Israel extends jail term for Palestinian activist

Source Agence France Presse

An Israeli military court on Tuesday extended the jail term of a Palestinian activist who has already served over a year in prison for organising protests against Israel's security barrier. The Ofer military court handed down a 16-month sentence against Abdullah Abu Rahma, who has already spent 13 months and one day behind bars for organising and participating in West Bank protests against the controversial barrier. Abu Rahma's lawyer Gaby Laskey said she expected her client to serve two of the extra three months in prison, and the last month on administrative release, meaning he risks going back to jail if he takes part in or organises any demonstrations. He was arrested in December 2009, and convicted eight months later of incitement and organising illegal demonstrations but acquitted on charges of stone-throwing and weapons possession for exhibiting spent tear-gas canisters fired by Israeli troops. His conviction prompted human rights groups and officials including European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton to express concern.