ISRAEL: Palestinian teen”s trial starts behind closed doors

The trials of a prominent Palestinian teen activist and her mother have begun behind closed doors after an Israeli military judge banned media from entering the court. Ahed Tamimi, 17, was arrested in December after a video of her slapping and hitting two Israeli officials outside of her house in the village of Nabi Saleh […]

The trials of a prominent Palestinian teen activist and her mother have begun behind closed doors after an Israeli military judge banned media from entering the court.

Ahed Tamimi, 17, was arrested in December after a video of her slapping and hitting two Israeli officials outside of her house in the village of Nabi Saleh went viral. Her mother, Nariman, was arrested soon after. 

Court proceedings began on Tuesday at Israel’s Ofer detention centre, with only family members allowed into the hearing  after the judge barred reporters despite a request for a public trial by Gaby Lasky, the lawyer of the Tamimis.  

“The court decided to close the doors because they think that it’s not good for Ahed. But what I think is that the court doesn’t think it’s good for the court,” Lasky told reporters. 

The hearing was the first court session since the judge ruled last month to keep the mother and daughter in Israeli custody for the duration of their trials.