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March 8, 2002/Adar 24, 5762, Vol. 54, No. 25
Israel, P.A. criticized on human rights
MATTHEW E. BERGER
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
WASHINGTON - The U.S. is criticizing both Israel and the Palestinian Authority for human rights abuses in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
In its annual report on Human Rights Practices, the State Department described the records of both entities as "poor."
It specifically condemned the increase in violent attacks and the use of what it described as excessive force by Israeli troops fighting Palestinians.
"In contravention of their own rules of engagement, which provide that live fire is to be used only when the lives of soldiers, police, or civilians are in imminent danger, Israeli security units often used excessive force against Palestinian demonstrators, including live fire," the report said.
The report highlighted some of the more vicious attacks by both sides during the last year of Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and noted that neither side had implemented measures to end violence set forth by a committee headed by former Sen. George Mitchell.
Despite the criticisms, an Israeli official said that, compared to last year's, this year's report showed greater American understanding of Israel's predicament in the face of Palestinian attacks.
While the report found that Israel generally respects human rights within its borders, it cited major disparities between its treatment of Jewish and Arab citizens. The report says Israel has not taken enough steps to provide adequate education, housing and other services to Arabs, who make up about 16 percent of the Israeli population.
The Palestinian Authority was criticized for an increase in violent attacks against Israelis, and for Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat's failure to exert control.
The report found that members of Arafat's Fatah faction and off-duty members of Palestinian security services were involved in attacks on Israelis, but said there was no "conclusive evidence" of senior Palestinian Authority involvement.
"Arafat did not take sufficient sustained action to end the violence," the report said. "P.A. security forces arrested some of those implicated in the violence, but many quickly were released or not kept under credible conditions of arrest."
Both Israel and the Palestinian Authority were criticized for bad prison conditions - including the torture of detainees - and arbitrary arrests. Israeli forces also were accused of abusing Palestinians at checkpoints.
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