Israel rejects Palestinian hunger striker's appeal

By Diaa Hadid

Associated Press

Published: Monday, Feb. 13 2012 10:35 a.m. MST

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An elderly Palestinian man rests under a wall decorated with flags and images of Khader Adnan, 33, a senior member of Islamic Jihad jailed in Israel who has been on hunger strike, as they protest in his support, and for the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, in the West Bank city of Jenin, Monday, Feb. 13, 2012. In a high-stakes gamble, Adnan has waged a hunger strike for almost two months, trying to draw attention to Israel's military justice system and its treatment of detainees who can be held without charge for lengthy periods. Banner in Arabic, top, reads: "The prisoners were and still are a symbol of steadfastness and tenderness, let us stand by their side."

Mohammed Ballas)., AP Photo

Summary

An Israeli military court on Monday rejected an appeal from a Palestinian man on hunger strike for 58 days to have his jail term reduced, officials said.

JERUSALEM — An Israeli military court on Monday rejected an appeal from a Palestinian man on hunger strike for 58 days to have his jail term reduced, officials said.

Lawyer Mahmoud Hassan said a military court judge refused the appeal and that his client, Khader Adnan, will be detained until May 8. A military spokeswoman confirmed the ruling and said Adnan will be expected to carry out the full four-month sentence. The spokeswoman spoke on condition of anonymity in line with military regulations.

Adnan is a member of the militant Palestinian group Islamic Jihad. He is on a hunger strike to protest what he says is humiliation that he faces in Israel's military justice system. He is in poor condition and under guard at an Israeli hospital.

Adnan is being held in "administrative detention," under which an Israeli military judge can imprison Palestinians for six-month periods without charge. Palestinians don't get to see evidence against them.

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