Last update - 00:00 13/09/2006
Military Police to investigate 8 cases of alleged abuse in West Bank
By Haaretz Service
The Military Police announced Wednesday that it would investigate eight allegations made by Palestinian civilians who claimed that Israel Defense Forces soldiers and Border Policemen abused them after they tried to bypass a West Bank checkpoint.
The decision to investigate the allegations was made after B'Tselem, The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Territories, appealed to the IDF Central Command's Prosecution Office.
Shortly after the declaration of cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah, B'tselem released a comprehensive report on the abuse of Palestinian civilians by members of the security forces.
According to B'Tselem, the incidents occurred in July and August of this year in the northern West Bank, mainly between Nablus and Tul Karm. According to the the group, a marked rise in incidents occurred after the war broke out in Lebanon on July 12.
Witnesses said soldiers and Border Policemen beat, cursed and humiliated the Palestinians and destroyed their property. Some of the victims required hospitalization.
B'Tselem welcomed the Military Police decision to investigate the allegations and said it would try to assist in the process.
"Launching the investigation as early as possible is an essential condition for an honest inquiry. Furthermore, launching the investigation signals to soldiers in the territories that those responsible for such acts will be punished," the organization said in a statement.