There are, at present, about 125 women political prisoners in the Israeli jails: In Hasharon prison (Tel Mond) about 110, the remaining women in Neve Tirza (Ramle) and in other detention centers.
Canteen accounts
The procedure in the prisons is the following: Each prisoner has a canteen account (account in the Postal Bank). The prisoners can make purchases in the canteen if someone (members of their family, friends or supporters) deposits money in their canteen account.
The prisoners have to buy all the cleaning products in the canteen. Moreover, in the last years the food in prisons has deteriorated in quantity as well as quality; therefore the prisoners need the canteen in order to buy basic food products.
Recently, after the elections for the Palestinian parliament, the Israeli authorities blocked many canteen accounts of political prisoners. Because of this it is impossible to deposit money into these accounts and many prisoners, the owners of the blocked accounts, cannot make purchases in the canteen.
WOFPP and ACRI (the Association for Civil Rights in Israel) have sent a protest letter to the prison authorities concerning the blocking of the accounts. They received an answer informing them that this was a decision of the Israel Postal Bank, based on the Israeli law that prohibits financing "terror".
Hasharon prison (Tel Mond)
The prisoners' hunger strike
Amne Muna, Nasreen Abu Zayna, 'Abir 'Amru, Layla Bukhari and Tahany Khalil were transferred to the separation section in Neve Tirza prison (Ramle) as punishment for "disciplinary transgressions" in Hasharon prison. Amne was also fined 450 NIS (100 US$) and prohibited family visits for one month.
In protest, the prisoners in their wing (wing 11, about 60 prisoners) went on a hunger strike starting on 11 June, demanding the return of the five prisoners. As punishment the prison authorities removed all the prisoners' electric equipment from their cells and prohibited family visits. The prisoners stopped the hunger strike on 21 June, after the five prisoners were returned to Hasharon prison.
The dental health care is totally insufficient. The prisoners have to wait months for a dentist, and the treatment given in most cases consists in extracting teeth. The prisoners complained about this to the prison authorities, but to no avail.
Manal Ghanim, 30 years old, from Tulkarem refugee camp. On 11 May 2006, her son Nour, two and a half years old, who had lived in prison since he was born, was separated from his mother and now lives with the family in Tulkarem refugee camp.
More about Manal Ghanim
'Etaf 'Alyan , 42 years old, administrative detainee from Ramallah, mother of a 19 months old baby who is staying with her. On 26 April 2006, the Defense Ministry issued an order extending her administrative detention for another four months. Following an appeal that her lawyer Muhamad ‘Amara and advocate Tamar Peleg submitted, the extension was reduced to three months. On 12 June she was transferred back to Hasharon prison.
More about 'Etaf 'Alyan
Samar Sbih, 22 years old, from Tulkarem, gave birth to her son Barra on 30 April 2006 in Meir hospital in Kfar Saba. Nobody from Samar's family was allowed to visit her in hospital. Her sister would have been permitted by the prison authorities to visit her, but the Israeli military forces refused to give her an entry permit. Neither was Taghreed Jahshan, WOFPP's lawyer, permitted to visit Samar in hospital.
New prisoners
Shirin Masalme, from Bethlahem. Her husband was killed by the Israeli army.
Asraa Abu Khalil, 22 years old. Her sister Fatma Abu Khalil, was arrested with her and was released after some days.
Ranya Barmaki, from Burin, Nablus district
Releases
Siham Elhih from Hebron, was arrested on 26 June 2005, released in May 2006.
Arig Bader, from Hebron, was arrested on 27 June 2005, released in May 2006.
Bayan Elakhdar, 20 years old, from Hebron, was arrested on 3 September 2004, released in June 7, 2006.
Amal Mahmud from Magedal Shams (Golan Hights), was arrested on 20 April 2001, released on 8 June 2006.
Sayidah Ziud , 31 years old, from Sila Harthiya, Jenin district, was arrested on 21 September 2004, released on June 15, 2006.
Neve Tirza Prison (Ramleh)
WOFPP's lawyer, Taghreed Jahshan, still faces problems visiting Tali Fahima, although the prison authorities declared in the court that there is no problem for Taghreed meeting Tali.
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