A ministerial committee has rejected a request by Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin to grant extended interrogation powers to the Shin Bet, Israel’s domestic security service.
The committee extended a permit to use increased force during interrogation of terror suspects by only one week, rather than for three months Rabin and sought.
Justice Minister David Libai, Environment Minister Yossi Sarid and Attorney General Michael Ben-Yari, all of whom serve on the committee, were sharply opposed to extending the authorization. They cited doubts over the legality of some of the Shin Bet’s interrogation methods.
In 1987, a government panel allowed the Shin Bet to use what was described as “moderate physical pressure” during questioning.
But Israeli authorities relaxed Shin Bet interrogation rules last year, after Islamic fundamentalists launched a series of fatal suicide bombing attacks against Israelis.
The special powers were granted for three months, and have been extended several times.
Debate over the Shin Bet’s interrogation methods was renewed in April, when a suspected Hamas activist, Abdel-Samed Hassan Harizat, died after interrogation by Shin Bet officials.
A Scottish doctor who attended the autopsy said Harizat had suffered fatal injuries after being shaken violently by interrogators. Despite in the ministers’ opposition, Rabin repeated his position that the battle against terror requires to the use of all available tools.
“It is impossible to question a terrorist over a cup of coffee,” he was quoted as saying.
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