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U.N. Panel Urges Israel To Eliminate Torture as Violence Continues
GENEVA, Nov 23 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - The United Nations Committee Against Torture on Friday urged Israel to investigate continuing allegations of torture and said it remained "unconvinced" that all acts of torture had been outlawed in the country.
However, while the Committee cited continuing allegations of torture and ill-treatment against Palestinian detainees, including minors, its chairman, Peter Burns, said a 1999 Israeli Supreme Court ruling which sought to stop the practice had made a difference.
"There is absolutely no question that the High Court ruling has had an impact," Burns told journalists.
In its final conclusions after a review of Israel's application of the U.N. Convention Against Torture, the 10 independent experts on the panel raised concerns that the court ruling had left leeway for torture to be used in "extreme" cases, notably interrogations against suspects in "ticking bomb" cases.
"Despite the Israeli argument that all acts of torture ... are criminal offences under Israeli law, the Committee remains unconvinced and reiterates its concern that torture, as defined by the Convention, has not yet been incorporated into domestic legislation," the Committee said.
Israel told the Committee during the review that it did not use interrogation methods which amounted to torture and said it would uphold its international obligations.
But the Committee said it had received "continuing allegations" that the Israeli Security Agency (ISA) was using prohibited interrogation methods, and warned that despite the reports there had been very few prosecutions of law enforcement officials.
Burns indicated that human rights groups had told the Committee that the number of reports of torture had risen with the recent surge in fighting between Israel and the Palestinians.
The Committee expressed concern at "allegations of torture and ill-treatment of Palestinian minors, in particular those detained in Gush Etzion police station."
The Committee also said the closure of Occupied Territories and house demolitions carried out by security forces, "may in certain instances amount to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment."
"Israel looks forward to continued positive dialogue with the Committee mindful of the difficulties that exist today in upholding values of democracy and fighting 'terrorism' at the same time," said Israeli Ambassador to the U.N. Yaakov Levy.
The U.N. Convention Against Torture requires the 126 signatories to outlaw torture and explicitly prohibits the use of "higher orders" or "exceptional circumstances" as excuses for torture.
Meanwhile, two Palestinians were killed in an explosion of undetermined cause Friday in the West Bank village of Beit Iba, west of Nablus, Palestinian hospital sources said.
The two activists from Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's Fatah faction were killed in an explosion of undetermined cause Friday near the West Bank self-rule village of Beit Iba, west of Nablus, hospital sources said.
The bodies of Mohammed Salem Samaneh and Mohammed Ibrahim Samaneh, both 21, were blown apart in an explosion in a field in Israeli-controlled territory, witnesses said.
Their deaths brought to 985 the number of people killed since the outbreak of the Palestinian uprising in September 2000. They include over 800 Palestinians.
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