In Ms Jarrar’s case, there have been no charges. She is a political prisoner of Israel. Ms Jarrar could spend the rest of her life in jail and she is not the only Palestinian MP in jail. A country is not a democracy if it has political prisoners.
Full motion
Senator Rhiannon to move on the next day of sitting:
That the Senate—
(a) notes that:
(i) Ms Khalida Jarrar is an elected member of Palestinian Legislative Council,
(ii) on 2 July 2017, Ms Jarrar was arrested in a pre-dawn raid on her home by the Israeli military and held under administrative detention orders,
(iii) Ms Jarrar has been under renewed administrative detention orders since July 2017 that was recently extended by a further four months,
(iv) the intelligence under which Ms Jarrar is being held has not been disclosed by the Israeli military; and
(b) calls on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to urge the Government of Israel to:
(i) disclose the details of the intelligence regarding Ms Jarrar’s detention, and
(ii) provide avenues for Ms Jarrar to defend herself in a fair and open trial.
Full speech
Senator RHIANNON (New South Wales) (16:19): I ask that general business notice of motion No. 891 standing in my name for today relating to Ms Khalida Jarrar be taken as a formal motion.
The PRESIDENT: Is there any objection?
Senator McGrath: Yes.
The PRESIDENT: There is an objection to formality being granted.
Senator RHIANNON: I seek leave to make a short statement.
The PRESIDENT: Leave is granted for one minute.
Senator RHIANNON: Khalida Jarrar is an elected Palestinian parliamentarian who has been imprisoned by the Israeli government. She has been in jail for a year. The intelligence under which Ms Jarrar is being held has not been disclosed by the Israeli military. After her arrest in 2017, she said the occupying state does not respect the rights of Palestinian parliamentarians, their immunity, their right to be politically active and their right to freedom of expression. The Israeli government practice of arbitrary detention is a violation of international laws, particularly articles 78 and 72 of the 4th Geneva convention. These articles state that an accused individual has the right to defend themselves. In Ms Jarrar’s case, there have been no charges. She is a political prisoner of Israel. Ms Jarrar could spend the rest of her life in jail and she is not the only Palestinian MP in jail. A country is not a democracy if it has political prisoners.