The Israeli Ofer Military Court, near of the West Bank City of Ramallah, rejected of Monday a request bail by the Secretary General of the Popular Front of Palestine (PFLP), Ahmad Sa’adat, who was arrested two weeks ago after the Israeli forces invaded Jericho and attacked the Jericho Prison were he was held.
Israel claims that Sa’adat and four other members of the PFLP are accomplices in the 2001 assassination of Rahva’am Zeevi, the Israeli cabinet minister, at an Israeli hotel.
As the military court was in session Sa’adat refused to recognize its authority to try him, and said that he cannot recognize a court that represents the occupation.
The judge turned down the appeal and refused to hear his bail application, while Sa’adat shouted in Arabic “I am fighting the occupation”.
The Jericho invasion and the arrest of Sa’adat and his comrades, in addition to dozens of political detainees in the Palestinian prison monitored by U.S and U.K guards, boosted the image of the acting Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert ahead of the upcoming general elections in Israel.
Olmert, member of the Kadima party, dismissed statements in Israel accusing him of carrying the operation, which involved some 1000 soldiers, is order to win the votes of Israeli hard-liners.
Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, described the attack as an “unforgivable crime” and “an insult to the Palestinian people”.
The Israeli invasion to Jericho and the attack against the prison triggered a wave of retaliations by Palestinian resistance fighters. Also, Several foreigners were abducted but they were all released unharmed.
