Ofer - Fines, Membership/activity in unauthorized association

Translation: Marganit W.

In one session, fines to the tune of 590,000 shekels were set (as part of plea bargains)

Since Oct. 2018, 6 workers of “Al Aksa al Islamia” benevolent society have been arrested on different dates. The headquarters of the organization is in Ramallah. It is affiliated with IRW, which is based in Birmingham. Its main mission is help to orphans.

Atty. Avigdor Feldman represents the detainees. He told the court that the claim that the organization is illegal had been published only in Hebrew on some website of the Military, hence the employees could not have been aware of it.

After several appeals, including to the High Court of Justice, 4 detainees were released on very high bail.

Today, before a panel headed by Lieut. Col. Etty Adar, all six detainees were presented with plea bargains.

When there is an agreement, a revised indictment is read. All the indictments included membership in an unlawful organization, accepting funds from the enemy and aiding and abetting.

Still, all the indictments stated that the organization dealt only with help to orphans and families during Ramadan and Eid el-Adha.

The agreement for Said Aboushi (director of finance) included 5 months of time served and a 300.000 shekels fine.

The agreement of Mahmoud Mustafa  (in charge of Hebron orphans) included 5 months in prison and a 200,000 shekels fine.

Muatasem Rawajbe – a CPA released on bail - got prison time to coincide with time of detention and a 20,000 shekel fine.

Omar Shaheen – prison time to coincide with time of detention plus 20,000 shekels fine.

Nur Khalidi – manager of Jenin branch – prison time same as time of detention plus 30,000 shekels fine.

And Barakat Al Omri – field worker in Jenin – prison time same as detention plus 20.000 shekesl fine.

Evidentiary trial of Lama Khater

Judge: Lieut. Col. Zvi Heilbronn

Defense: Atty. Akram Samara

Continuation of the cross-examination of Dina Karmi, who was previously declared a hostile witness, since she recanted everything she had said in her police statement. She claimed the statement was obtained under coercion and due to promises by the interrogators that she would be allowed to see her daughter if she cooperated.

Dina categorically denies that there ever existed a women’s committee in Hebron.

Atty. Samara questioned Dina about the communication function of the committee (Lama Khater is accused of overseeing public relations – N.A.)

Dina reiterated that no committee existed, only a group of women who occasionally met to visit prisoners’ families. There was no Facebook account and no public announcements, so obviously Lama Khater was not in charge of communication.

The hearing continued after the recess, but we had to leave. We apologized to Lama’s husband and daughter. The husband said he was actually pleased that the hearing took so long – “it gave me a chance to see Lama and talk to her.”

As mentioned before, Lama’s husband spent time in prison, so he is barred from visiting her in jail.