[NYTr] Palestinian Uprising ("riot") in Israeli jail

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

BBC - Oct 22, 2007
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7056961.stm

Palestinians riot in Israel jail

By Aleem Maqbool
BBC News, Ramallah 

Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners have clashed with Israeli guards at a
prison in the Negev desert, southern Israel.

Fifteen Palestinians and 15 guards were hurt, Israeli officials said.

The Israeli authorities say the riot started during a routine search
but the Palestinian Authority said it was "unacceptable practices at
the jail".

More than 2,000 Palestinians are held in Ketziot Prison. At one point,
some of the camp was on fire as prisoners battled with their guards.

Palestinian officials say they believe the number of wounded is far
higher and that 10 of the injured prisoners needed hospital treatment.

International complaint

Violence broke out overnight as Israeli guards searched the tents that
serve as living quarters. 

The Israeli authorities brought the situation under control within an
hour but have been accused by Palestinian officials of using violent
means and of provoking the prisoners in the first place.

"The Israelis did what they did against our prisoners without any
reason. They entered the sections at midnight to search the Palestinian
prisoners' rooms," Ashraf al-Ajrami, the Palestinian minister for
prisoner affairs said.

"They used forbidden weapons, rubber bullets - it is unacceptable."

Mr Ajrami says he has contacted the Israeli government and
international human rights organisations to complain about the incident.

The Israel Prisons Authority says it used the correct response in light
of the endangerment of the lives of prison officers.