« Press Release on Investigation with Civil Society Representatives »

Press Release

The Israeli counter-intelligence and internal security service

Campaign against Palestinian Civil Society in Israel

Investigation of Relations with the Arab World

On 12/07/2007, The Israeli Shabak summoned a number of Palestinian researchers and activists, namely D^r. Omar Sa’eed, D^r. Kameel Makhoul and Mr. Mustafa Natour, Head of Ahali Center for Community Development for investigation (interrogation) at their headquarters in al Jalameh prison near Haifa city.

This was one of the unfrequent times when an investigation as such was led by the Shabak rather than the Israeli Police Forces. The investigation process lasted for four full hours and was simultaneously conducted with the three representatives.

The Shabak, with this investigation, aimed at closely examining links, cooperation and ties with the Arab regional and Palestinian civil society and at groping relations, on both organizational and personal levels, with Palestinian political leaderships locally and in Jordan. This investigation aimed, as well, at exploring relations, particularly, with the Arab Group for the Protection of Nature, Jordan whose work focuses on the protection and planting of olive trees on Palestinian lands which were isolated and separated by the Israeli Apartheid wall.

Furthermore, the investigation included questions about inter-Palestinian relations amongst civil society organizations in Israel and the role of certain Palestinian NGOs and institutions including Ittijah-The Union of Arab Community Based Associations, al Ahali Center for Community Development and The Galilee Society for Health Services. Questioning about Haifa Covenant and the consultation meeting held in Jordan earlier in 2006 was on the investigation’s agenda as well.

With this investigation, the Israeli Shabak aims at escalating its campaign to oppress the work and role of Palestinian Civil Society Organizations in Israel especially following the statement of Head of the Shabak security agency, Yuval Diskin, declaring the Palestinians in Israel as a strategic threat to the State’s well being.

Ittijah-The Union of Arab Community Based Associations sees this as an escalation in the Shabak’s policy of political persecution of both individuals and organizations which blocks all attempts for linkage with Arabs and Palestinians all over the world.

For years, Ittijah and members sought to develop and consolidate relations with the Arab World and with our Palestinian brothers everywhere. We believe that this represents part of our struggle for the fight against normalization with Israel, which certain funding agencies try to impose, through the implementation of projects under the titles of ‘strengthening democracy’ and ‘fighting terror’.

This serious escalation by the Israeli Shabak follows a number of other actions in this direction ; the case of the Islamic movement and Sheikh Ra’ed Salah, Political persecution of D^r. Azmi Bishara, and harassment of political leaders and figures at Ben Gurion International Airport all constitute a chain of actions targeting the Palestinian political voice in Israel.

Consolidation of relations with Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza and in the Diapora is an important and central goal for the Palestinian Civil Society in Israel, which we seek to further develop and foster. Therefore, we affirm our efforts to protect the Palestinian Civil Society’s right to intercommunicate with our Palestinian brothers everywhere around the globe. This can only be achieved through our fostered efforts and struggle against the Shabak’s policy to oppress our voice.

Ameer Makhoul
General Director
Ittijah - Union of Arab Community Based Associations
(UN-ECOSOC Special Consultative Status)
P.O.Box 9577 Haifa 31095
Tel : +972 4 8507110
Fax : +972 4 8507241
Mobile : +972 54 4862171
www.ittijah.org