B'Tselem: Treatment of Jericho detainees violated int'l law

Haaretz ^ | 3/16/6 | Itim

[SmithL]

Claiming that the actions of Israel Defense Forces troops at the Jericho prison this week violated international law, human rights group B'Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights appealed to Military Advocate General Brigadier General Avi Mandelblit on Thursday, demanding that the treatment of the Jericho detainees be investigated.

During the operation, IDF troops forced detainees to strip down to their underwear. Pictures of the detainees in their underwear were broadcast on local and global television stations and printed in newspapers in Israel and abroad.

In testimony given to B'Tselem, the detainees described the humiliation they felt when their pictures were publicized.

In their letter to Mandelblit, B'Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights claim that international law obligated the IDF soldiers to shield the detainees from the media.

The groups claim that according to Article 27 of the Geneva Convention, detainees are entitled to respect for their persons and honor. The groups claim that even if the decision to make the detainees strip was based on legitimate security considerations, there was no justification for allowing the media to photograph them.

[SmithL]

Another bunch of terror-lovers heard from.

[robowombat]

You truly cannot make something such as this up.

[trek]

Sounds like ABU GRAIB! ABU GRAIB!

We now officially have a new definition of torture: involuntary participation in Gay Pride Day events ... come to think of it, I might even agree with this.

[gondramB]

If the Israelis had cleared the area of reporters the allegations of mistreatment would have worse. This was a no-win.

[domenad]

How about these fools come down on the freaking journalists who take the pictures, instead of the IDF guys that had to be concerned about some guy with a jacket bomb?

[Celtjew Libertarian]

To paraphrase Dickens, "If so, then international law is an ass."

[goldstategop]

Yep. As far I know B'Tselem has NEVER shown interest in Palestinian violations of Jewish human rights - like the homocide bombings that resulted in the mass murder of Jewish men, women and children. To B'Tselem, THAT is not an atrocity. Israel's self defense actions against terrorists on the other hand, violates THEIR human rights and dignity. The Israeli Far Left has given an Orwellian twist to the issue of Israel's treatment of the Jericho detainees with the libelous claim it violated international law. They're alive and healthy and we respect to their being stripped to their underwear, given the circumstances, its a reasonable security precaution. But in B'Tselem's universe, Israel can do no right at any time.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[inquest]

The groups claim that according to Article 27 of the Geneva Convention, detainees are entitled to respect for their persons and honor.

I didn't know that Palestinian terrorists were signatories to the Geneva Convention.

[Alien Gunfighter]

There is no such thing as "international law."

[joebuck]

If this is the worst complaint they could dredge up then it looks like the Israelis are handling them with kid gloves.

[marron]

There is no such thing as "international law."

Worth repeating. There is no such thing as "international law".

[Centurion2000]

What exactly is international law other than mere custom? Customs are made to be broken.

[wolfcreek]

I still have those dreams of being in grade school with just my underwear on but, I'm not humiliated anymore.

[SmithL]

I'm glad those self-esteem classes are working out.
; )

[SJackson]

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[monkeyshine]

Ridiculous. I'm not sure sure this does violate international Law, but I am 100% sure that the authors of the law never envisioned detainees with bomb vests hidden under their shirts.

This wasn't about "humiliation" but about the safety of the military - and under international law the occupier does have the right to make arrests, maintain law and order, and defend themselves from risks.

These whiners should go bark up a tree.

[monkeyshine]

They are probably referring to the 4th Geneva Convention. Leftist Authoritarians like to call that "international law".

It is a treaty, though, so Israel should honor it. But I'm fairly certain this is not a violation of that treaty.

This is not even close to Abu Graib - there is no comparison. These men were not yet in custody. They were asked to strip prior to being tkaen into custody, because of the propensity for some of their compatriots, to blow themselves and others up with hidden bomb vests.

At Abu Graib the men were already in custody. Totally different situation.

[SJackson]

This is not even close to Abu Graib - there is no comparison. These men were not yet in custody. They were asked to strip prior to being tkaen into custody, because of the propensity for some of their compatriots, to blow themselves and others up with hidden bomb vests.

And if Israel had barred the press, or confiscated the film, we'd be reading about violations far in excess of anything at Abu Graib.

[Convert from ECUSA]

"Yep. As far I know B'Tselem has NEVER shown interest in Palestinian violations of Jewish human rights - like the homocide bombings that resulted in the mass murder of Jewish men, women and children. To B'Tselem, THAT is not an atrocity. Israel's self defense actions against terrorists on the other hand, violates THEIR human rights and dignity. The Israeli Far Left has given an Orwellian twist to the issue of Israel's treatment of the Jericho detainees with the libelous claim it violated international law. They're alive and healthy and we respect to their being stripped to their underwear, given the circumstances, its a reasonable security precaution. But in B'Tselem's universe, Israel can do no right at any time."