Israeli military court convenes on Karen A case, deliberations delayed until October 28

Tuesday October 07, 2008 01:26 by IMEMC News

The Israeli Military Court in Ofer Israeli prison held a session on Monday on the case of Lieutenant Fuad Al Shobaky,  the financial advisor to the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) accused by Israel of being responsible for the Karen A ship which was captured by Israel in 2002 carrying weapons and ammunition on board.

Fuad Shobaky

Al Shobaky was held in Jericho Palestinian prison and was kidnapped along with Ahmad Saadat, Secretary General of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and several other political detainees after the Israeli army surrounded the prison in 2004 and broke into it.

The prison was guarded by European guards appointed by the EU as part of an agreement reached with the late president, Yasser Arafat. The guards left the prison compound shortly before the army attacked it.

During the court session, Shobaky presented an extended initial testimony in which he denied Israeli allegations.

He said that the late Palestinian president, Yasser Arafat, formed a committee to probe this incident and the committee called on any person from any country, including Israel, to present any proof they might have. No proof was submitted.

Shobaky slammed the silence of the United States and of the United Kingdom because of the Israeli violation to the agreement, as it was supervised by the US and the UK. In the agreement, both countries vowed to protect Shobaky and Saadat while imprisoned in the Jericho prison.

The Israeli army surrounded the prison and broke into it before kidnapping Shobaky, Saadat and other political detainees.

Israel has accused Saadat and some of his comrades of planning the assassination of the Israeli Tourism Minister, Rahbaaam Zeevi.

In spite of his sickness, Shobaky, 69, informed the court of repeated attacks against him, physical and psychological torture he was subjected to during interrogation.

He added that Israel refused his request to receive proper medical treatment even at his own expense, and said that he is derived from his visitation rights.

He also denied the Israeli allegations that he has contacts with foreign countries including Syria and added that he always acted within his post and duties.

He said that part of his duties included heading the finical affairs of Palestinian forces present in more than one Arab country, and added that he was in contact with these forces as part of his job but never contacted any non-Palestinian system.

Israel claims that Al Shobaky confessed that he was involved in the Karen A ship and that he said that the millions of dollars that Israel and the international community transferred to the Palestinian Authority were used, under direct orders from Yasser Arafat, to finance a large shipment of weapons and ammunition.

Israel also claims that senior Palestinian officials are involved in this issue.

Furthermore, Israeli security sources claimed that Al Shobaky said during interrogation that he met in 2001 with Iranian envoys who proposed military aid to the Palestinian Authority, which included the construction of factories for manufacturing weapons and providing the Palestinians with the needed technology to develop combat equiptment.

The sources also claimed that Al Shokbay confessed to involvement in smuggling arms under direct orders from Arafat, and involvement in financing Palestinian cells.

The court decided to hold another session on October 28 for further deliberations.

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