PROPOSAL FOR LEGAL AID

 
OVERVIEW

 Since June of 1967 when the Israeli forces occupied Palestine, the West
Bank and Gaza, Palestinian have suffered, One ofthe most anguishing aspects
of occupation was that ofthe arrests and imprisonment of Palestinian
political activists, During tbis period more then a quarter of a million
Palestinians of all ages have been arrested, On a continual basis there have
been between  4000 to 7000 prisoners. The only exception to this was at the
time of the Intifadah when there were approximately 15,000 Palestinian
political prisoners in Israeli jails. Even after the present Peace Process
there are still more then 4000 Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli jails.
 Furtherrnore, the Palestinian National Authority has already begun to add
to these numbers in prisons under their authority which currently hold over
700 Palestinian prisoners. Israeli authorities continue to arrest
Palestinians in areas under their control including Hebron where there were
30 arrests made this past August.
 Unfortunately there were no organizations which dealt with the special
needs of the
 Palestinian political prisoners. ADDAmER was established 4 years ago to
meet a portion of the needs of Palestinian political prisoners including the
need for legal representation, These needs are numerousm and among them is
the primary need for legal aid and defense, Especially due to the fact that
these cases are politlcal and are military in essence so they  need- careful
consideration.
  Furthermore, with the small population rate in relevance to the high
numbers of imprisonment there is an added need for a program which may
provide legal aid.
 For these reasons ADDAMEER feels that this program is of primary concem to our
 Association and wants to strengthen already existing aid which we provide. 
Previously,  ADDAMEER used the limited resources available and volunteers to
work on providing legal aid to prisoners which though was partially helpftl1
could not meet the great need which existed.

 PROJECT SUMMARY

 ADD AMEER provides legal aid from the time of arrest. After the family
informs the
 Association of a persons arrest, the presence of the prisoner must be
ascertained so that a lawyer mav visit him or her This is of primary
importance and must be done quickly because often after an arrest the
Palestinian political prisoner is taken to be interrogated.
 Interrogation in Israeli  detention centers can go on for 108 days legally
and the interrogation process is known for its inhumane use of torture.
Sometimes a lawyer is not allowed to visit a prisoner and in these cases a
suit must be made to the Supreme Court to allow the lawyer's visit to take
place.
 Furthermore when interrogation tactics are especially harsh a case must be
brought to the Supreme Court to petition the use of these tactics against
the prisoners.
After the initial arrest and interrogation if :L prisoner is not released as
is extremely rare one of two things may happen, Either charges are brc'ught
against him and he is given a court hearing or he is placed under
Administrative Detention (placed in prison without charge or trial for 6
month renewable periods). ADDAMEER continues with the case throughout the
court hearings and follows up on the detainee's health condition and general
situation in prison through lawyers visits.
In cases where the detainees are placed in Adminis~rative Detention the
lawyers must oflen deal with special cases ofthe legal process due to the
fact that a secret file is placed in evidence which neither the defendant or
the lawyer is allowed to see. ADDAMEER' s work was further complicated and
increased by the presence of Palestinian prisons in the newly formed
Palestinian National Authority in 1994.
 In the cases of Palestinian political prisoners imprisoned by the
Palestinian National Authority, following up on cases tends to be very
tedious due to the numerous and unstable laws and security forces which are
decentralized. 
In 1995 the Association followed up on 20 cases from the initial arrest to
regular prison visits to observe and document the prisoners situation.
 In 1995 despite the limited ability of the Association we supplied 207
detainees with legal services. Unfortunately we could not help all those who
carne to request aid. Even the average of 17 cases a month is difficult to
maintain because it depends on local voluntary aid which is not stable. 
If there were available funding for this program we would be able to hire a
permanent staff to continue the work.


 
PROPOSAL FOR NEWSLETTER  PRISON VOICES

 ADDAMEER Prisoners Support Association would like to publish its own
newsletter. lt seeks to provide its readers with information concerning the
prisoners, their situation, needs, and activities as well as prison
conditions. The publication will 24 to 28 pages and will include letters
smuggled from prison about the various issues concerning the prisoners. Also
it will include ADDAMEER's findings and information as well as the
activities done in solidarity wlth the  prisoners.
 Till now ADDAMEER has only printed leaflets and reports but we feel it is
of great importance to have a regular newsletter about the various fields
ADDAMEER works in including Palestinian detains, Administrative detainees,
imprisoned minors, and Palestinian women political prisoners. A periodic and
regularly issued newsletter is needed to publicize prisoners issues and to
function as an information  medium and a pressure instrument against the
arbitrary arrest and detention of Palestinians. The newsletter would focus
on what is being done, locally and internationally, on behalf of Palestinian
political prisoners.
 Four issues will be published annually and 10000 copies will be printed. Lt
will be distributed for free (nominal price will be solicited from
organizations and individuals who are able to pay but alI prisoners families
will receive a free copy).
Several pages will be printed in English with a synopsis of what is written
in Arabic.
For the publication there will be an editor in chief, 1 typist, 2
researchers to gather information on the various issues.


DOCUMENTARY FILM 0N TORTURE PALESTINIAN POLITICAL PRISONERS

PROJECT SUMMAR

 At this time when it is believed that peace prevails throughout the Middle
East the plight of Palestinian political prisoners is heing forgotten. The
fact that Palestinians remain in lsraeli jails, are being arrested bv
lsraeli authorities and are being tortured during interrogation is a
continuous thorn in the Palestinian lsraeli peace process and in lsrael's
claim of Democracy. Every act of torture by a government is a violation of
human dignity and international law according to Amnesty International.
 Nonetheless it continues to be used extensively against Palestinians in
both lsraeli jails and under the newly established Palestinian Authority.

 ADDAMEER Prisoners Support Association, along with the Jerusalem Film
Institute is planning to produce a documentary film on the use and effects
of torture on  Palestinian political prisoners in lsraeli and Palestinian
jails. Through interviews ADDAMEER will document on film the vari<:luS
methods of torture and how they have changed throughout the years of lsraeli
occupation. We will get first hand accounts from prisoners who have
undergone torture and learn about those who did not survive barbarous
interrogation procedures. We will interview doctors and human rights workers
who have seen the results of violent shaking, sleep deprivation, "shabh" and
the other torture methods used by the lsraeli interrogators. Then we will
study the methods of torture currently being used by the newly established
Palestinian Authority.

 ADDAMEER PRlSONERS SUPPORT ASSOCIATION
ADDAMEER is a Jerusalem based Palestinian human rights organization
concerned with the plight, conditions, and needs of the Palestinian
political prisoners during their interrogation, imprisonment and upon their
release. ADDAMEER was established in 1992 by a group of former political
prisoners supported by concerned lawyers, human rights organizations, and
grass roots activists. ADDAMEER is a non profit, non partisan organization.
 The Association's work includes providing Palestinian detainees with legal
services, visiting prisoners to ascertain their health conditions and
document their overall situation, meeting the needs of the prisoners and
their families, and the rehabilitation and reintegration of prisoners into
the society upon their release. 
Furthermore, due to ADDAMEER's commitment to a person's freedom of speech
and expression it has organized forums, seminars, mass rallies, sit-ins,
legal counsel and advocacy for prisoners who are detained for their
Dolitical views.

 THE JERUSALEM FILM lNSTITUTE
 Jerusalem Film Institute is a non profit» non governmental organization
which seeks
 to promote the film and television production industry in the Palestinian
society.
 JFl was established in May of 1992 by people active in public service and
interested
 in promoting film and television. Our aims include raising the consciousness
 around the film and television industry among Palestinians; helping Palestinian
 writers, producers, directors and news correspondents develop their skills and
talents through our various workshops and projects; and participating in the
 production of Palestinian films. JFI’s achievements include workshops in
 animation, news coverage and correspondence, directing, editing and post
 production. Also JFI has organized two conferences around the issue of
Palestinian
 Television as well as Palestinian and Arab Film festivals. Currently JFI is
holding a
workshop for television presenters and directors with Day of Theater and Media
Academy in Holland. Also JFI is working with the American base d Children's
 Television Workshop to produce Palestinian segments of the well known
children's
 program Sesame street.

This project will be one of the activities of an overall campaign decided
upon by a
symposium entitled Torture in the Middle East and North Africa: Prevention, and
Treatment strategies. The symposium which was held in Athens, Greece in June of
1996 was attended by representatives of human rights, legal and medical
organizations from 12 Middle Eastern and North African countries as well as
several
international organizations. These organizations agreed to launch a campaign
against torture in the Middle East and North Africa, scheduled to begin in
December
of 1996. ADDAMEER participated in the symposium and is anxious to begin to work
on the local activities of the Campaign. We hope that with your support we can
produce this film which will be the first of its type made bere in the
occupied territories.