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TITLE: Amnesty Condemns IDF's 'Unlawful Killings' |
AUTHOR: Joseph Algazy |
PUB: Ha'aretz |
DATE: February 21, 2001 |
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Amnesty International issued a report yesterday condemning the government's policy of "extra-judicial executions" of Palestinians suspected of terrorist activity against Israeli citizens. Israel cannot justify these killings by claiming that it is engaged in an "armed conflict" with the Palestinians, Amnesty contended. In the report, entitled "State Assassinations and Other Unlawful Killings," the human rights organization also charged that "scores of other Palestinians have been killed unlawfully: the result of excessive, disproportionate or negligent use of force" by Israel's security forces. According to the Amnesty report, Israel's willingness to kill Palestinians suspected of planning terrorist attacks and its failure to investigate every fatality inflicted by the Israel Defense Forces over the past few months "is leading to a culture of impunity in the IDF and a cycle of violence and revenge in the region." Amnesty claimed that both the IDF and the armed Palestinian groups have demonstrated a low regard for human life. Both sides have acted in violation of the Geneva Convention by firing into residential areas, the report says. With regard to Israel's liquidation of Palestinians, Amnesty claimed that some of the suspects "could clearly have been arrested" and brought to trial rather than being targeted for "liquidation." In response, the IDF Spokesman said: "The IDF and the security forces take actions and implement measures in order to defend the security of the state and its citizens... These actions and measures are in accordance with the customary rules of international law. © 2000 Ha'aretz. All Rights Reserved END |