Adalah Presents Report on Human Rights Violations Against Palestinian Citizens of Israel to United Nations Human Rights Commission, Special Session on the Conflict in Israel/Palestine
Today, Adalah, represented by Mr. Muhammed Dahleh, Advocate, will present its report on human rights violations committed by the Israeli government against Palestinian citizens of Israel during the period of the current conflict to the United Nations Human Rights Commission Special Session on the conflict. Adalah’s report discusses the illegal actions taken by the Israeli police including the excessive use of force against Palestinian demonstrators in Israel, assistance to Jewish rioters perpetrating violent attacks against Palestinians in Israel, arbitrary acts of violence by the police, police prevention of emergency medical services to injured Palestinians, police mistreatment of Palestinian citizens of Israel in custody, and the abuse of pre-trial due process rights of Palestinian defendants by the Israeli Courts.
The main points raised in Adalah’s report include:
· From 29 September, Israeli police shot 13 Palestinian citizens of Israel to death, using live ammunition and rubber-coated steel bullets, during street demonstrations, which took place in tens of Palestinian towns and villages in Israel.
· Hospitals and local clinics report that about 1000 Palestinian citizens of Israel were injured in clashes with Israeli police. Six hospitals in the north of Israel admitted 330 Palestinian citizens. Most of those slain and seriously injured were shot by the police with rubber-coated steel bullets, “dum-dum” bullets, and live ammunition in the upper body. The Israeli police also prevented ambulances from entering Palestinian towns in Israel, and attacked some ambulance drivers.
· Israeli police arrested more than 400 Palestinian citizens of Israel during the clashes, both demonstrators and passersby. About 90 Palestinian citizens of Israel – adults and minors - have been indicted, and the courts, accepting the prosecutors’ recommendations, have ordered tens of these individuals detained without bail until the end of trial. By contrast, of 300 Jewish citizens arrested, only 10 have been indicted, with decisions pending in 9 cases concerning detention or release.
Adalah asked the United Nations Human Rights Commission to take the following actions:
· In response to overwhelming evidence that Palestinian citizens of Israel have been subject to gross human rights violations, Adalah requests that the UN HRC condemn those responsible, including Northern Police Commander Alik Ron and Minister of Police Shlomo Ben Ami, in the strongest possible terms.
· Adalah requests that the UN HRC condemn the excessive use of force practiced systematically by the Israeli police against Palestinian citizens of Israel.
· Adalah requests that the UN HRC condemn the racist, violent attacks by Jewish citizens of Israel against Palestinian citizens of Israel - against their persons, their property, and their holy sites, and the police's assistance to Jewish rioters in perpetuating this violence.
· Adalah requests that the UN HRC condemn the police's mistreatment of Palestinian citizens of Israel arrested and detained.
· Adalah requests that the UN HRC condemn the Israeli courts' abuse of due process rights of Palestinian citizens arrested and indicted.
· Adalah requests that the UN HRC establish an international commission of inquiry, composed of objective, impartial experts and/or eminent persons into the violations so that those responsible can be brought to justice.
This emergency session of the United Nations Human Rights Commission, being held on 17-18 October 2000, was initiated by the Permanent Representative of Algeria to the UN. It is supported by 47 out of 53 State Members. It will discuss the human rights violations committed by the Israeli government in the Occupied Territories and Israel.
Related:
