During a hearing held in the Magistrate Court of Beer-Sheva the police prosecution announced the withdrawal of the indictment against Attorney Ayman Odeh, Secretary Hadash (Democratic Front for Peace and Equality – Communist Party of Israel) charging him with “preventing a police officer from fulfilling his duty,” during the demolition of the village of Al-Araqib in the Negev in February 2011. This indictment was one of three separate indictments presented against Odeh on various charges relating to protesting demolitions of houses in the Negev.

The police prosecution dropped charges after Adalah Attorney Orna Kohn argued that there were glaring problems in the charge and in the police and prosecution’s behavior in the case. Attorney Kohn noted that “Even if we assume that everything in the testimonies is true and accurate, which we do not, Odeh’s actions do not constitute any crime.”

A resident of Al Araqib is blocked from entering his home by riot police, July 2010 (Photo: Activestills)

The judge criticized the police severely on its work on this case, and suggested to the police prosecution that they reconsider the indictment in light of the large number of problems and shortcomings that Attorney Kohn highlighted. Attorney Odeh responded favorably to the decision to drop the charge. “This decision affirms what has been consistently said about the police and prosecution, that their actions are no more than political persecution. Today is a watershed event as it marks the beginning of the cracking of the police and prosecution’s narrative, and the closure of the first case relating to Al-Araqib.” Odeh emphasized: “We will continue to struggle with even more determination, until Al-Araqib village and all the unrecognized villages are legitimized without exception.”