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Popular Struggle Coordination Committee British Consul General Heads European Diplomats Attending Bil'in's Abdallah Abu Rahmah's Appeal The UK's Consul General in Jerusalem attended the appeal hearing in the case of Abdallah Abu Rahmah at the Ofer Military Court of Appeals today, along with many other European diplomats. Former US president Jimmy Carter and The Elder issued a statement calling for Abu Rahmah's immediate release earlier today. British Consul General, Sir Vincent Fean, headed a mission of more than a dozen European diplomats from various countries today, at the Ofer Military Court of Appeals. The diplomats, from the UK, Spain, France, Belgium, Germany, Malta and Denmark, as well as from the EU itself, all attended a hearing in the military prosecution petition to aggravate the already harsh esntence of Bil'in protest organizer, Abdallah Abu Rahmah. Sir Vincent Fean gave a short statement to the press, noting his support EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton's statement labeling of Abu Rahmah as a human rights defender, and noted that he had already finished serving his sentence last month. Last month, British Foreign Minister, William Hague, met with leading Palestinian grassroots organizers in an unprecedented show of support in face of ongoing Israeli repression. Earlier today, former US president Jimmy Carter and The Elders, a group of eminent global leaders, called for Abdallah Abu Rahmah's immediate release. Carter said in the Elders' release that, "Israeli military prosecutors want to extend Abdallah Abu Rahmah's sentence as a deterrent to others who may follow his example. The Elders believe that his example of non-violent resistance against the occupation is a model that others should follow". Members of The Elders met Abu Rahmah last year in the West Bank village of Bil’in where he has played a leading role in weekly protests against the occupation and settlements. "Desmond Tutu, Ela Bhatt, Gro Brundtland, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Jimmy Carter and Mary Robinson were impressed by Abu Rahmah and praised his wise leadership of effective, non-violent civil action", the statement said. On October 11 2010, Abu Rahmah was sentenced to twelve months imprisonment for his prominent role in Bil'in's successful campaign against the construction of Israel's Separation Barrier on its lands. Abu Rahmah was convicted of two Freedom of Expression charges - incitement and organizing illegal demonstrations, but was cleared of all charges connecting him with direct violence. Abu Rahmah was to be released from prison on November 18th, when his prison term ended, but was kept in jail on the order of the Military Court of Appeals. The controversial decision directly conflicts with the jurisprudence of the Israeli Hight Court on the issue, instructing that only in the most extenuating of circumstances should a prisoner be kept under arrest after his term has been served. After ordering that Abu Rahmah be kept in detention past his release date of October 18th, the Military Court of Appeals heard the prosecution's appeal today demanding to aggravate the one-year sentence imposed on Abu Rahmah. The prosecution is asking the court to harshen the sentence so that it exceeds two years imprisonment. The prosecution argued that Abdallah Abu Rahmah's case is more severe than fellow Bil'in leader Adeed Abu Rahmah's case, who has almost completed a similar sentence related to organizing demonstrations in Bil'in. Today's appeal was attended by diplomats from the United Kingdom, the European Union, the European Commission, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Denmark and France. The head of the Maltese diplomatic mission was also on hand to hear the appeal. There is no scheduled date for a decision from the military judge in the appeal. Abu Rahmah will remain in military prison until the sentence is read. This could take months. Abu Rahmah was declared a human rights defender by the European Union. His conviction and sentence generated international outrage, and was denounced by human rights organizations and the international community alike, including EU foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton.
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