Israeli abuse allegations resurface in ‘Australian’
ALLEGATIONS have resurfaced in The Australian accusing Israel of mistreating Palestinian children in Israeli detention.
ALLEGATIONS have resurfaced in The Australian accusing Israel of mistreating Palestinian children in Israeli detention.
Last November, the newspaper’s Middle East correspondent, John Lyons, penned a feature in which he alleged children as young as 12 were being tortured, humiliated and threatened in the Israeli military court system.
In a follow-up last week, Lyons said a spokesperson for Foreign Minister Bob Carr had confirmed that officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) had met with Israel’s chief military prosecutor to raise their concerns.
The remainder of Lyons’ follow-up article repeated his earlier allegations of mistreatment.
“We are confident that any objective investigation will confirm that the offenders are treated in line with internationally accepted standards,” said Zionist Federation of Australia president Philip Chester.
Chester said the special juvenile military court is an independent, open, transparent system, presided over by professional judges. “The fact that John Lyons of The Australian, and now Australian diplomatic officials, have access to these courts demonstrates the openness of the system,” he said.
Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council executive director Dr Colin Rubenstein said the allegations “rely on half-truths, manipulation of facts and figures and unsubstantiated claims by highly political anti-Israel organisations” like Defence for Children International – Palestine Section.
“This organisation has Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine members on its board and supports a range of activities that aims at delegitimising the Jewish State,” he said. “Its website still claims the Jenin massacre happened.”
Rubenstein noted that Defence for Children International did not have an “Israel Section” to hold the Palestinian Authority to account for encouraging and inciting Palestinian youths to throw rocks at Israelis. “While some like to highlight that a majority of defendants are accused of throwing stones, they also tend to bury the many cases where minors became involved in armed terrorism,” he said.
The Foreign Minister’s office was approached for comment, but did not respond by press time.
GARETH NARUNSKY
A youth throws rocks in Bethlehem (Pic: ISRANET)
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