Israelis hold American in limbo
| Washington
Israeli security authorities have been holding a Palestinian-born US citizen, Isa Suleyman Hanna, without filing formal charges or any legal hearing in the prison in Ramallah, on the Israel-occupied jordan West Bank, since in Dec. 23, Monitor correspondent John K. Cooley reports.
US government sources and members of Mr. Hanna's family in Harrisburg, Pa., say Mr. Hanna, who lived in Rome as Mideast regional manager for the Ely Lilly Corporation, has been accused of "contacts" with the Palestine Liberation Organization.
He was detained when in Ramallah for a Christmas visit to his parents. Family and US consular requests to permit a lawyer to see Mr. Hanna during his questioning have so far been ignored.
US consular officials have visited him, but when he asked to see a doctor, Israeli authorities did not grant his request until 10 days later, his family says. Israeli military judges have already twice extended his administrative detention.
