Malak Al-khatib, Israel and the Law.

Couple of hours ago, the Military Court in Israel sentenced Malak Al-khatib, a 14-year-old Palestinian girl to two months in prison, and a fine of $1,500. The ruling has sparked off an online campaign calling for the release of the girl. The campaigners on twitter are using the hashtag #FreeMalak to demand for her freedom by the Israeli government.

Malak was arrested December last year, during the instability in Israel and Palestinian, where she was throwing rocks at a police car. According to the authorities, they found a knife in her, well concealed. That, according to them, is a crime punishable by law. However, one trending argument from a majority of those demanding for her release is that in an area of political volatility and state subjugation, nothing is a crime.

Whatever position one takes in a delicate matter such as this, will definitely attract hate and anger from those who will think you are against them. However, we must address the issue from a realistic point of view irrespective of what anyone may think.

Children are jailed in almost any country for throwing rocks at cars, not to mention possessing a concealed weapon. In America for example, it is called “juvenile” detention and restitution instead of “jail” and a “fine” as in the case of Israel. Israel has chosen not to give it a sweet name (sugar coating) and that has been the problem. Every country in the world charges kids for crimes but due to the conflict between the two nations, the cry of injustice is up in order to attract yet another public attention from the international community. Many have argued that Israel’s action represents the very reason it is referred to as a pariah state and having very few friends. But the reality is that Israel is doing what it must do in order to keep the stream of sanity and security flowing unstoppable.

A research into the Occupation prison in Israel, shows that the children sentenced, pass through a correction program -anger management, ethics, morals etc and they are better when they finally come out of prison. Now if this is the case, then the parents of Malak should be glad and thankful, knowing that she will be a well behaved child when she finally comes out.