Israel/Occupied Territories: Findings of
Amnesty International's delegation
AI Index: MDE 15/044/2000
Publish date: 19/10/2000
"In policing the recent
demonstrations, the Israeli security forces tended to use military methods
rather than policing methods involving the protection of human lives,"
Amnesty International said.
In a report released today based on the
findings of its delegation to Israel and the Occupied Territories, Amnesty
International said "The impunity for those who commit human rights
violations and the lack of investigations into so many deaths at the hands of
security forces has led to a breakdown in the rule of law which has grave
consequences for the region."
The delegation went to Israel and the
Occupied Territories to investigate killings carried out by the Israeli security
forces since 29 September.
"This report examines the unlawful
use of potentially lethal force, as well as the impeding of medical access to
the wounded," Dr Elizabeth Hodgkin, from the Middle East Program of Amnesty
International and a member of the delegation, said.
The delegation to Israel also included Dr
Stephen Males,a
former senior UK police officer who has worked extensively in police training on
sensitive dealing with public order, to research several incidents of killings
and to make recommendations to the Israeli government.
In its efforts to uncover the truth behind
all the recent events, Amnesty International will send another mission to Israel
and the Occupied Territories, including areas under the jurisdiction of the
Palestinian Authority. The delegation will monitor and document the latest
developments in the region and will depart this Friday.
The human rights organization reiterates
its call for a United Nations investigation into the killings and other serious
human rights abuses which have taken place in Israel and the Occupied
Territories.