Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court revealed on 3 October 2006 that police lied while testifying against 11 human rights defenders accused of violent acts while demonstrating against the West Bank Wall.

The court acquitted the activists and the Judge in his ruling said: ‘A feeling of serious discomfort has arisen from the mighty gap between the officers testimony and what is seen in the video tapes,’ he said. ‘I cannot rule out the possibility that had it not been for the videotapes, I would have reached a different result regarding the defendants.’

Front Line is extremely concerned about the ongoing detention without trial of three Palestinian human rights defenders, Ziyad Hmeidan, Hassan Zaga and Ahmad Abu Hannye. They are being held on the basis of secret testimony from security forces, which the defenders and their lawyers are prevented from hearing or challenging in court.

Ziyad Hmeidan, a fieldworker with the West Bank human rights organization al Haq has been in administrative detention since 23 of May 2005. A series of extensions to his detention have been ordered since this date. On 26 July 2006 a Military Court extended his administrative detention order by a further four months.

Hassan Zaga, a field researcher for the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel (PCATI) has had a third administrative detention order issued against him. On 20 September 2006 a Military Court decided the detention duration should be reduced, as the authorities had not provided sufficient evidence to justify a four-month extension. Hassan Zaga is due to be released on 15 November 2006.

Ahmad Abu Hannye, a member of the Alternative Information Center (AIC) was arrested at a checkpoint on 18 May 2005. The latest administrative detention order he received made allegations that he is connected to terrorists but Ahmad has denied these allegations.

Front Line is of the opinion that these defenders are being targeted for their legitimate human rights work.

Front Line is urging the Israeli authorities to:

(1)Release those human rights defenders who are detained under administrative detention immediately and unconditionally.

(2)Ensure that all those human rights defenders who are under administrative detention are given regular access to family, lawyers and medical attention if required.

(3)Ensure that all those human rights defenders who are under administrative detention are treated humanly while in custody.