B’Tselem to stop filing Palestinian abuse complaints with IDF, police [View all]

Source: Times of Israel

Citing lack of faith in Israeli system, NGO will no longer report human rights violations on behalf of Palestinians, says doing so does not bring justice

For over 25 years, the B’Tselem human rights organization has filed complaints on behalf of Palestinian victims of alleged abuse by the IDF, police and Israeli settlers in the West Bank and Gaza — but no more.

Citing lack of faith in the system, the group announced Wednesday it will no longer report abuse claims to the Israel Defense Forces and Israel Police.

“B’Tselem will continue to document human rights violations carried out by Israel in the territories and to report on them, but will no longer file complaints, coordinate meetings between Military Police investigators, victims and Palestinian witnesses, and acquire various documents for the investigatory authorities,” the group said Wednesday morning.

However, a spokesperson said, the organization will still abide by court orders and official requests for information. If police request a copy of a video filmed by a B’Tselem volunteer, for instance, it will be honored.

Read more: http://www.timesofisrael.com/btselem-to-stop-filing-palestinian-abuse-complaints-with-idf-police/