december 1, 2008

Nablus / PNN – The use of torture and ill-treatment by the Israeli authorities against Palestinians is nothing but a systematic and comprehensive process, states a human rights report issued today.

The Coalition against Torture says that Israel is either unwilling or unable to fulfill its obligations under the Convention against Torture.

The group of 14 Palestinian and Israeli human rights organizations writes in its annual report for 2008 that it has recorded evidence of an act, complicity or omission of fact or duty on the part of state officials at all levels. The guilty parties include members of the army, intelligence, police, judiciary and other government branches. The coalition said that the situation is unlikely to improve in the cultural of impunity and immunity that prevails in Israel.

In its annual report for 2008, the Coalition against Torture - a coalition of 14 Palestinian and Israeli organizations for human rights – prepared an intensive study which included a critical analysis of Israel's compliance to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (Convention against Torture). The report examines the continuation of Israel's use of systematic torture, whether in the occupied Palestinian territory or within Israeli boundaries.

According to the mandate of the Coalition against Torture, the annual report is based on material provided by the coalition to the United Nations Committee against Torture in September 2008. This step comes before beginning its periodic review of Israel's compliance with the Convention against Torture planned for May 2009. The body of the report, which is a summary compiled by the members of the coalition, includes more than 80 pages of testimony and excerpts of testimony.

While preparing the report the Coalition studied the use of torture and ill-treatment by the Israeli authorities against the Palestinians from the moment of arrest through the period of investigation and detention, as well as the use of confessions in military courts that were obtained under duress. The report also talks about the following issues:

- The use of torture and ill-treatment in non-traditional conditions, including the demolition of houses and the siege on Gaza and the Israeli security services not allowing patients from leaving Gaza to seek medical treatment.

- The continued adoption of the solitary confinement policy and prevention of Palestinian detainees from receiving urgent legal assistance.

- The discriminatory policy in law and the applied practice on the Palestinian prisoners, compared with Israeli citizens.

- The immunity enjoyed by the Shin Bet investigators, police officers and members of the Israeli army who torture and ill-treat the Palestinian detainees, including children from the age of twelve.

- A legislative exception that allows members of the Shin Bet to not follow the laws and regulations that provide for the use of audio and video recordings during the investigation of Palestinian prisoners as is the case in other investigations.

- Failure of Israel to ban the use of torture and ill-treatment in its domestic legislation as recommended by the United Nations Committee against Torture which is conferred to enforcel the state’s obligations under the Convention against Torture.