Human rights groups refuse to assist Arab victims of Palestinian Authority torture

Palestinian Human Rights NGOs refused medical assistance to Arabs suing the Palestinian Authority, after having suffered from physical, psychiatric, and/or urological disabilities that stem from torture during their unlawful detention.
– ‘We only help those that hurt Israel.’

By Tzvi Lev

 

In July, the Jerusalem District Court gave an unprecedented ruling stating that the Palestinian Authority (PA) was responsible for the unlawful detention and torture of collaborators with Israel since the 1990’s, which cleared the way for victims to file a lawsuit against the PA.

Palestinian police officers beat a protester during clashes at a demonstration against the U.S.-sponsored Annapolis peace conference, in the West Bank city of Hebron, Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2007. Palestinian police loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday violently dispersed a demonstration against the Annapolis peace conference, killing one protester, medical officials said. (AP Photo/Nasser Shiyoukhi)

However, the lawyers representing the plaintiffs – all of whom are Arabs – were faced with a problem: Every human rights organization they turned to for assistance in finding a doctor to determine damages refused to help them. “Every NGO we turned to refused to help us. They said they only assist people that sue Israel” attorney Barak Kedem told NRG.

Kedem added that finding the right medical support was crucial in the effort to sue the PA for damages resulting from the torture his clients experienced. “These are people that are suffering from several disabilities, including ones of the physical, psychiatric, and urological nature” he said.

Human rights organizations in Israel are often criticized for their one-sided approach to the conflict, In 2016, Ezra Nawi, who identifies as a ‘human rights activist’, was documented admitting that he collects information on Palestinian Arabs interested in selling land to Jews and has them executed by the Palestinian Authority (PA).

In February, Israel announced that they will stop issuing work visas to Human Rights Watch staff, accusing the group of being “fundamentally biased” against it.

 

View original Arutz Sheva publication at:
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/235408