Legal victory against detainee threatened with deportation

BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) -- The Israeli military court at the Ofer base ordered the release of two Palestinian men, following a legal battle to prevent their deportation, lawyers said.

Taleb Bani Odeh was released on the condition that he remains under house arrest in his family home, with an imposed fine of 10,000 shekels ($3,000), while and Mahmoud Abu Zuweiyed was released without prejudice, lawyer Jawad Bulos from the Prisoner’s Society told Ma'an.

Bulos said the victory came as a partial one, adding that six other Palestinian prisoners whose release dates have passed, have also been threatened with deportation, either to the Gaza Strip or abroad.

The men, detained before the creation of the Palestinian Authority and the registration of residents with new identity cards, do not - according to Israel - have the right to reside in the West Bank or Gaza.

An offer was made to deport the men to Jordan, but the suggestion was refused by Jordanian officials.

The Prisoners Center has decided to challenge the deportation orders, and demanded that the men be granted residences.