State Department slams 'poor' Palestinian, Israeli human rights records

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http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/398687.html

<Israel's overall human rights record in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in 2003 "remained poor and worsened in the treatment of foreign human rights activists," according to a U.S. State Department report released Wednesday.

The report, which details human rights practices throughout the world, also said the Palestinian Authority's overall human rights record "remained poor" and that it continued to commit "numerous, serious abuses" - including abuse of prisoners and inefficient courts.

The report also cited the participation of Palestinian security officials and the Palestinian Authority's Fatah faction in "violent attacks" against Israeli civilians and soldiers, and noted that Palestinian "extremists" have targeted Israelis in shootings and bombings. Both Palestinians and Israelis were found to have used "excessive force" during demonstrations.

The U.S. has found that Israel's "human rights record" in the West Bank and Gaza includes using excessive force by security forces, raiding Palestinian civilian areas and demolishing homes, and said Israel had committed serious abuses in the territories.>

[Jim Sagle]

1. The State Department ain't nuthin' but shit.

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2. It is Israel's lone ally among State/Foreign Departments/Offices!

When it criticizes it you know things are "poor." Do you believe Israel can do NO wrong?

[Jim Sagle]

3. Of course I don't believe that. But I think that by and large they are

only trying to keep safe.

[Resistance]

4. stealing land and murdering civilians

isn't "trying to keep safe"

[Jim Sagle]

5. But that's not what they're doing.

[Resistance]

6. oh really

so how do you account for the land Israel is stealing?

And since Israeli troops are gunning down Palestinian civilians, how does this not constitute murder?

[Jim Sagle]

11. The land is disputed territory. And they're not gunning down civilians,

civilians are caught in the line of fire. It's tragedy, not murder.

[Resistance]

13. No

many civilians have been directly targeted by Israeli troops. These have been murders, not accidents.

The land is occupied territory, as everyone (except ultra-nationalists) knows.

[number6]

15. don' t worry Pat Robertson is gunna nuke it ....

:o ;)

[HawkerHurricane]

7. Nailed it in one.

Barbarians, the lot of them.

[Resistance]

8. Let's punish Israeli aggression and murder

by sending them more money and more attack helicopters.

[HawkerHurricane]

9. Wasn't giving them more attack helicopters...

How we were punishing Palastinian murderers?

To punish Isreal, perhaps we should give the Palastinians attack helicopters...

[Gimel]

10. No need

Punishment is not the answer. Israel doesn't use the full force of munitions, so the number of attack helicopters is not relevant. Reign in terror is the only feasible solution.

A human rights report, however, does not deal with that. It is supposed to be "objective" and with that in mind, does not deal with the true circumstances. Therefore, the situation in human rights alone is not realistic to the desirable solution. Give Israel more advanced weaponry, laser zaps to the terrorists to avoid civilian casualties, is yet in the future.

[Resistance]

12. LOL

That's funny! :D

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14. Why?

Why can't Israel provide for its own defense like every other country? Why must we subsidize a substantial share of the IDF?