Jerusalem – Top Israeli Court Delays Case Of Palestinian Hunger-Striker

Jerusalem – Israel’s Supreme Court has delayed a decision on whether to free a hunger-striking Palestinian prisoner.

The court on Monday heard the petition to free the prisoner, Mohammed Allan, on health grounds. The petition was raised by his lawyer.

Allan is on the 63rd day of his hunger-strike in protest of his detention by Israel without charge. He slipped into unconsciousness on Friday and is being treated at an Israeli hospital.

The court says it will make its decision on Wednesday but has asked the sides in the meantime to try and reach a compromise on the matter.

Israel fears the death of a prisoner on a hunger strike could trigger Palestinian unrest.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian attacker after he stabbed an Israeli police officer at a West Bank checkpoint on Monday, the police and the military said.

According to Israeli police spokeswoman Luba Samri, the attacker approached the checkpoint, telling border police officers there that he felt unwell. As he got closer, he pulled out a knife and stabbed one of the officers, who was slightly wounded. Another officer then fatally shot the attacker, Samri said.

The attack was the third stabbing since Saturday, when two Palestinians were shot, one fatally, after they attacked security forces in two separate incidents in the West Bank. A Palestinian assailant was also shot dead in another West Bank stabbing earlier this month.

Tensions have been high since the July arson attack against a Palestinian West Bank home, when an 18-month-old toddler was burned to death. The child’s father later died from wounds he suffered in the attack while his mother and 4-year-old brother were seriously wounded.

Palestinians and Israelis are also watching the fate of a Palestinian prisoner who has been on a hunger strike in protest of his detention without charge.

Israel’s Supreme Court is hearing a petition on Monday to free the prisoner, Mohammed Allan, on health grounds. On Friday, the 60th day of his hunger strike, Allan slipped into unconsciousness and is being treated in an Israeli hospital.

Israel says Allan is being held for his activities with the Islamic Jihad, a Palestinian militant group that has carried out numerous violent attacks against civilians.

Israel recently passed a law that allows a judge to sanction the force-feeding or administration of medical treatment to prisoners on hunger strike, if there is a threat to the inmate’s life. But it’s still unclear if the contentious procedure will be carried out in Allan’s case.

Israel says the law is needed to deter Palestinian detainees from hunger strikes to pressure Israel for their release or other demands. Israel fears the death of a prisoner on a hunger strike could trigger Palestinian unrest amid the stalled peace negotiations. Critics say force-feeding amounts to torture.