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Israel Probes Abuse of Palestinian Suspect
Israel is investigating several policemen who are suspected of beating a Palestinian man arrested for allegedly participating in the killing of two Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reservists on October 12 in the West Bank city of Ramallah.
The Justice Ministry has taken on the investigation following a complaint by the Palestinian detainee with the ministry's Police Investigation Unit.
Justice Minister Yossi Beilin told Army Radio Friday that the beating to death of the reservists was carried out by "savages" but Israel would not tolerate abuse of power by its policemen.
"All of our strength is that even in these dark moments...we are ready to be human beings," Beilin said. "When we behave in a way that is not in keeping with our norms, it will be investigated. That's the difference between us and them."
Israeli police have reportedly beaten Thabet Abas Assi, 23, a Palestinian who was photographed waving blood-drenched hands to a crowd outside the Ramallah police station during the torture of the Israeli reservists.
According to an IDF statement, Assi was one of the attackers who kicked one of the reservists after he was thrown out of the window of the Ramallah police station.
The killing of the reservists incurred fierce rocket attacks by the Israeli forces against Palestinian targets in Ramallah and Gaza city, leading to a grave escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian clashes.
Following the incident, the Israeli security forces slowly rounded up more Palestinians suspected of taking part in the killing and have so far captured at least eight of them. No charges have yet been filed against Assi or the other Palestinian detainees.
Army Radio said four policemen and an officer had gone on leave pending the investigation, following which it will be decided whether the policemen should be brought to trial.
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