Lawyer surprised as military court acquits Palestinian

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The military judge at Camp Ofer turned to Anwar Muhmad Adayis at the beginning of his hearing last Tuesday morning and said: "I've decided to acquit you." Adayis' lawyer Ismail Tawil looked stunned as the judge continued. "After reviewing the evidence, I have reached the conclusion I must accept your arguments."

Tawil says he doesn't remember a single acquittal like this in 10 years concerning a suspicion of kidnapping, possessing a firearm and assaulting an Israeli citizen. "Due to doubt I acquit you, but you will have to appear in court on Thursday should the prosecution decide to appeal the decision." Even after he left the courtroom, Tawil was astounded by the ruling. "This is evidently a judge who read the evidence and realized it was just rumors that are supposed to incriminate the defendant."

Tawil apparently had good reason to be surprised. According to figures from the Israel Defense Forces, only 0.29 percent of the 8,854 cases that produced verdicts in the territories' military courts ended in acquittals, and only 5 percent of those cases involved attempted murder or murder.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/941812.html