An Israeli army probe reveals 25 percent of soldiers harass Palestinians

Sunday December 16, 2007 23:29 by Rami Almeghari - IMEMC News

25 percent of Israeli soldiers have been directly or indirectly involved in violence against Palestinians across the West Bank, mainly at checkpoints, revealed an Israeli army probe.

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A spokesperson of the Israeli army told Agence France Press (AFP) that given orders by the army central command, the Israeli army has recently conducted a probe into the behavior of soldiers, manning checkpoints. The survey found that 250 of each 1.000 soldiers were involved in or witnessed harassment against Palestinians at the army checkpoints. A part of the harassment was physical.

The spokesperson asserted that the army decided that in response to the probe, the soldiers, aged 18-19 years, will be placed under intensive 48-hour-long special trainings.

The Israeli human right group, Betselem, which is concerned with human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, had earlier reported that Israel operates 43 permanent checkpoints and 455 flying ones, throughout the West Bank.

Israeli army harassment of Palestinians at checkpoints has been omnipresent since Israel intensified presence between Palestinian cities, towns and villages over the past few years.

Several international bodies, including the United Nations Secretary General, Ban-Ki Moon, have urged Israel to remove these roadblocks, which hinder the livelihood of the civilian population.

palestine | human rights | news report rami at imemc dot org