Author Quizzed for Helping Palestinians Into Israel
Author and translator Ilana Hammerman was questioned by the police for the third time this week on suspicion of bringing Palestinians into Israel without a permit.
Last year, Hammerman began bringing Palestinian women and children on visits to Israel. It began as a private initiative to enable her Palestinian friends to enjoy experiences usually barred to them, like going to the beach or visiting East Jerusalem. But it turned into a public protest against the restrictions on Palestinians’ freedom of movement when she reported on her activities in an article she wrote for Haaretz Magazine in May 2010. In response to that article, police summoned her for questioning in October 2010. Meanwhile, she continued to bring Palestinians into Israel.
On Wednesday, police questioned her for about two hours. Hammerman said that from her interrogator’s comments, she understood that her case has been transferred to the prosecution for a decision on whether to indict her. The May 2010 article, in which Hammerman described taking three Palestinian women to the beach, prompted the Legal Forum for the Land of Israel to file a complaint to the Attorney General against her. The Jerusalem District Attorney’s office passed on the complaint to the police, which summoned her for questioning.
For more go to Haaretz.com
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