The Palestinian news agency, Ma’an, reported on Wednesday that the Israeli public prosecution has postponed sentencing Hatem Abd al-Qader, an official in charge of the Jerusalem Folder in the Fatah Movement, to November 30, 2010. Al-Qader is accused of violating a military order of the commander of the home front, that prevented him from entering the al-Aqsa Mosque, and also for causing incitement.The Israeli public prosecution demanded that he be imprisoned. However, his defense lawyer requested the court postpone the case.
The defense lawyer said that the public prosecution demand to imprison al-Qader is unprecedented. The defense maintains that such prosecution demand reflects escalation to deter al-Qader and others involved for holding positions and carrying out activities involving issues of Jerusalem and Israeli practices.
He added that it is the first time the demand for imprisonment was made, and that the unprecedented demand may indicate a personal bias against al-Qader.
