World Bulletin / News Desk

An Israeli military court on Monday slapped the speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council (parliament) with a one-year jail term, a Palestinian NGO has said.

"The court sentenced Aziz Dweik to 12 months in prison and fined him 6,000 shekels [roughly $1,500]," the Ahrar Center for Human Rights Studies, an NGO, said in a statement.

"We call on all international organizations to stand against Israel's racist actions against our people," it added.

Aziz was detained by the Israeli army in June of last year from his home in the West Bank city of Hebron.

In recent months, Israeli forces have detained hundreds of West Bank Palestinians, including 12 lawmakers and former cabinet ministers.

Over 6,500 Palestinians are currently languishing in prisons throughout Israel, according to official Palestinian figures.