There are a group of Palestinian lawyers as well.

Because of restriction imposed during the current violence, most Palestinian lawyers cannot enter Israel to work in the courts.

The Palestinian lawyers' union refused to practice before Israeli military courts in an act of protest against the occupation.

For his efforts, he was disbarred for life by his own union, which subsidized Palestinian lawyers on the condition that they not practice their profession.

But with Palestinian lawyers refusing to engage with the occupation, no one was protesting.

The request for bail was refused; it is granted in only 1 percent of cases, Palestinian lawyers say.

Muhammad Shaaban, a Palestinian lawyer who lives near one of the houses taken over today, said he feared that his home might be next.

Palestinian lawyers often complain that the army will not even tell them or the detainee's family where the prisoner is being held for days or weeks.

It did not elaborate, and the Palestinian lawyers say they have seen no evidence of any improvements.

Al-Haq was established in 1979 by a group of Palestinian lawyers.