B'Tselem: Israeli army is doing nothing to combat checkpoint violence

Tuesday December 18, 2007 12:34 by Ameen Abu Wardeh - IMEMC News

B'Tselem, the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in The Occupied Territories, indicated that the results of the recent military poll made about the violence carried out against Palestinians at Israeli checkpoints are appalling, but come as no surprise.

Huwara checkpoint/archive photo

The physical and verbal violence in the occupied territories and at the checkpoints in particular has become a usual practice. In spite of the official released statement slamming these practices, the army does not take enough legal action against the soldiers who implement them.

B'Tselem has observed that in most cases the soldiers who assaulted Palestinians were not held accountable for their abuse, because the enforcement authorities place obstacles to make it difficult for Palestinians who want to complain against the Security forces, and only on the odd occasion charges are taken against those responsible of committing the abuse.

B'Tselem indicates there are often lengthy delays in the military investigations, during which procedures are not correctly implemented.

B'Tselem has recently received data on military investigations which has illustrated the depth of the problem. The data, collected from all over the Palestinian territories, shows that in the past seven years, only 36 allegations of abuse were filed against soldiers not only at the checkpoints but from all areas. Death and injury due to gunfire, or damage to property were not included in the figures.

Translated by Nisreen Qumsieh - IMEMC News.

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