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Opening Remarks |
Adalah repeatedly warned about the anticipated report of the Justice Ministry’s Police Investigation Unit (“Mahash”). Mahash’s failure to open an immediate investigation into the shootings and killings by the police left no doubt regarding the report’s content. Clearly, Adalah cannot appeal to State Attorney Eran Shendar, who, as Director of Mahash in October 2000, was directly responsible for the failure. The AG disqualified himself from reviewing an appeal after fully supporting Mahash and its report. Adalah’s main demand is the criminal indictment of those responsible. Merely opening a new investigation at this stage might not uncover the truth, unless the law enforcement authorities internalize the significance of killing Arab citizens. Therefore, Adalah’s first request will be to penalize those responsible for Mahash’s initial failure. Impunity must not be granted to individuals who did not fulfill their duty to investigate on the 1st of October 2000, which could have prevented the illegal shootings on the 2nd, 3rd and 8th of October. If, after exhausting all domestic remedies, attempts to secure indictments against those responsible for the killings and injuries fail, the international track will be available and effective. |
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