Israel Questioned By U.N. Torture Body
Media Line News Agency
May 09, 2009
The United Nations is set to probe Israeli officials in Geneva tuesday in hearings claiming to focus on the treatment of Palestinian detainees, the closure of crossings between Israel and the Gaza Strip, the West Bank separation barrier and allegations that Israeli intelligence services operate a secret interrogation and detention center.
The U.N. Committee Against Torture conducts periodic reviews of violations of the U.N. Convention Against Torture by member states. Israel is one of seven countries set to face reviews this year.
At least eight organizations, including Amnesty International, Physicians for Human Rights and the Israeli human rights groups B'Tselem and the Hamoked Center for the Defense of the Individual, submitted reports to the U.N. committee in preparation for today´s hearing on the Jewish state.
In February, the committee sent Israel an eight-page letter outlining a number of issues. The committee expressed concern that the Shin Bet was allegedly operating a secret interrogation and detention center, known as Facility 1391, where detainees have no access to legal council or the Red Cross.
The letter added that Israel's detention of security detainees within the country was problematic as, given the difficulty for Palestinians in obtaining permits to enter Israel, this often prevents family visitation rights.
The committee questioned Israel on allegations that Palestinian detainees were beaten, denied sleep, bound and placed in stress positions in the course of interrogations. It furthermore asked Israel to clarify why interrogations were not videotaped.
It also expressed concern over the lengthy detention of security suspects not given immediate access to a lawyer and requested clarification regarding the Israeli army's policy of holding the family of a suspected terrorist as a pressure tactic.
The committee asked for an update on Israel's use of private security contractors at checkpoints and pointed to allegations of mistreatment by such contractors.
The committee also protested the Jewish state's policy of imprisoning conscientious objectors.
Regarding the West Bank separation barrier, the committee added that it believed that the barrier limited freedom of movement and as such was in violation of the U.N. Convention Against Torture. The committee also objected to Israel's closure of the Gaza Strip's land borders as this, it said, deprived the Strip's residents of their human rights.
While Israel is said to have responded to these queries, the content of the reply has not been made available and the Israeli Ministry of Justice had not responded to a request for comment at the time of printing. Israel has previously claimed Shin Bet procedures to be in "full accordance" with the U.N. Convention Against Torture.
In 2007, Israel said it had made a variety of changes in areas relating to the convention, including training on the convention for Shin Bet personnel and legal procedures for extradition and evidence collection.
The U.N. Committee Against Torture conducts periodic reviews of violations of the U.N. Convention Against Torture by member states. Israel is one of seven countries set to face reviews this year.
At least eight organizations, including Amnesty International, Physicians for Human Rights and the Israeli human rights groups B'Tselem and the Hamoked Center for the Defense of the Individual, submitted reports to the U.N. committee in preparation for today´s hearing on the Jewish state.
In February, the committee sent Israel an eight-page letter outlining a number of issues. The committee expressed concern that the Shin Bet was allegedly operating a secret interrogation and detention center, known as Facility 1391, where detainees have no access to legal council or the Red Cross.
The letter added that Israel's detention of security detainees within the country was problematic as, given the difficulty for Palestinians in obtaining permits to enter Israel, this often prevents family visitation rights.
The committee questioned Israel on allegations that Palestinian detainees were beaten, denied sleep, bound and placed in stress positions in the course of interrogations. It furthermore asked Israel to clarify why interrogations were not videotaped.
It also expressed concern over the lengthy detention of security suspects not given immediate access to a lawyer and requested clarification regarding the Israeli army's policy of holding the family of a suspected terrorist as a pressure tactic.
The committee asked for an update on Israel's use of private security contractors at checkpoints and pointed to allegations of mistreatment by such contractors.
The committee also protested the Jewish state's policy of imprisoning conscientious objectors.
Regarding the West Bank separation barrier, the committee added that it believed that the barrier limited freedom of movement and as such was in violation of the U.N. Convention Against Torture. The committee also objected to Israel's closure of the Gaza Strip's land borders as this, it said, deprived the Strip's residents of their human rights.
While Israel is said to have responded to these queries, the content of the reply has not been made available and the Israeli Ministry of Justice had not responded to a request for comment at the time of printing. Israel has previously claimed Shin Bet procedures to be in "full accordance" with the U.N. Convention Against Torture.
In 2007, Israel said it had made a variety of changes in areas relating to the convention, including training on the convention for Shin Bet personnel and legal procedures for extradition and evidence collection.