Israeli Government Proposes Impunity for Human Rights Violations

From B'Tselem, 14 December 1997

The Israeli Knesset is currently discussing a bill, proposed by the Government, which would deny compensation to Palestinians injured by Israeli security forces in the Occupied Territories.

The bill retroactively defines all actions of the Israeli security forces in the Occupied Territories as combatant activity, which are exempt from civil damage suits. If this law is passed:

Civilians negligently maimed and injured by Israeli security forces, both in the past and in the future, will not receive money for medical care and rehabilitation; Nor will the families of those killed be able to sue in civil courts;
Israeli forces will not be held accountable for human rights violations in the Occupied Territories.

This law therefore has extremely grave consequences concerning both accountability for human rights violations and the right of the victim to receive compensation. Because of the money it is likely to save, the law is expected to receive the support of a Members of Knesset from the Labour party, as well as the governing coalition.

On Tuesday, 16 December, the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee of the Knesset will discuss the law. If approved by the Committee, the Law then returns to the Knesset plenary for the second and third votes necessary to enact it into law.

A coalition of seven Israeli human rights organizations have come together to combat this legislation. Additional information on the bill, as well as a complete translation, is available from www.btselem.org.

Please communicate your opposition to the bill to the following members of the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee:

Shaul Yahalom (National Religious Party), Committee Chair, Fax: 972-2-675-3199 Moshe Gafni (United Torah Judaism Party) 972-3-676-2623 Joseph Beilin (Labour) Fax: 972-3-691-3456 Yona Yahav (Labour); Fax: 972-4-834-6664 Alexander Lubotzky (Third Way); Fax: 972-3-691-8475 Moshe Shahal (Labour); Fax: 972-3-527-1773 Reuven Rivlin (Likud); Fax: 972-2-675-4186 Zvi Weinberg (Israel B'Aliyah)- Fax: 972-2-675-4114; David Tal (Shas); Fax: 972-652-5914