3.11.2010
Illustration: Ishai Mishory
Illustration: Ishai Mishory
New report: Kept in the Dark
HaMoked and B'Tselem's new joint report exposes routine ill-treatment of Palestinians in interrogations. The findings, based on testimonies of 121 Palestinians, show they were subjected to cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment, and in some cases, also to torture. The report calls on Israel to cease the illegal practices, punish the offenders, and compensate the victims.

35 tree vandalism cases in 6 weeks
Four Israeli human rights groups sent an urgent letter today to senior Israeli military commanders, in which they called on the commanders to take all necessary steps to ensure that Palestinians and their properties are protected from violence and damage during the current olive harvest season.

Suspicion: settlers torched vehicles in northern West Bank
Security-camera footage obtained by B'Tselem raises serious suspicion that settlers torched two vehicles in Qusra on the night of 13-14 Oct. '10, in the framework of "price tag" actions. B'Tselem demands law-enforcement authorities take immediate, firm action to protect Palestinians and their property from settler attacks.

Firing at workers near the Gaza perimeter fence
Over the past year, B'Tselem has documented 11 cases in which soldiers fired at and wounded Palestinian civilians close to the perimeter fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel. The use of live fire to remove civilians from the area is indiscriminate, causes disproportionate injury to the civilian population, and should be halted immediately.

B'Tselem testifies before commission on Gaza flotilla
In her testimony before the Turkel Commission, B'Tselem's director surveyed the serious harm that Israel's punitive measures cause civilians in Gaza, Israel's obligations under international law, and Hamas' breaches of human rights and humanitarian law.

Dark shadow hangs over conviction of protest leader
The Military Court sentenced Abdallah Abu Rahma to 12 months' imprisonment . The Bil'in activist in the struggle against the separation barrier was convicted of inciting demonstrators to throw stones and of organizing and participating in an illegal demonstration based on questionable testimonies by minors.