17–18 October, 2000
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:
Adalah’s report to the UN HRC- 16 October
2000 view