The Israel Government reacted angrily today to a report published by Amnesty International in London stating that it had prima facie evidence of maltreatment of Arab prisoners undergoing interrogation in Israeli jails. Amnesty International is a private organization active on behalf of political prisoners. It conceded that in all the cases reported, the evidence came from the prisoners themselves, but claimed that “the serious nature” of the charges warranted an immediate investigation by a committee of inquiry empowered to call for documents and subpoena witnesses. (The report was released Wednesday, five days before the three-member team of the United Nation’s special committee investigating human rights in Israeli-occupied territories is scheduled to arrive in Beirut and then continue to other capitals in Arab nations to continue their hearings. Between the time they left New York last Friday and their scheduled arrival in Beirut on April 5, the team was scheduled to visit Europe. There was no immediate indication that the timing of the report’s release and the trip by the UN team was related.)
The Israel Foreign Ministry expressed “astonishment” that the organization “has permitted itself to be the vehicle for spreading unfounded allegations, having their origin in a campaign of atrocity propaganda carried on by the Arab states and their supporters.” The Ministry statement noted that two months ago Israel offered Amnesty International facilities to investigate allegations of torture. Israel offered safe conduct for the complainants and legal aid but insisted that “proper complaints be lodged” and that there be “an opportunity to conduct cross-examination and otherwise observe legal procedures.” The Ministry said that “instead of pursuing the offer,” Amnesty International “has seen fit to publish a report critical of Israel.”
REPORT ACKNOWLEDGES LIBERAL REGIME IN ISRAEL
The report took note of Israel’s offer but said that in the organization’s view it “was insufficient.” The Israeli Foreign Ministry said the allegations were originally part of a four-section Amnesty International report submitted to the Israel Government last May. It said that one section containing the names of the complainants and detailed complaints was investigated and the allegations found to be unsubstantiated and that the other sections involved “unspecific and undocumented charges by anonymous complainants.” The preamble to the Amnesty report said it was being published with “deepest regret” because Amnesty “acknowledges the general liberal nature of the regime within Israel.” The report said that the Israel Government had repeatedly rejected its proposal for an independent inquiry.
Today’s Foreign Ministry statement said that “At this juncture all that the Israel authorities know about the report is what is appearing in the press. In this connection it is not clear whether Amnesty’s report includes the texts of the official communications it received from the Israel Government and which the Government specifically requested should accompany the report. The Government of Israel regards this as an extraordinary way for Amnesty to behave towards a government which has gone out of its way to cooperate with it. In the light of this experience it is difficult to see how the Government of Israel can place its trust in the good will and sense of fairness of this organization.” (In New York, a United Nations spokesman could not confirm today whether Secretary General U Thant had seen the Amnesty report.)
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