Ameer Makhoul
Encyclopedia
Ameer Makhoul is a Palestinian Christian
Arab citizen of Israel and the director of the Haifa
-based Ittijah
, the Union of Arab Community-Based Associations, a network for Palestinian NGOs founded in 1995 in Israel. The organization promotes Palestinian Arab civil society and advocates political, economic and social change for Palestinians who are denied access to infrastructure and services "due to discriminatory practices and policies of the (Israeli) State".
In April, 2010 he was prevented by Israeli forces from leaving the country. Two weeks later, Makhoul was arrested and accused of consorting with a Hezbollah agent on previous visits to Arab countries. His arrest was also ordered sealed by an Israeli court at the request of the Shabak (also known as Shin Bet). However, Makhoul foresaw the arrest and had submitted an article to The Electronic Intifada that was published the day of his arrest. The Electronic Intifada also published a statement of Palestinian and Israeli human rights organizations on the arrest of Ameer Makhoul, revealing the circumstances of his arrest. No particulars about the charges could be published either. Rechavia Berman, Israeli editor of the Hebrew news site YouPost, defied the gag order and published the news there. An English-language blog, Tikun Olam
, also broke many of the details of the story that the security services sought to conceal.
A week after Makhoul's arrest, the judge in the case allowed the partial lifting of the gag order so the media could name the accused, Makhoul. Haaretz
, accidentally published the name of the alleged Hezbollah agent with whom Makhoul met. After it discovered its error (or on notification of the authorities), the newspaper redacted the name. Foreign media outlets like Antiwar.com published the individual's name, Hassan Jaja. But in Israel, the information remained under gag order and could not be published.
With the security services refusing to reveal evidence or background to the charges, Berman and Tikun Olam continued researching the case discovering that Jaja is a Lebanese environmental activist and landscape designer living in Amman, Jordan. He founded the NGO, Arab Group for the Protection of Nature (APN), whose mission is to repair the environmental damage caused by wars in the Middle East. Among the other conflicts it addresses, are the wars in Lebanon (2006) and Gaza (2008–09).
Tikun Olam reported that Jaja helped finance the purchase by Ittijah of its offices in Haifa. Also, Ittijah signed an agreement with APN to create a protocol to promote Israeli Palestinian agriculture. In 2007, while attending an academic conference in Amman, Jaja met another Israeli Palestinian arrested along with Makhoul, Dr. Omar Sayid. Sayid is a pharmacist who specializes in the practice of traditional Arab medicine using medicinal plants. He is a founder of Attrax Ltd, an Israeli firm which specializes in developing alternative medications based on medicinal herbs and plants.
According to a 2010 indictment, as reported in "haaretz", both Makhoul and Sayid were recruited as spies for Hizballah by Jaja, who is described as an agent of the organization operating in Jordan . The indictment states that in 2008 Makhoul met with a second, unnamed Hezbollah member in Denmark, introduced by Jaja. He agreed to provide information to the organization and point out potential recruits, and received encryption software as a means of communication. Makhoul then proceeded to provide his handler with the names of six potential recruits, all of which were later investigated by the Shin Bet and released without charge. Makhoul was asked to report on the exact locations of Shin Bet installations inside Israel as well as their security arrangements. The details of two such locations were passed to his Hizballah handlers, according to the indictment. Makhoul was instructed to provide information regarding the locations of other security and government installations, as well as the homes of prominent politicians and security personnel. In addition he was asked to record the loactions of rocket strikes during the Second Lebanon War, and to pass his observations regarding Israeli public opinion on various topics. The indictment alleges that Makhoul carried out surveillance of at least one IDF base, in the vicinity of Nachshonim. He also described to his handlers the vulnerability of the Israeli civilian population as a weak point.
and those in the Palestinian diaspora
. Berman contended that this was an attempt by the Israeli security services to combat attempts by Palestinian nationalist groups to re-define Israel as anything other than a Jewish State. This goal was enunciated by Shin Bet director, Yuval Diskin
, in 2007, who warned that his agency would combat such political agitation with every means at its disposal even if the political activity was considered legal in the Israeli context.
Dr. Stephen Fulder, an Anglo-Israeli biochemist and specialist in traditional medicine wrote a passionate defense of Dr. Sayid, the other individual charged by the security forces with spying. Fulder noted that he had been a friend and professional colleague of Sayid's for fifteen years and found him to be a supporter of non-violence and peaceful co-existence between Jews and Arabs in Israel.
. The most serious charge, "assisting an enemy in war", which could have carried a life sentence, was dropped by the prosecution as a result of the bargain.
sentenced Makhoul in January 2011 to "nine years in prison
and another year suspended sentence for charges of spying and contact with a foreign agent from the Lebanon-based Hezbollah militant organization."
"However, Makhoul and his family have since maintained that his confession was coerced. During his interrogation Makhoul was subjected to both physical and mental duress that constitute torture, including 62 hours of sleep deprivation."
described the conviction as "very disturbing development", called on the Israeli authorities to end what they described as "harassment of Palestinian human rights activists" and said that they were "extremely concerned by allegations that he was tortured and otherwise ill-treated following his arrest".
Palestinian Christian
Palestinian Christians are Arabic-speaking Christians descended from the people of the geographical area of Palestine. Within Palestine, there are churches and believers from many Christian denominations, including Oriental Orthodoxy, Eastern Orthodoxy, Catholic , Protestant, and others...
Arab citizen of Israel and the director of the Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
-based Ittijah
Ittijah
Ittijah or "Union of Arab Community-Based Associations" is a network for Palestinian non-governmental organizations founded in 1995 in Israel...
, the Union of Arab Community-Based Associations, a network for Palestinian NGOs founded in 1995 in Israel. The organization promotes Palestinian Arab civil society and advocates political, economic and social change for Palestinians who are denied access to infrastructure and services "due to discriminatory practices and policies of the (Israeli) State".
In April, 2010 he was prevented by Israeli forces from leaving the country. Two weeks later, Makhoul was arrested and accused of consorting with a Hezbollah agent on previous visits to Arab countries. His arrest was also ordered sealed by an Israeli court at the request of the Shabak (also known as Shin Bet). However, Makhoul foresaw the arrest and had submitted an article to The Electronic Intifada that was published the day of his arrest. The Electronic Intifada also published a statement of Palestinian and Israeli human rights organizations on the arrest of Ameer Makhoul, revealing the circumstances of his arrest. No particulars about the charges could be published either. Rechavia Berman, Israeli editor of the Hebrew news site YouPost, defied the gag order and published the news there. An English-language blog, Tikun Olam
Tikun Olam (blog)
Tikun Olam is a Seattle-based political blog, which regularly reports on Israeli security matters, and is known to have good sources in Israel's military community...
, also broke many of the details of the story that the security services sought to conceal.
Espionage Charges
The Shin Bet accused Makhoul of meeting with a known Hezbollah agent who recruited him to spy against Israel.A week after Makhoul's arrest, the judge in the case allowed the partial lifting of the gag order so the media could name the accused, Makhoul. Haaretz
Haaretz
Haaretz is Israel's oldest daily newspaper. It was founded in 1918 and is now published in both Hebrew and English in Berliner format. The English edition is published and sold together with the International Herald Tribune. Both Hebrew and English editions can be read on the Internet...
, accidentally published the name of the alleged Hezbollah agent with whom Makhoul met. After it discovered its error (or on notification of the authorities), the newspaper redacted the name. Foreign media outlets like Antiwar.com published the individual's name, Hassan Jaja. But in Israel, the information remained under gag order and could not be published.
With the security services refusing to reveal evidence or background to the charges, Berman and Tikun Olam continued researching the case discovering that Jaja is a Lebanese environmental activist and landscape designer living in Amman, Jordan. He founded the NGO, Arab Group for the Protection of Nature (APN), whose mission is to repair the environmental damage caused by wars in the Middle East. Among the other conflicts it addresses, are the wars in Lebanon (2006) and Gaza (2008–09).
Tikun Olam reported that Jaja helped finance the purchase by Ittijah of its offices in Haifa. Also, Ittijah signed an agreement with APN to create a protocol to promote Israeli Palestinian agriculture. In 2007, while attending an academic conference in Amman, Jaja met another Israeli Palestinian arrested along with Makhoul, Dr. Omar Sayid. Sayid is a pharmacist who specializes in the practice of traditional Arab medicine using medicinal plants. He is a founder of Attrax Ltd, an Israeli firm which specializes in developing alternative medications based on medicinal herbs and plants.
According to a 2010 indictment, as reported in "haaretz", both Makhoul and Sayid were recruited as spies for Hizballah by Jaja, who is described as an agent of the organization operating in Jordan . The indictment states that in 2008 Makhoul met with a second, unnamed Hezbollah member in Denmark, introduced by Jaja. He agreed to provide information to the organization and point out potential recruits, and received encryption software as a means of communication. Makhoul then proceeded to provide his handler with the names of six potential recruits, all of which were later investigated by the Shin Bet and released without charge. Makhoul was asked to report on the exact locations of Shin Bet installations inside Israel as well as their security arrangements. The details of two such locations were passed to his Hizballah handlers, according to the indictment. Makhoul was instructed to provide information regarding the locations of other security and government installations, as well as the homes of prominent politicians and security personnel. In addition he was asked to record the loactions of rocket strikes during the Second Lebanon War, and to pass his observations regarding Israeli public opinion on various topics. The indictment alleges that Makhoul carried out surveillance of at least one IDF base, in the vicinity of Nachshonim. He also described to his handlers the vulnerability of the Israeli civilian population as a weak point.
Denial of Charges
On reading the Haaretz report, Jaja's wife, Razan Zuayter, wrote a letter to the Jordanian newspaper, Al Ghad (Tomorrow), in which she denied the charge that her husband had any affiliation with Hezbollah. Instead, she noted that the Shin Bet was criminalizing contacts between Israeli Palestinians living within the Green LineGreen Line (Israel)
Green Line refers to the demarcation lines set out in the 1949 Armistice Agreements between Israel and its neighbours after the 1948 Arab-Israeli War...
and those in the Palestinian diaspora
Palestinian diaspora
Palestinian diaspora is a term used to describe Palestinians living outside of historic Palestine - an area today known as Israel and the Palestinian territories or the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip...
. Berman contended that this was an attempt by the Israeli security services to combat attempts by Palestinian nationalist groups to re-define Israel as anything other than a Jewish State. This goal was enunciated by Shin Bet director, Yuval Diskin
Yuval Diskin
Yuval Diskin was the 12th Director of Shabak .In the Israel Defense Forces, Diskin served as deputy company commander of Sayeret Shaked . In 1978, he was recruited to the Shabak and served as area coordinator for the Nablus district...
, in 2007, who warned that his agency would combat such political agitation with every means at its disposal even if the political activity was considered legal in the Israeli context.
Dr. Stephen Fulder, an Anglo-Israeli biochemist and specialist in traditional medicine wrote a passionate defense of Dr. Sayid, the other individual charged by the security forces with spying. Fulder noted that he had been a friend and professional colleague of Sayid's for fifteen years and found him to be a supporter of non-violence and peaceful co-existence between Jews and Arabs in Israel.
Confession
In October 2010, Makhoul admitted to contacting a foreign agent, conspiring to assisting an enemy in a time of war, and aggravated espionage for Hezbollah, as part of a plea bargainPlea bargain
A plea bargain is an agreement in a criminal case whereby the prosecutor offers the defendant the opportunity to plead guilty, usually to a lesser charge or to the original criminal charge with a recommendation of a lighter than the maximum sentence.A plea bargain allows criminal defendants to...
. The most serious charge, "assisting an enemy in war", which could have carried a life sentence, was dropped by the prosecution as a result of the bargain.
Conviction and Sentencing
The Haifa District CourtCourt
A court is a form of tribunal, often a governmental institution, with the authority to adjudicate legal disputes between parties and carry out the administration of justice in civil, criminal, and administrative matters in accordance with the rule of law...
sentenced Makhoul in January 2011 to "nine years in prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
and another year suspended sentence for charges of spying and contact with a foreign agent from the Lebanon-based Hezbollah militant organization."
"However, Makhoul and his family have since maintained that his confession was coerced. During his interrogation Makhoul was subjected to both physical and mental duress that constitute torture, including 62 hours of sleep deprivation."
Reactions
Amnesty InternationalAmnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
described the conviction as "very disturbing development", called on the Israeli authorities to end what they described as "harassment of Palestinian human rights activists" and said that they were "extremely concerned by allegations that he was tortured and otherwise ill-treated following his arrest".