Report: Pullout foes’ rights breached
Report published by Association for Civil Rights in Israel points to deterioration in human rights standards, shows severe flaws in government’s policies against opponents of disengagement plan, some of whom were subjected to ‘disproportionate action’; report cites increasing discrimination against Arab Israelis in government, public institutions
As the world prepares to mark Human Rights Day, a report published by the Association for Civil Rights in Israel on Monday indicates deterioration in human rights standards.
Israel, so it seems, has little to celebrate as poverty and discrimination have grown endemic and basic rights such as freedom of speech and rights of detainees have been frequently breached in the course of 2005.
“It has been a very bad year for human rights in Israel. Human rights have been deeply undermined," said Attorney Dan Yakiri, legal advisor for the Association.
Arab Israelis, opponents of the disengagement plan, and the Palestinians are the groups most affected by the drop in civil standards, the report’s authors said, accusing the government of “frequently and arbitrarily” violating their rights.
The report pointed to severe flaws in government policies against opponents of the disengagement plan, some of whom were subjected to “disproportionate actions.”
'Reopen October 2000 riots probe'
The government’s “unjustified” policies against opponents of the disengagement plan culminated in serious breaches of the settlers’ rights to freedom of speech, political opinion and protest.
The Association refuted government accusations that its findings are “exaggerated,” citing a proposal to widen the scope of actions and behaviors defined as incitement under Israeli law, a move meant to herald stricter policies against political activists.
The report noted that between February and November 2005 148 Palestinians were killed including 33 minors.
Since the beginning of the intifada in September 2000, Military Policy opened 131 investigations against soldiers suspected of lawfully killing Palestinian citizens, with 18 probes leading to filing indictments.
The report cited increasing discrimination against Arab Israelis in government and public institutions. The Association urged the government to promote equality among Israel’s citizens and emphasized the need to reopen the probe into the killing of 13 Arab Israelis by police in riots that broke out in the Galilee in 2000.
