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The Palestinian Human Rights
Monitoring Group (PHRMG) published a
report
on settler violence in April 2001,
which stressed the lack of response by Israeli law enforcement
authorities to incidents of violence by Israeli civilians against
Palestinians and their property. Police are systematically failing
to investigate these criminal acts and prosecutors fail to bring
the suspects to trial. This is a violation of both Israeli law and
international law.
This report
also concluded that many Palestinian victims of settler violence
are reluctant to contact or cooperate with the Israeli police. The
reasons are manifold: first, it is difficult for Palestinians to
reach police stations to file criminal complaints because roads
are closed by the internal closure imposed by Israel, and because
police stations are often located inside Israeli settlements,
exposing Palestinians to further harassment by settlers. Second,
Palestinians know that the complaints are often dismissed or
ignored by the police, and therefore do not see the point in
filing them in the first place. Unfortunately, the Israeli police
can then use the fact that the victim has not filed a complaint as
an excuse not to act (not to investigate a crime and not to
initiate legal proceedings against the criminals even in cases of
murder).
The PHRMG is
convinced that if complaints of settler violence are
systematically filed with the police, this excuse will be removed
and Israeli law enforcement authorities will have only 2 choices:
they will either have to take steps against the criminals, or they
will stand exposed for their complicity.
HOTLINE
ADVERTISEMENT
If you are a
victim or witness to a criminal attack by Israeli settlers, help
is available through two direct telephone hotlines that work 24
hours a day. Call one of these numbers and the PHRMG can take
immediate steps to try to stop the violence, and also can help the
victims and their families by following-up criminal complaints and
trying to make sure that the criminals are prosecuted.
The
two direct hotlines:
From 9:00 a.m.
to 6:00 p.m. (
02 – 5401122 )
From 6:00 p.m. till
the morning, and on Fridays,
What to do if you are attacked:
Try
to carefully observe the attackers so that you can identify them
later. See how old they are, how tall they are, the color of their
hair. If they are driving a car, try to get the license plate
number, as well as the color and make of the vehicle.
If
you have a camera, try to take a photograph of the attackers. Also
take
a
photograph of your injuries or of the property which was damaged.
The Israeli
police have a duty to enforce the law and protect the lives, persons
and property of Palestinians from criminal attacks by Israeli
settlers. When the police fail to investigate these criminal acts
and prosecutors fail to bring the suspects to trial, they violate
both Israeli law and international law.
It is
difficult to file a complaint and it is true that even when
complaints are filed, they are routinely dismissed or ignored by the
police. However, if you are the victim of settler violence and you
do not file a complaint, that fact will be used by the police and
prosecutor as an excuse not to act (not to investigate a crime and
not to initiate legal proceedings against the criminals).
The
Palestinian Human Rights Monitoring Group (PHRMG) is
convinced that if complaints of settler violence are systematically
filed with the police, this excuse will be removed and Israeli law
enforcement will have only 2 choices: they will either have to take
steps against the criminals, or they will stand exposed at home and
abroad for their complicity. We have therefore established a Settler
Watch Hotline to monitor the behavior of Israeli law enforcement
authorities and to lend legal assistance to people who file and wish
to pursue criminal complaints against settler criminals.
1. Try to
carefully observe the attackers so that you can identify them later.
See how old they are, how tall they are, the color of their hair and
the type of car and license plate of the car they are driving. If
you have a camera, try to take a photograph of the attackers. Also
take a photograph of your injuries or property damage.
2. File a
complaint at the nearest police station or D.C.O.. Try to first
arrange for an appointment to file the complaint
by calling the police station. The telephone numbers of the
police stations in your area are listed below:
If
you are unable to file a complaint, contact the PHRMG at our
24-hour Hotline numbers, 02-5401122 (daytime) or 054-258594
(nighttime).
3. Call the PHRMG
and request that one of our attorneys assist you in pursuing your
criminal complaint.
This project is made possible by the
generous support of:
-
The Norwegian Representative to the PA
-
Ireland Aid's Human
Rights and Democratization (HRD)
-
Foundation for Middle East Peace
-
Diakonia
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