When I tweeted this last week, many were shocked that Israel had devolved to the point where it was arresting and imprisoning poets. The truth is, this isn't the first or likely last time.
I want to tell you about another one......
I want to tell you about another one......
This is Dr. Fouzi al-Asmar, he passed away in 2013 after a long career as a writer, academic, poet and journalist. By the end of his career he had edited newspapers in the Middle East and served as a DC bureau chief. 
Fouzi was born in Haifa, Palestine in 1937 and survived the Nakba in 1948 along with his family which was plunged into a new life as second-class citizens in the newly formed Israeli state. He gravitated toward political writing, journalism and poetry.
His first collection of poems, The Promised Land, appeared in 1969. Much of his work was censored by Israeli authorities. Two weeks later, he was arrested an accused of belonging to an illegal organization.
Using regulation from British Emergency law, which Israel still uses in occupied territory today, the Israeli state arrested Fouzi under "Administrative Detention", this means they held him without charge.
He was severely beaten during interrogation but no specific charges were ever brought against him and he was never brought to trial. During his detention he helped organize two hunger strikes.
Many demonstrations took place calling for his release along with other political prisoners. Amnesty International also appealed to the Israelis for his release.
During the period of his detention, he continued to write poetry and many of his poems written during the 15 months he spent in Damun and Ramleh prisons were compiled in this book: Poems from an Israeli Prison
Take a moment to read some of his poems from a prison cell. This one, about why he was imprisoned is called: Because I am an Arab
This poem is called Determination II
This poem is called To a Jewish Friend
