IDF operation in Jenin (archive photo)
צילום: יונתן נאמן, דובר צה"ל
'Change inquiries into Palestinian deaths’
High Court judge slams investigations into death of innocent Palestinians; 132 such inquires launched in past year
JERUSALEM - Investigations into the deaths of innocent Palestinians should be conducted in a more thorough manner, Supreme Court Judge Dorit Beinish said Thursday.
“Information is routinely omitted... a serious refinement is needed, and a serious change in setting up procedures for the manner in which an investigation is launched,” she told State representatives during a discussion regarding Military Police investigation procedures.
Since the beginning of the Intifada, the army has launched 132 investigations in connection with the deaths and injuries of Palestinian non-combatants, some 50 in the past year alone.
Rights groups initiate debate
The High Court debated the matter Thursday after two human right groups petitioned the court to ask it to direct the IDF to investige every Palestinian non-combatant death.
In the past five months, the organizations reported eight Palestinians who were not involved in fighting were killed by army fire. However, the army only investigated six of those cases.
State: investigations 'exceptional'
During the session, State representative Shai Nitzan rejected the petitioners claim that investigations are only launched in exceptional cases.
“There’s no such policy,” he said, “it depends on the circumstances. The less combative and operational the circumstances, the more investigations are launched.”
However, attorney Dan Yakir, representing the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, dismissed the claim.
“There may be a change in attitude, but there’s no change in the official policy,” he said.
