Israel claims it no longer uses torture, but that’s about as convincing as former CIA director George Tenet’s claims about the Bush administration post 9/11. A new report by leading Israeli human rights group B’Tselem proves the reality:
In recent years, Israel has openly admitted that ISA (formerly the General Security Service) interrogators employ “exceptional” interrogation methods and “physical pressure” against Palestinian detainees in situations labeled “ticking bombs”. B’Tselem and HaMoked – Center for the Defence of the Individual have examined these interrogation methods and the frequency with which they are used, as well as other harmful practices. The report’s findings are based on the testimonies of 73 Palestinian residents of the West Bank who were arrested between July 2005 and January 2006 and interrogated by the ISA. Although it is not a representative sample, it does provide a valid indication of the frequency of the reported phenomena…
The ill-treatment and torture of Palestinian detainees by soldiers and ISA interrogators do not take place in a void, but rather under the auspices of the Israeli law enforcement system.
What kind of “democracy” engages in torture? Of course, the world’s only superpower, its favourite Middle East client state, most of the Arab world and much of Europe and Asia.