:
"“Every year, thousands of Palestinians are brought before military courts on various charges, including entering Israel without a permit, stone-throwing, membership in an ‘illegal association,’ violence, firearms-related offenses and traffic violations,” B’Tselem says.

“The military court has jurisdiction over residents of the entire West Bank, including areas over which partial control was transferred to the Palestinian Authority,” it continues."


I wonder how many violent and arsonist illegal settlers are forced to stay in prison until they agree to a plea deal.

[Little Tich]

2. I wouldn't want them to be subjected to the travesty of justice

that the Palestinians have to suffer.

However, it's wrong that the Palestinians have to suffer this crap. There's no rule of law in the West Bank, only oppression.