Israel convicts Palestinian anti-wall protester

Amnesty International has condemned the conviction by an Israeli military court of a Palestinian non-violent political activist who has been detained since last December because of his involvement in protesting against the fence/wall which the Israeli authorities have been building largely on Palestinian land. Abdallah Abu Rahma, head of the "Popular Committee Against the Wall" in the West Bank village of Bil'in, was found guilty of "organizing and participating in an illegal demonstration" and "incitement" by an Israeli military court on Tuesday. He was acquitted of two other charges of "stone-throwing", and "possession of arms". He is expected to be sentenced within the next few weeks and could face up to 10 years in prison. He remains in custody awaiting sentence. "In prosecuting Abdallah Abu Rahma, the Israeli authorities appear to be seeking to punish him and to deter others from participating in legitimate protests," said Malcolm Smart, director of Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa program. "Abdallah Abu Rahma now faces imprisonment for exercising his right to freedom of expression in protesting against the construction of the fence/wall." Abdallah Abu Rahma is a school teacher and well-known political activist who through peaceful means has sought to raise international awareness of the human rights violations suffered by Palestinians because of Israel's fence/wall.