arch/ive/ief (2000 - 2005)

By Tom Regan, Christian Science Monitor [US]
December 31, 2002

Ha'aretz reports that a group of Holocaust survivors, calling itself the "Forum of Holocaust survivors and descendants to halt the deterioration of Israeli humanism" has begun a petition to protest the way Israeli defense forces are treating Palestinians. The petition reads "Israeli society is descending into a quagmire of violence, brutality, disrespect for human rights, and contempt for human life" and that "domination of another people against its will contradicts the lessons of the Holocaust, morally, humanely, and politically."

"Palestinian terror is a despicable crime," says the petition by Zvi Gil, the forum coordinator, and journalist Raoul Teitelbaum, immediately following that obvious statement with "we cannot clear our conscience in light of the mass, arbitrary destruction of civilians' homes, uprooted olive trees, and orchards shaved to the ground. We cannot accept the extensive disruptions of daily life and abuse, for its own sake or not, at the checkpoints."

News of the petition comes as Israeli human rights group B'Teselem released a new report yet again accusing Israeli troops of beating Palestinians and continuing to use Palestinians as human shields, even though the Israeli Supreme Court has granted an injunction against the practice and the IDF has repeatedly promised to stop.

Meanwhile, Palestinians officials accused IDF troops of beating a Palestinian teenager to death on Monday. Witnesses allege the youth was working at a gas station in south Hebron when an Israeli jeep patrol arrived. Soldiers pulled the youth into their jeep and drove off. The witnesses allege the soldiers returned 15 minutes later, driving through the gas station, pushing the youth's body out without stopping. Israeli officials say they are investigating the incident.

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