As confidence in the Middle East peace process continues to ebb in the wake of a string of suicide bombings in Israel, the U.S. State Department is pointing to some of the dividends of peace in its annual human rights report.
The peace process led to significant improvements in the human rights situation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip last year, according to the report, released Wednesday.
The report annually surveys the human rights situation around the world.
It also found a decrease in the number of killings and confrontations between Palestinians and Israeli security forces.
“Positive human rights developments flowed naturally as peace agreements were implemented,” the report said, noting that Israel released about 1,100 Palestinian detainees and prisoners in 1995.
The redeployment of the Israel Defense Force from most major Palestinian population areas in the West Bank during the year and its previous withdrawal from Gaza “are significantly reducing” human rights problems that have arisen from occupation, the report said.
The State Department, however, remained critical of measures that Israeli authorities have taken in dealing with Palestinians.
The study cited what it termed “credible reports” that six Palestinians died in the custody of Israeli authorities, one as a result of torture. An additional five Palestinians died in the custody of the Palestinian Authority.
As Israel moves to crack down on Hamas in response to the terror bombings, the United States is cautioning Israel to proceed with respect for human rights.
“the pursuits of terrorists is a matter of high international importance. And the U.S. supports that effort,” John Shattuck, assistant of state for democracy, human rights and labor, said in a briefing on the report Wednesday.
“But that must be done consistent with the basic protection of the human rights of civilians in the whole region,” he said.
A day earlier, Secretary of State Warren Christopher had told reporters: “There is understanding on the part of the United States that Israel has to take strong action to defeat the terror.”
The report, written before four suicide bombings claimed nearly 60 lives in the past two weeks, said that in 1995, Palestinians killed 45 Israelis and two American tourists in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza. That number marked a decrease from the 120 killings from 1994.
In addition, the number of Palestinians killed by other Palestinians for alleged collaboration with Israel showed a dramatic decline. Fourteen such killings took place in 1995, down from 65 in 1994, 79 in 1993 and 149 in 1992.
While noting that Israeli settlers continues to commit acts of violence against Palestinians, the State Department said the IDF was more effective in stopping or preventing such attacks than in previous years.
The report also gave credit to Egypt for being more favorable than it was last year. The Egyptian government “generally respects many human rights,” while restricting others.
“Some members of the security forces committed serious human rights abuses,” the report stated, noting that extremist groups targeted by security forces committed similar abuses.
The report also said that despite some improvements, the Syrian government continues to restrict or deny fundamental human rights, citing the widespread use of torture arbitrary arrests and prolonged detention without trial.
At the same time, the report mentioned positive development in Syria, including the unconfirmed release of 500 to 600 political prisoners, as well as some relaxations in press censorship.
In Lebanon, the State Department reported that “pervasive Syrian influence over Lebanese politics” has prevented the Lebanese government from pressuring Damascus to honor pledges to redeploy troops within Lebanon.
“This relationship with Syria does not reflect the will of significant segments of the Lebanese public,” the report said.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
