Human rights defender Mr Ameer Makhoul was convicted of being involved in espionage operations with the Lebanese group Hizbullah. According to a statement from the Israeli Justice Ministry, Mr Ameer Makhoul confessed to, and was found guilty of espionage and aggravating espionage by the Haifa district court. He also pleaded guilty to charges of contact with a foreign agent and conspiracy to aid the enemy in time of war. While he was found guilty of the former, the state dropped the charge of assisting the enemy in time of war. Ameer Makhoul will be sentenced in December.

Mr Ameer Makhoul vehemently denies the charges against him, and has previously stated before the Magistrate's court in Petah Tikva that he had admitted under duress to false allegations as a result of the harsh interrogation methods used against him. According to Front Line's sources, the interrogation methods used against Amir Makhoul during his initial incommunicado detention -- which began with his arrest on 6 May 2010 -- included sleep deprivation and constant interrogation while being tightly shackled to an undersized chair in such a way as to cause him excruciating pain.

Ameer Makhoul serves as the General Director of Ittijah – The Union of Arab Community-Based Associations, an NGO which holds consultative status with the UN, and also as Chairman of the Public Committee for the Defence of Political Freedom in the framework of the High Follow-up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel. In this position, he engages primarily in monitoring, and denouncing restrictions on the political freedoms of the Arab citizens in Israel, including their leaders.

Front Line appeals to the Israeli authorities to drop all charges against human rights defender Ameer Makhoul and immediately and unconditionally release him. Front Line also calls on the Israeli authorities to act in accordance with international law and permit the freedom of peaceful assembly, which is a basic human right. Front Line also calls on the Israeli authorities to carry out an independent, impartial, and thorough investigation into allegations of ill-treatment while in detention, in particular incommunicado detention which is a grave breach of international human rights law.

please see the previous update of 23 June,2010 of Front Line