Prometheus 6

Israel is holding five members of the Palestinian Cabinet -- including the deputy prime minister -- and more than two dozen other lawmakers. Combined with the 14 lawmakers who were already in prison, 39 of the 132 elected council members are behind bars, Palestinian officials said.

"I think Israel wants to send a message that the authority means nothing to them," said Hasan Khreisheh, 51, who became acting speaker of the legislative council after the arrest in August of Aziz Dweik, the council speaker. "They can change the rules of the game. They want to humiliate us."

Israel's measures paralyze Palestinian rule
Nearly a third of lawmakers in Israeli jails
By John Murphy, Baltimore Sun | August 26, 2006