Correspondence on Facebook and the "Red Sheet": What is behind the suspicions against the doctoral student from the Technion?

Somia Fallah, a former refinery consultant in Haifa, is suspected of having contact with a foreign agent, after attending a political conference in Madrid and corresponding with his organizer - who is affiliated with Palestinian organizations that are outlawed in Israel.

The appeal she filed in order to alleviate the restrictive conditions imposed on her - was dismissed

Yoav Itiel

24/01/2022

Monday, 24 January 2022, 14:44 Updated: 14:48

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Somia Fallah in court. January 23, 2022 (Shlomi Gabay)

Judge Eran Cotton last night (Sunday) deleted the appeal filed by defense attorney for Technion doctoral student Somia Fallah, who is suspected of having contact with a foreign agent. The appeal addressed the stringent restrictive conditions imposed on her as an alternative to actual detention behind bars. The appeal was struck out by the judge in the Haifa District Court, after the defense attorney, Adv. Raslan Mahagna, who is representing the 40-year-old doctoral student together with Adv. Khaled Mahagna, withdrew the appeal on the judge's recommendation.

Last night's discussion shows that Fallah's entanglement began when she participated in a national-Palestinian conference held in Madrid at the end of October last year. "It is true that this conference discusses the right of return for refugees and it is true that it may seem inappropriate or that it disturbs some of the Israeli public," the defense attorney claimed at the beginning of the hearing. "Even if it bothers the decision-makers in the State of Israel or the Israeli police, it is not against the law. It is not a criminal offense to say that I am in favor of the right of return for Palestinian refugees," he added.

Fallah, who previously worked for the refineries and previously served as the director of emission permits for sensitive factories in Haifa Bay at the Ministry of Environmental Protection, denies the suspicion attributed to her.

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Somia Fallah in court.

Yesterday (Photo: Shlomi Gabay)

One of the organizers of the conference in Madrid is Khaled Barakat, a resident of Arab countries.

According to the defense, Fallah did not know Barakat before and the connection between them was on Facebook.

"They talked about general things, about student movements in Israeli universities, which were known to the investigative authorities and the State of Israel," he said.

He further noted that at the conference there was no ban on participation, and all participants are not members of unauthorized associations.

However, the name Khaled Barakat, a "red sheet" in Israel, is associated with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and with "Smidon", an organization of solidarity with the Palestinian prisoner - both outlawed in Israel.

It has also been argued more than once that under the guise of ideological activity, Barakat is engaged in recruiting agents for terrorist activity.

More on Walla!

"Very serious offense": Technion doctoral student arrested by GSS on suspicion of contact with foreign agent

To the full article

In the hands of the GSS and the police, who are jointly responsible for the investigation, materials from which products have not yet been produced. Of the General Security Service personnel on materials that have not yet been unloaded and beyond their contents, "said Corporal Lior Harari from the Central Unit of the Coastal District.

Fallah was released after being detained and questioned, and was not detained for even a single day.

The defense attorney, Adv. Raslan Mahagna, petitioned for her return to Haifa and her daily routine at the Technion and it was even right that she be placed under night house arrest for that purpose. "Her continued absence could cause disaster for her," he noted.

"There is still a passage by General Security Service personnel on materials that have not yet been unloaded."

Harari Corporal (Photo: Shlomi Gabay)

Judge Cotton, however, made it clear that in his opinion the decision of the Magistrates' Court was "correct and balanced".

According to him, he has not seen many cases such as the one that investigates - and releases.

"The balance achieved is the right balance and there is currently no basis for claiming that the harm is disproportionate," he said.

He suggested returning from the allegations and stressed that "sometimes it is better for a district court not to give its opinion."

After defense counsel returned, the judge ordered that the appeal be struck out.

On Tuesday, ahead of the expiration of the house arrest conditions, the parties are expected to return to court.

At the end of the discussion the doctoral student and defense counsel chose not to address the allegations.

One of her acquaintances who accompanied her repeated that it was harassment.

Fallah (Photo: Shlomi Gabay)

Palestinian nationalist activists in the city say these are "intimidation attempts" that will only make them "more stubborn."

According to them, during the past two weeks, the GSS and the police throughout the country have been summoning mainly women political activists to "outreach talks" designed to threaten them. The

Fallah served as an environmental consultant for Bazan from August 2019 until June 2020. Before starting the consulting work, she underwent a security classification, and Bazan received the approvals from all relevant bodies entrusted with the matter on behalf of the state.

" The issue is not known to us. "

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