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Israeli authorities deny exerting physical pressure on Jewish terror suspects.

Authorities deny use of force against Duma arson suspects

Law enforcement authorities reject claims by families of suspects arrested in connection with the Dawabsheh murders. However, they admit they are using 'draconian' methods against the suspects.

Law enforcement authorities over the weekend denied claims that they are using "moderate physical pressure" against the Jewish suspects arrested in connection with the Duma arson that killed three members of the Dawabsheh family.

 

 

The claims, which were raised by the suspects' families, accuse the Israeli authorities of using illegal interrogation methods in order to pressure the members of the Jewish Underground that are currently in detention.

 

Dozens of Israelis protest outside the police station in Petah Tikva, which is holding several supects arrested in connection with the Duma arson (Photo: Moti Kimchi)
Dozens of Israelis protest outside the police station in Petah Tikva, which is holding several supects arrested in connection with the Duma arson (Photo: Moti Kimchi)

 

According to officials within the law enforcement agencies, the accusations of the suspects' family members and lawyers are "nonsense" and simply an attempt to try and distract from the charges being investigated.

 

The sources emphasized that the use of moderate physical force by the Shin Bet – including torture and denying detainees food and sleep – is generally not required unless there is an immediate threat of a terror attack.

 

"We haven't touched these detainees," one source said. "However, because of the seriousness of their actions and the threat they pose to democracy, we are taking some draconian steps. These are anarchists who do not recognize the legitimacy of the government."

 

One of the most effective measures that the investigators have been using is in fact within the law, which is to prevent suspects from being able to meet with a lawyer. The law, which was originally intended to apply to Palestinian suspects and criminal organizations, helps with preventing the transfer of information from lawyers to suspects.

 

This also helps prevent disruption to the investigation, including coordination of testimonies and "fishing" attempts by arrestees trying to find out which information has already been revealed.

 

Two of the suspects arrested in connection with the Duma arson, whose identities are under gag order. (Photo: Zachariah Sadeh, Rabbis for Human Rights)
Two of the suspects arrested in connection with the Duma arson, whose identities are under gag order. (Photo: Zachariah Sadeh, Rabbis for Human Rights)

 

Consultations on which investigation methods and strategies to use have been held between the Shin Bet and high-level legal authorities over the last few months, including Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein, State Prosecutor Shai Nitzan, Deputy Attorney General Raz Nazri and high-ranking members of the police.

 

"The sophistication of these diverse methods and the non-stop pursuit of the members of this organization are what caused (the arrestees) to make the mistakes that resulted in this breakthrough," one official said.

 

Some of the new arrestees were already under an administrative order banning them from certain parts of the West Bank. They join a number of individuals who have been in administrative detention for several months, none of whom have been charged. The main challenge facing law enforcement authorities now is to turn intelligence information into evidence that would be admissible in a court of law.

 


פרסום ראשון: 12.06.15, 11:48
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