Israel: Administrative Detentions in violation of int'l law

Case ISR 211197

The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT
intervention in the following situation in Israel.

Brief description of the situation :
The International Secretariat has been informed by reliable sources of
the alleged arrest and administrative detention of Ms Etaf Aliyan
(35), from Doha (Bethlehem region), on 20 October 1997.

According to information received, Ms Etaf Aliyan, who was among the
prisoners released last February under the Oslo Agreement, was
arrested again while travelling on a Palestinian bus between Bethlehem
and Abus-Dis. Ms Etaf Aliyan was allegedly taken to Israel and put
under administrative detention without any charges being filed and
without any interrogation.

Ms Etaf Aliyan has been placed under administrative detention in Neveh
Tirza Prison for three months. She began a hunger strike on 22 October
demanding to be released. She is now extremely weak.

The International Secretariat recalls that in Military Law
administrative detention means that the detainees have not been
charged with any crime. The detention orders are based on classified
information, never revealed to the detainees or their lawyers. There
is a possibility of appeal before a military judge, but here too the
secret information is not revealed and there is no due process. An
administrative detention order can be renewed at will.

Action requested :
Please write to the Israel authorities urging them to :

i.	guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of Etaf Aliyan
and ensure that she has access to medical assistance;

ii.	order her immediate release in the absence of valid charges or if
such charges exist, bring her before a competent and impartial civil
tribunal and guarantee her procedural rights at all times;

iii.	ensure in all circumstances the full respect of human rights and
fundamental freedoms in accordance with national and international
standards.

Addresses :
Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, Office of the Prime Minister, 3 Kaplan Street,
Hakirya, Jerusalem 91007, State of Israel. Fax : + 972 3 691 7915 or +
972 2 566 48 38

Minister of Justice, Ministry of Justice, 29 Salah al-Din Street,
Jerusalem 91029, State of Israel.  Fax : + 972 2 52 85 438

Mr. Yitzhak Mordechai, Minister of Defense, Ministry of Defense, 7 "A"
Street, Hakirya, Tel Aviv, Israel. Fax:(+972-3)697 62 18

Minister of Police, Ministry of Police, PO Box 18182, 3 Sheikh Jarrah,
Kiryat Hamemshala, Jerusalem 91181, State of Israel. Fax : + 972 2
5826 769

Geneva, 21 November 1997

The Human Rights Action Network, a part of Derechos Human Rights, distributes appeals on behalf of victims of human rights violations. You are invited to join the network. Please check the date of the present action and do not write if it's over a month old.