Caution Children Ahead : The Illegal Behavior of the Police toward Minors in Silwan Suspected of Stone Throwing

8/8/2019 Caution Children Ahead : The Illegal Behavior of the Police toward Minors in Silwan Suspected of Stone Throwing

1/29

.).(

-

BTselemTheIsraeliInformationCenterforHumanRightsintheOccupiedTerritories

)6749111)02,)6735599)02,91531,.53132.,8

8HataasiyaSt.,P.O.B53132Jerusalem91531,Tel.(02)6735599,Fax(02)6749111

[email protected] http://www.btselem.org

Caution:ChildrenAheadTheIllegalBehaviorofthePolicetowardMinorsinSilwan

SuspectedofStoneThrowing

December2010


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2

ResearchedandwrittenbyNaamaBaumgartenSharon

DatacoordinationbyNoamRazandNoamPreiss

FieldworkbyAmerAruri

TranslatedbyZviShulman

EnglisheditingbyShaulVardi

CoverPhoto:PalestinianyouthsthrowstonestowardsIsraeliborderpoliceafter

visitofparliamentmembersinEastJerusalem,October12,2010.Photographed

byAmmarAwad,Reuters.

BTselemthankstheWadiHilwehInformationCenterSilwanfortheir

assistanceininformationandphotos.


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3

TableofContents

Summary.Introduction....Rightsofminorsinacriminalproceedinginternationallaw..RightsofminorsinacriminalproceedingIsraelilaw....StatisticsContraventionoftheYouthLawinarrestsofminorsinSilwan

Thetimeandplaceofarrest...

Cuffing

Presenceofparentduringtheinterrogation.

Violence..

Incriminationbyothersgroundsforarrest.

Conclusion..


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4

SummaryAn

investigation

conducted

by

B

Tselem

shows

that,

during

the

past

year

(November

2009

to

October2010),atleast81minorsfromSilwanhavebeenarrestedordetainedforquestioning,the

vastmajorityonsuspicionofstonethrowing.Thearrestsanddetentionsfollowedconfrontations

betweenPalestiniansandsettlersintheneighborhood,wherethereisgreattensionresultingfrom

thetakingofcontrolofhousesandarcheologicalsitesbysettlers.Theseconfrontationsintensified

followingthekillingofSamerSarhan,32,aresidentofSilwan,on22September2010.Sarhanwas

shottodeathbyasecurityguardforthesettlement,whocontendedhefacedalifethreatening

situation.Fromthenuntil 31October,atleast32minorsinSilwanwerearrested.

SinceIsraelhasimposeditslawonEastJerusalem,thepolicearerequiredtocarryouttheir

functionsthereinaccordancewithIsraelilaw.However,BTselemsinvestigationindicatesthat

theJerusalempolicerepeatedlybreachedthelaw,andparticularlytheYouthLaw,whichgrants

minorsextrarightsinacriminalproceeding:

Manyarrestsweremadeatnight,bytakingtheminorsfromtheirbedsandrushingthem

tointerrogationattheRussianCompound,inmostcasesinordertoobtaininformation

onincidentsthatoccurredafewdaysearlier.

Often,theinterrogatorspreventedtheparentsfrombeingpresentduringthe

interrogation,althoughtheirrighttobepresentisenshrinedinlaw.

Manyminorscomplainedtheyweretreatedviolentlywhentheyweretakenfromtheir

homeatnight,andalltheyouthswhowereinterviewedbyBTselemontheirarrestby

specialforcesreportedsevereviolenceatthetimeofarrest.Also,afewminors

complainedofviolenceanddegradationwhilewaitingtobeinterrogatedattheRussian

Compound.Theircomplaintsofviolenceweredisregardedortreatedwithscorn,andin

theisolatedcasesinwhichtheDepartmentfortheInvestigationofPoliceopenedan

investigation,itwasclosedwithoutanyproceedingsbeingtakenagainstthepersons

responsible.BTselemknowsofonecaseinwhichtheinvestigationwascarriedout

negligently,tookalongtimetocomplete,anddidnotincludequestioningofprincipal

witnesses.

Thepolicedetainedforquestioningfourminorsunderage12,whichistheageof

criminalresponsibility,meaningtheyarenotsubjecttocriminalproceedings.Inoneof


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5

thecasesBTselemdocumented,aneightyearoldchildwastakenfromhisbedinthe

middleofthenightonlybecausehisnamewasidenticaltothatofanotherchildwhowas

suspectedofthrowingstones.

ThethrowingofstonesbyPalestinianminorsinEastJerusalemhasbeenwidespreadandhas

intensifiedoverthepastyear,withanespeciallysharpriseoccurringinOctober2010.Silwan,

whichliesatthefootoftheTempleMount,isamajorfocusoftheconfrontationsbetween

Palestiniansandsettlers,withbothsidesPalestiniansprimarilythrowingstones.

Thepolicearerequiredtodealwiththeconfrontationsintheneighborhood,butthisobligation

doesnotjustifysystematicbreachofthelaw.ThepolicesconducttowardPalestinianminorsin

Silwanreflectsflagrantcontemptforthespecialprotectionsgiventhemasminors.

BTselemurgestheJerusalemPolicetoobservetheletterandspiritoftheYouthLawwhile

copingwithstonethrowingincidentsinEastJerusalem.Thepolicemustimmediatelyendthe

arrestofminorsatnightandtheuseofviolencebyspecialforcesduringarrests.Thepolicemust

alsoensurethatminorsareinterrogatedonlyinthepresenceoftheirparents,andmust

emphasizeoptionsfortherehabilitationoftheminorsandforpreventinginjurytothem.

ThesettlementsIsraelhasbuiltinEastJerusalemconstituteaviolationofinternationallaw.The

settlementclustersintheheartofthePalestinianpopulationinSilwanandotherneighborhoods

createtensionandleadtoarealityofconstantconfrontationbetweenthetwopopulations.These

settlementsshouldberemovedimmediately.


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6

IntroductionThe

Silwan

neighborhood

lies

just

outside

Jerusalem

sOld

City

walls,

south

of

the

Temple

Mount/alAqsaMosque.Some16,500personsliveinthecentralsectionofSilwan.1Togetherwith

RasalAmud,whichhasgeographicalandfamilytieswithSilwan,thetotalnumberofresidents

is32,000.2AftertheoccupationoftheWestBankin1967,IsraelannexedSilwan,togetherwiththe

restofEastJerusalemandadjacentareas.Israellawwasappliedinfulltotheannexedarea.The

residentsweregiventhestatusofJerusalemresidentsandIsraeliidentitycards,butnot

citizenship,andIsraellawwasappliedtotheminfull.Accordingtointernationallaw,East

JerusalemisanintegralpartoftheWestBank,andIsraelsannexationthereofisillegal.The

internationalcommunitydoesnotrecognizetheannexation,andthestatusofEastJerusalem

underinternationallawisidenticaltothatoftheremainderoftheWestBank.

Sincetheearly1990s,rightistIsraeliorganizationshavetakencontrolofhousesinSilwan,on

variouslegalpretexts;PeaceNowestimatesthat350Israelissettlersnowliveineighteen

buildingsinSilwan.

AttheentrancetoSilwanliestheCityofDavidNationalPark,anarcheologicalsiteoftheNature

andParksAuthority.Thearcheologicaldigsinthenationalparkareofgreatimportanceto

Jerusalemslonghistory.ThemanagementofthesitehasbeengiventotheEladassociation,

whichisalsothemainorganizationpromotingJewishsettlementintheneighborhood.Thusthe

siteiscloselytiedtothesettlemententerpriseintheneighborhood.TheEladoperatedsitehas

beenturnedintoamajortouristsite,whichhosted380,000visitorsin2008and270,000in2009.3

ThereisahighleveloftensionbetweentheresidentsofSilwanandthesettlers,sincethesettlers

havetakencontrolofhousesandofareasinwhichthearcheologicaldigsareconducted,causing

ongoingfrictionbetweenthetwopopulations.Thesettlementsprivatesecurityguards,funded

bytheHousingandConstructionMinistry,areamajorsourceofthistension.Accordingtothe

1TheareaiscomprisedoftheneighborhoodsWadiHilwa,BattenalHawa(alYaman),BirAyub,alBustan,

WasatalBalad,andEinaLuzeh.

2Thefiguresareestimatesfor2008takenfromtheJerusalemStatisticalYearbookfor2009(Jerusalem:JerusalemInstituteforIsraelStudies),TableC/8,availableathttp://jiis.org.il/.upload/as%20C08090.pdf .

3ReportoftheNatureandParksAuthorityfor2009,79.


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7

residents,thesecurityguardsactlikethesettlersprivatepoliceforce,controllingandlimiting

Palestinianmovement.4Minorsreportedtheywereharassedbysecurityguards,whomthey

claimpreventthemfromplayinginthestreets.Inaddition,thelawenforcementauthorities

stationedinSilwanclearlysidewiththesettlers.Anillustrationofthisisthetourofthearea

madebytopofficialsfromtheMinistryofJusticeinAugust,inwhichmeetingswereheldonly

withsettlers,totallyignoringthePalestinianresidents.5Inthepastyear,Jerusalemsmayor,Nir

Barkat,hasbeenpromotingtheGanHamelech(KingsGarden)plan,thatwoulddemolish

twentytwohousesinthealBustanneighborhoodofSilwanandturnhalfofalBustanintoa

touristpark.6Theincreasingtensionintheneighborhoodisreflectedinthephenomenonofstone

throwingbyPalestinianminors,andtoalesserextentbyIsraeliminorsaswell.

BetweenNovember2009andJanuary2010,BTselemcollectedinformationonanincreased

numberofdetentionsandarrestsofPalestinianminorsinSilwan.Theinformationconcernedat

leastthirteenminorsfromSilwanwhowerearrestedordetainedinthemiddleofthenight

(betweenmidnightto6:00A.M.)andthreeotherminorstowhosehomesthepoliceand/orthe

IsraelSecurityAgencycametodemandthattheyappearforquestioninginthemorning.

Thenighttimearrestanddetentionoftheseminors,whoareresidentsofIsrael,violatesIsraeli

law.InFebruary2010,BTselemsentaletter,basedontheinformationithadcollected,tothe

IsraelPoliceregardingthenightarrestofminorsinSilwan.7Inresponsetoaquestionfromthe

Haaretznewspaper,thepolicecontendedthatthearrestsweremadelawfully,andthatit

intendedtocontinueitspracticeuntilthephenomenoniseliminated.8Indeed,sincethen,

4IrAmim,ShadyDealingsinSilwan(2009).5NirHasson,RageatTopOfficialsfromJusticeMinistryonTheirVisittoSilwan,Haaretz,22August2010.

6NirHasson,JerusalemsMayor,NirBarkat:SilwanPlanGoodNewsRatherthanDemolitionOrders,

Haaretz,2March2010.7Letterof15February2010fromAttorneyYaelStein,ofBTselem,totheJerusalemDistrictCommanderand

totheDirectoroftheDepartmentfortheInvestigationofPolice.

8ResponseofthepolicetoHaaretz.SeeNirHasson,BorderPoliceHaveNoMercyonChildrenofSilwan:TwelveYearOldsareArrestedintheirBedsonSuspicionofThrowingStones,Haaretz,9March2010.


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8

BTselemhasobtainedinformationindicatingthatthesituationhasnotchanged,andthat

securityforcescontinuetobreachthelawinthecourseofarrestingminors.

On22September2010,aresidentofalBustan,SamerSarhan,waskilledbyoneoftheprivate

securityguardsattheJewishsettlementintheneighborhood.Sarhan,32,wasmarriedandhad

fivechildren.Thesecurityguardclaimedthathehadbeenpeltedwithstonesandfelthislifewas

indanger.FootagefromthesecuritycamerasoftheWadiHilwaSilwanInformationCentercasts

doubtonhisclaim:theguardclaimedthattheroadwasblocked,butthefilmshowshimdriving

awayfromthesiteimmediatelyaftertheshooting,andanothervehiclecanalsobeseendriving

alongtheroad.9

SincethekillingofSarhan,thesituationintheneighborhoodhasdeterioratedevenfurther.

Palestinianchildrenthrowstonesonadailybasis,andtheintensityoftheincidentsincreases

alongsidetheincreaseinconfrontationswiththesettlersandstateauthorities.Thepoliceact

forcefullytowardtheminors:AccordingtoBTselemfigures,between22Septemberand31

October2010alone,atleast32minorswerearrestedordetained.Someofthosearrestedwere

youngerthantwelve,theageofcriminalresponsibility.10

ThisreportreviewsthearrestsanddetentionofminorsinSilwanoverthepastyear(1November

2009to31October2010)andexaminestheextenttowhichtheauthoritieshandlingofthecases

conformswithIsraelsYouthLaw.

9SeetheletterofMosheNussbaum,SecurityCamerasContradictTestimonyofSecurityGuardwhoShot

PersontoDeathinSilwan,Channel2News,26September2010,availableathttp://www.mako.co.il/news

military/security/Article 01d5a446f6f4b21004.htm (inHebrew).TheCenterhasawebsite(www.silwanic.net)

containingmuchinformationoneventsinthevillage.

10BTselemthanksDCIPalestineforitsassistanceincollectingdataonthearrestsmadeinOctober2010.A

similarfiguretotheBTselemfigurewaspublishedbytheWadiHilwaSilwanInformationCenter.See

http://silwanic.net/?p=7974 .


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9

RightsofminorsinacriminalproceedinginternationallawInternationalhumanitarianlaw,intheFourthGenevaConvention,grantsspecialprotectionsto

minors.11Thestatusofchildrenaspersonsholdingspecialrightsisalsoafundamentalpartof

humanrightslaw.ThemaindocumentestablishingtherightsofchildrenistheConventionon

theRightsoftheChild,adoptedbytheUNinNovember1989.IsraelsignedtheConventionin

July1990andratifieditinAugust1991.12TheConventioncontainscomprehensiveprovisionson

allaspectsofthelivesofchildren.Itrecognizesthesubstantialdifferencebetweenchildrenand

adultsandthereforetheneedtoprotectchildren,inpartbyensuringtherightsofchildrenwho

areaccusedofoffenses.TheConventiondefinesaminorasanyhumanbeingbelowtheageofeighteenyearsunless,underthelawapplicabletothechild,majorityisattainedearlier.13TheConventionprovidesgeneralguidelinesforthehandlingofchildrenwhohaveviolatedthe

lawbutdoesnotspecifythesystemoflawneededtomeettheseguidelines.14Thepreambletothe

ConventionmentionstheUnitedNationsStandardMinimumRulesfortheAdministrationof

JuvenileJustice(theBeijingRules),of1985.15Althoughtheserulesarenotbinding,theyhave

beenadoptedatleastinpartbymanystates,includingAustralia,TheNetherlands,GreatBritain,

Norway,FinlandandSweden,asguidelinesforadministeringthejuvenilejusticesystem.In

December1990,

the

UN

General

Assembly

adopted

rules,

based

on

the

Beijing

Rules,

for

protectingminorswhohavebeendeniedtheirliberty,andcalledonallcountriestoadoptthese

rulesintheirjuvenilejusticesystem.16

11Inarticles14,23,24,and50.Article38emphasizesthattheseprotectionsaregrantedequallytoaliens.

Articles89,94,and132emphasizetherightsofchildrenwhoareinternees.

12TheConventionisavailableatwww2.ohchr.org/English/lw/crc.htm.

13Article1oftheConvention.Theemphasisisadded.

14Article37oftheConvention.

15UnitedNationsStandardMinimumRulesfortheAdministrationofJuvenileJustice(TheBeijingRules),Resolution40/33,29November1985,availableatwww2.ohchr.org/english/law/pdf/beijingrules.pdf.

16UnitedNationsRulesfortheProtectionofJuvenilesDeprivedoftheirLiberty,Resolution45/113,14December1990,availableatwww.un.org/documents/ga/res/45/a45r113.htm .


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10

ThesetwobodiesofrulesprescribethattheMemberStatesshallseektofurtherthewellbeingof

thejuvenile,takingintoaccountthecircumstancesoftheoffenseandtheoffender,andto

maintainaproportionalrelationshipbetweentheseverityoftheoffenseandtheseverityofthe

punishmentunderthecircumstances.17AccordingtotheUNRulesof1990,incarcerationof

minorsshouldbealastresortandfortheminimumperiodpossible.18Theauthoritiesshould

refrainfromdetainingjuvenileswhileundertrial,andensuretherightsofjuvenilesincasesin

whichtheyaresubjecttosuchdetention.19Bothsetsofrulesrequiretheinstitutionofaspecial

systemforjuvenilesintermsoflegislation,trainingthepersonnelengagedinthehandlingof

juveniles,andadaptingdetentionfacilitiesfortheholdingofjuveniles.20

RightsofminorsinacriminalproceedingIsraelilawTherulesrelatingtorightsofminorsincriminalproceedingsinIsraelareenshrinedin

Amendment14totheYouth(Trial,PunishmentandModesofTreatment)Law,57311971

(hereafter:theYouthLaw),whichwasenactedon30July2008andtookeffectoneyearlater.The

amendmentisintendedtoincorporateinIsraelilegislationtherulesofinternationallaw

concerningthetreatmentofjuvenilesincriminalmattersandtheobligationsderivedfromthese

rules.Thisamendmentemphasizesoptionsfortherehabilitationofjuveniles,theirrightsas

humanbeings,andtherightsofwitnesseswhoareminors.Theamendmentemphasizes

alternativestoarrest,whichisviewedasameansoflastresorttobetakenonlyintheabsenceof

anyalternativecourseofaction.

TheYouthLawgrantsspecialtreatmenttominorsunderagefourteen,andsetsanespecially

shortperiodforthemtobebroughtbeforeajudgetwelvehours(ratherthantwentyfourhours

forminorsoveragefourteenandforadults)andprohibitsremandingthemuntiltheendofthe

17BeijingRules,sections1.1and5.1.

18UnitedNationsRulesfortheProtectionofJuvenilesDeprivedoftheirLiberty,sections1,2.19UnitedNationsRulesfortheProtectionofJuvenilesDeprivedoftheirLiberty,Annex,sections1718.20BeijingRules,sections6.1,6.3,12.1;1.1and5.1;UnitedNationsRulesfortheProtectionofJuvenilesDeprivedoftheirLiberty,section2,anditsAnnex,sections1216,1987.


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proceedings.Also,thestatuterequiresconsultationwithaprobationofficerpriortotryingachild

underagethirteen.Thestatutedelineatesthefollowingfundamentalprinciples:

Arrestisthelastresortandshouldbefortheshortestrequiredperiodoftime.

Interrogationofaminormaybeconductedonlybyaninterrogatorwhoistrainedasa

youthinterrogator.

Presenceofaparentduringinterrogation:Aparentisallowedtobepresentatalltimes,

butmaynotinterveneintheinterrogationprocess.Anexceptiontothisruleispermitted

uponwrittenauthorizationofanauthorizedofficer,inwhichcasetheinterrogationmay

beginwithoutaparentpresent,andincasesinwhichthewellbeingofthechildrequires

thattheparentnotbepresent.Minorshavetherighttoconsultwiththeparentbeforethe

interrogation,withcertainexceptions.21However,thePoliceregulationsforinterrogation

ofminorshavenotyetbeenupdatedaccordingtotheYouthLaw,andthereforeonly

requirethepresenceofaparentforminorsundertheageof14.22Thisconstitutesa

violationoftheYouthLaw.

Interrogationofminorsatnight

Whentheminorisawitness:Questioningisprohibited,unlesstheminorcomes

onhisowninitiativeorifthequestioningtakesplaceshortlyaftertheincident

occurred.Inanycase,ajuvenilewitnessisnottobequestionedaftermidnight,

evenifheagrees.

Whentheminorisasuspect:Onlyshortlyafterheisdetained,ifthesentence

forcommissionoftheoffenseexceedsthreeyearsimprisonment,orthesuspect

andhisparentconsent,andonlyifthequestioningisrequiredforthepurposesof

theinvestigation.

Itispermittedtointerrogatejuvenilesatnightiftheyaresuspectedofcommittinganoffense

carryingapenaltygreaterthanthreeyearsimprisonment(themaximumpenaltyfortheoffense

21Itshouldbenotedthattherighttohaveaparentpresentatallstagesofarrest,interrogation,andtrialis

incorporatedintheBeijingRules,section7.1

22IsraelPolice,


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12

ofthrowingstonesisfromthreetotwentyyearsimprisonment,dependingonthe

circumstances23).However,nighttimeinterrogationofminorsisonlyallowediftheauthorized

officerisconvincedthatthelackofsuchaninterrogationwillharmtheminor,theinvestigation,

thediscoveryofevidence,orthethwartingadditionaloffenses,orwillpreventthereleaseofthe

juvenileorofothersuspects.24

Detentionreport:Adetentionreportcanbemadeattheinitiativeofaprobationofficer.A

reportmustbemadebeforedetentionisimposed.Thereport,preparedbyanauthorized

socialworker,examinestheenvironmentinwhichtheyouthlives,thelikelihoodof

rehabilitation,andtheanticipatedeffectofdetentionontheyouth.

Meetingwithwelfareofficials:Ajuvenilewhoisindetentionmustmeetwithasocial

workerwithintwentyfourhoursofarrest,andifthearrestismadeattheendofthe

weekoronaholiday,immediatelyaftertheSabbathorholiday.

Supervisionandrehabilitation:Thestatuterequirestheestablishmentofanetworkof

residentialfacilitiesandprobationofficers.

(a) Detainingaminorforinterrogationistobecarriedoutinaccordancewiththerules

prescribedintheCriminalProcedure(EnforcementPowersDetentions)Law,5756

1996(hereafter:TheDetentionsLaw).Themaindifferencesbetweendetentionand

arrestconcernlimitationsonthelengthofthedetentionandthegroundsrequiredfor

itsexecution.TheDetentionsLawspecifiestheinstancesinwhichitispermittedto

detainpersonssuspectedofoffensesorpersonsregardingwhomthereisreasonable

basistobelievethattheirdetentionwillpreventthecommissionofanoffense,and

personswhohavevaluableinformationaboutanoffensecommitted.Theofficermay

detainthepersonsimmediatelyorsummonthentothepolicestation.25

23PenalLaw,57371977,articles332335.

24YouthLaw,articles9J,9H(c).

25DetentionsLaw,articles6668.


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13

Inmostcases,theminorsandparentswhomBTseleminterviewedforthepurposeofthisreport

didnotdistinguishbetweenarrestanddetention,andaccordinglyweshallrelatetothesetwo

meanstogetherthroughoutthisreport.

StatisticsAccordingtoIsraelPolicefigures,from1November2009to26October2010,theJerusalem

Districtopened1,267criminalfilesagainstPalestinianminorslivinginEastJerusalemwhowere

accusedofstonethrowing.Ofthese,143casesinvolvedincidentsthatoccurredfrom22

September2010to26October2010.26ThisfigureincludesalltheneighborhoodsinEast

Jerusalem,

and

not

just

Silwan.

B

Tselem

also

requested

statistics

detailing

the

number

of

minors

whoweredetainedforquestioningwithoutopeningacriminalfileagainstthem,butthepolice

claimedthatitcannotprovidethisfigure.

BTselemisawareofatleast81minorswhowerearrestedordetainedforquestioningoverthe

pastyearonsuspicionofstonethrowing.Overthepastyear,BTselemhasinterviewedover30

minors,parents,andotherwitnessesrelatingtothetensioninSilwan;thevastmajorityofthese

interviewsrelatetothedetentionofminors.AccordingtoBTselemsfigures,atleast32minors

werearrestedordetainedforquestioninginSilwaninOctober2010alone.Wehavedocumented

somecasesinwhichminorswerearrestedseveraltimesoverthecourseoftheyear.Thevast

majorityoftheminorsweresuspectedofstonethrowing,thoughafewwerearrestedon

suspicionofcommittingotheroffenses.

MeanstakenagainststonethrowersBTselemsresearchindicatesthatmostoftheminorsontrialforstonethrowingwereheldunder

housearrest

for

periods

ranging

from

afew

days

to

several

months.

After

the

verdict,

the

judges

sentencedthoseconvictedtoafineand/orpublicservice.

MostminorswhowerearrestedinOctobersaidthattheirparentssignedanunpaidbondinthe

sumofNIS5,000(someUS$1,300).Theimplicationoftheunpaidbondisthatiftheyouthsare

26Letterof15November2010fromAvishagZakenWeisenberg,onbehalfoftheofficialinchargeof

freedomofinformationinthePublicComplaintsUnitoftheIsraelPolice.


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14

convictedinthelegalproceedingsagainstthem,oriftheyarefoundtohavecommittedthesame

offenseagain,theirparentswillberequiredtopaythestatedsum.Thebroaduseofwhatisan

especiallyhighfineconformswiththepolicesnewpolicy,aspublishedinMaarivon2November2010.Accordingtothisreport,inanattempttocombatstonethrowinginEast

Jerusalem,particularlyhighfineswouldbeimposedontheparentsofstonethrowersthere.27The

ideaisnotnew:duringthefirstintifada,theIDFimposed,asadeterrentmeans,highfineson

parentsofminorundertheageofcriminalresponsibilitywhowerecaughtthrowingstones.28

ContraventionoftheYouthLawinarrestsofminorsinSilwanThetimeandplaceofarrestTheoverwhelmingmajorityofcasesmonitoredbyBTseleminwhichminorswerearrestedor

heldforinterrogationfromNovember2009toJanuary2010(inclusive)werecarriedoutatnight.

Inaddition,threeminorsweresummonedatnighttoappearforquestioninginthemorning,and

onlyonewasarrestedduringastonethrowingincident.BTselemisawareofatleastsixteen

minorswhowerearrestedatnightintheperiodexaminedinthisreport.Inatleastthreecases,

theparentsrequestedthattheirchildbebroughtforquestioninginthemorning,butthisrequest

wasdenied.Someoftheminorswerequestionedinthecourseofthenightandothersthenext

morning.

Nightarrests,inwhichpoliceorBorderPoliceofficers,andalsoIsraelSecurityAgencyagents,

cometothehomeoftheminorsisatraumaticexperienceforthem.Nabil,12,describeshis

fatherwakinghimwhenacontingentofpoliceofficerscametoarresthim.

OnSunday,17October2010,around5:30A.M.,whileIwassleepingathome,my

fathercameandwokeme.Hesaidthearmywasatthedoor.Heaskedmenottobe

afraid.Iliftedmyheadandsawthreemenincivilianclothesstandingnexttomy

father.WhenIgotup,IsawfourBorderPoliceofficersattheentrancetothehouse

nexttothekitchen.

27YossiEli,NewTechniqueforCombatingStoneThrowing:Fines,Maariv,2November2010.28ThepracticewasapprovedbytheHighCourtofJusticeinHCJ591/88,Taha,aMinor,etal.v.MinisterofDefenseetal.


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15

Mymothergavemeashirt,whichIputonundermytracksuit,andshoes.Iwent

withCaptainItzik,whosaidhewasthecaptaininchargeofthearea.Hesaid,

Comewith

us.

He

was

behind

me,

and

aborder

policeman

walked

in

front

of

me.

Oneofthesoldiersgrabbedmebythearmandputmeintoawhitejeep.29

Evenincasesinwhichtheminorsaresummonedatnightandappearinthemorning,theyalso

sufferaterrifyingnighttimedisturbance.Yazan,14,describesbeingsummonedinthemiddleof

thenighttoappearinthemorning.

On27January2010,atthreeoclockinthemorning,twoISAagents,accompaniedby

BorderPoliceofficers,cametoourhouseinthealYamansectionofSilwan.They

bangedonthedoorandIwokeup.Itwasscary.Theyaskedaboutmyyounger

brother,Imad,whoistenyearsold,andtheywroteasummonsforhimtoappearfor

interrogation. Thentheytoldmyfatherthattheyhadmadeamistake,thatthey

actuallywantedme.Theytoreupthefirstsummons,relatingtoImad,andwrotea

newonewithmynameonit.ItsaidIhadtoappearforinterrogationattheRussian

Compoundinthemorning.30

TheYouthLawdoesnotaddresswhenaminorcanbedetained,butonlywhenaminorcanbeinterrogated.Thelawprohibitstheinterrogationofaminoratnight,exceptinthecasewhenthequestioning

is

conducted

at

the

time

the

minor

is

detained,

or

in

acase

in

which

the

minor

and

hisparentconsent,orinacaseinvolvingaseriousoffense.31Underthespiritofthestatute,these

samecriteriashouldalsolimitnighttimedetentionofaminor.

Inthoseexceptionalcasesinwhichthestatuteallowsinterrogationatnight,theauthorized

officermustbeconvincedthatfailuretointerrogateatnightwillcauseharmtothechild,tothe

interrogation,todisclosureofevidence,ortothwartingadditionaloffensesorwillpreventthe

releaseoftheminororothersuspects.32Formally,thestatutemightbeinterpretedtopermit,in

certaincases,nightinterrogationsofminors,wherethestonethrowingisconsideredaserious

29TheinterviewwasgiventoAmerArurion18October2010.

30TheinterviewwasgiventoAmerArurion17February2010.

31Article9J(2)oftheYouthLawstatesthataminorsuspectedofcommittingafelony,whichisanoffensethe

penaltyforwhichisthreeyearsimprisonmentormore,maybeinterrogatedatnight.

32YouthLaw,article9J(c),9H(c),seeabovep.X.


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16

offense.However,inthecasesBTselemexamined,andinwhichtheinterrogationtookplacea

fewdaysaftertheincident,therewerenocasualtiesandtheminorsreportedthattheywere

questionedaboutpastevents.Therefore,theaboveinterpretationofthestatuteinstonethrowing

casesisimproperandiscontrarytothespiritofthestatuteandtoitsgeneralprinciples.

Regardingtheseverityoftheoffense,whichmightjustifyanightinterrogation,theoffenseof

stonethrowingisindeedconsideredaseriousoffense,thepenaltyforwhichisarelativelylong

prisonsentence.Buthere,too,discretioniswarrantedwithrespecttotheneedtodetainaminor

atnightforquestioning,anditisnecessarytotakeintoaccounttheageofthepersoninvolved,

thepenaltiesactuallyimposedinthesecases,whicharemuchlessthanthemaximumpenalty

prescribedin

the

statute,

and

the

fact

that

the

offense

took

place

some

time

earlier,

and

it

is

thereforeunlikelythattheinvestigationwouldbeharmedifthequestioningweredelayedfora

fewmorehours.

TheYouthLawtakesintoaccounttheageofjuvenileoffenders,andthearrestofminorsinthe

middleofthenight,intheirbed,isinconsistentwiththespiritofthestatute.Itseemsthatthe

discretionappliedinthecasesexaminedforthepurposeofthisreportwasmistaken,giventhe

ageofthesuspects,thenatureoftheoffenseallegedlycommitted,anditscircumstances.

Byinterrogatingminorsatnight,thepolicefloutedtheprovisionsofthestatuteallowingnight

interrogationssolelyinexceptionalcases.Forexample,intheformregardinginterrogationofa

juvenilesuspectonthenightof10January2010,whichissignedbytheheadoftheinvestigations

officeintheSpecialOperationsDepartmentoftheCentralUnitoftheJerusalemPolice,anofficer

holdingtherankofsuperintendentrecordedsixnamesofminors,eventhoughtheformis

draftedtodealwithoneindividual,andtheidentitynumberswerenotwrittenontheform.All

sixjuvenileswerearrestedthesamenightonsuspicionofstonethrowingfivedaysearlier.

Approvalfortheinterrogationinthemiddleofthenightwasjustifiedonthegroundsthatdelay

intheinterrogationmightthwartorimpairtheinvestigationortheinterrogationorarrestof

additionalsuspectsregardingtheincidentforwhichtheminorisbeingquestioned.33Theuseof

acollectiveform,withoutfullmentionoftheparticularsoftheminorsbeingquestioned,andthe

generalandvaguepretextjustifyingtheinterrogation,showscontemptfortheprohibitionon

33FromtheinvestigationmaterialinFile156/2010oftheDepartmentfortheInvestigationofPolice,which

wasforwardedtoBTselem.


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17

interrogationofminorsatnight,andtheeasymannerinwhichexceptionsareapproved,rather

thanonlyintrulyexceptionalcases.

InOctober2010,therewasachangeinthepolicespatternofoperation:alongwithnightarrests,

therewasanincreaseintheuseofspecialforcesundercoverunitsandSWATteamsinan

attempttoarrestminorsclosetothetimeofthestonethrowing. SpecialforcesoftheIsraelPolice

wereinvolvedinmorethanhalfofthecasesofminorswhowereinterviewedbyBTselemon

beingarrestedordetainedinOctober.

CuffingArticle10BoftheYouthLawseverelylimitsthecasesinwhichaminormaybecuffed.

10B.Inarticle9AoftheDetentionsLaw,withrespecttoaminor,itscontentsshallbe

marked(a)andshallbefollowedby:

(b)Withoutderogatingfromtheprovisionsofsubsection(a),adecisionshall

notbemadetobindaminorwhohasbeenarrestedifitispossibletoachievethe

purposeofbindinginawaythatharmstheminortoalesserextent,andheshall

beboundfortheshortesttimenecessarytoachievetheaforesaidpurpose;in

makingthedecisiontobindaminor,hisageandtheaffectofbindingonhis

physicaland

mental

well

being

shall

be

taken

into

account.

(c)Priortobindingaminorundertheprovisionsofsubsection(a),thepolice

officershallinformhimthatheisabouttobebound,unlessthepoliceofficer

believesthatgivingsuchnoticewillthwarttheobjectiveofthebinding.

Despitethisclearprovision,fourteenofthetwentytwojuvenileswhowereinterviewedby

BTselemreportedtheyhadbeencuffed.Elevenofthemreportedbeingcuffedatthetimeof

arrest:oneatthetimehewasheldaloneattheRussianCompoundwhileawaitinginterrogation

wheretheresurelywasnoneedtocuffhimsincehewasisolatedfromotherpersons;andtwo

aftertheirinterrogation,whentheywereplacedunderarrestafterhavingbeendetainedfor

questioning.Theextensiveuseofcuffing,whichisintendedforuseasalastresort,tobring

minorstointerrogationcontravenestheYouthLaw.

Cuffingcanalsobeameansforcausingphysicalpain.Yazan,14,describeshowthecuffing

affectedhim.


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18

Atsomepoint,theinterrogatornoticedthatthecuffsonmyhandswerenottight,and

hetightenedthemwithforce.Duringtheinterrogation, hedidnotletmegotothe

bathroomor

have

something

to

drink.

Icouldnt

bear

the

beatings

and

the

pressure

andconfessedthatIhadthrownstonesatBeitYehonatan.34

DetentionandarrestofminorsundertheageofcriminalresponsibilityUnderIsraelilaw,thewelfareservicesareresponsiblefordealingwithminorsundertheageof

twelvewhocommitoffenses;thelawdoesnotallowtheirdetention.Yet,sincethebeginningof

2010,BTselemhasdocumentedthedetentionforinterrogationoffourminorsyoungerthanage

34TheinterviewwasgiventoAmerArurion17February2010.

36CriminalProcedure(EnforcementPowersDetentions)Law,57561996,article73b.


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19

12.Ashrafwasarrestedon10January2010,thedayafterhistwelfthbirthday,andinterrogated

regardinganincidentthatoccurredfivedaysearlieri.e.anincidenthewassuspectedof

committingwhilebelowtheageofcriminalresponsibility.AshrafcomplainedtotheDepartment

forInvestigationofPolicethathewassubjectedtoviolenceduringhisinterrogation,inwhichno

adultonhisbehalfwaspresent,buttheinvestigationintothematterwasclosed.

Iyad,whoisunder6yearsold,wassummonedforinvestigationatnightandcameinthe

morningtogetherwithhisfather.Hewassummonedtogetherwithanotherminorwiththesame

familyname,probablyduetomistakenidentity.Thepoliceforcesshouldhavebeenableto

discernimmediatelythatsummoningachildofthisagetointerrogationiscompletely

unreasonable.

InthecaseofRabi,10yearsold,anattemptwasmadetointerrogatehimevenbeforehisfather

arrivedatthepolicestation,butherefused.Theinterrogationbeganfivehoursafterhehadbeen

detainedbyundercoverpoliceofficers,andanhourandahalfafterhisfatherarrivedatthe

policestation.35Itshouldbenotedthatdetentionwithoutarrest,untilthebeginningofthe

interrogation,islimitedtothreehours.36Waitinguntiltheminorsfatherarriveswasjustified,

andpossiblyalsotheadditionaldelay,becausetheinterrogationbeganwhentheminorslawyer

arrived,however,thereisnojustificationforthefactthataboy,undertheageofcriminal

responsibility,waitedalone,withouthisfatherpresent.

Nabil,8yearsold,wastakentointerrogationat5:00A.M.andheldatthepolicestationforthree

hours,whichisthemaximumtimepermittedbythestatute,beforebeinginterrogated.Hewas

allowedtogohomearound9:00A.M.37

PresenceofparentduringtheinterrogationIsraelilawentitlesparentstobepresentduringinterrogations,exceptinspecialcases.38

InterviewswithminorsfromSilwanabovetheageofcriminalresponsibilityindicatethatthey

37ThetestimoniesweregiventoAmerArurion21October2010

37ThetestimoniesweregiventoAmerArurion25October2010.

38YouthLaw,articles9H,10,and19.


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20

weretakenalone,andsimultaneouslytheirparentsweresummonedtothepolicestation.Inthe

caseofminorsundertheageofcriminalresponsibility,whentheyweretakenfromtheirhome,

theparentswereallowedtoaccompanythemfromthemomenttheyleftthehouse.

Inmostofthecases,theparentswereallowedtobepresentattheinterrogation.Theywere

forbiddentointerveneduringthequestioning.Parentswhoaskedtospeakwiththeirchildren

priortothestartoftheinterrogationwerenotallowedtodoso.Someoftheparentsrelatedthat

theyhadbeenwarnednottoexchangeevenonewordwiththeirchildren,andtwosaidthatthey

wererequiredtosignacommitmentnottospeakwiththeirson.Insomeinstances,the

interrogatorsorderedtheparenttositbehindthechild,preventingeyecontactbetweenparent

andchild.

The

statute

does

prescribe

that

parents

are

not

allowed

to

interfere

in

the

interrogation,

andevenallowstheinterrogatortoremovetheparentfromtheroomiftheinterferencedisturbs

theinterrogation.Thereasonsforremovingtheparentmustbesetforthinwriting.39However,

thestatuteentitlesaminortoconsultwithhisparentsbeforetheinterrogationandincertain

casesalsoduringit.40Therefore,theinstructionnotpermittingtheparenttospeakwiththechild

evenbeforetheinterrogationisinconsistentwiththespiritoftheYouthLaw,whichattaches

greatimportancetotherightofaminorunderpoliceinterrogationtoconsultwithhisorher

parent.

Inseveralcases,theentireinterrogation,orpartofit,wasconductedwithouttheparentsbeing

present,generallyontheclaimthattheminorswereworriedabouttheirwellbeingduetothe

parentsreactiontothearrest.InatleastfivecasesBTselemdocumented,theparentswere

allowedtobepresentonlyduringthelatterpartoftheinterrogation,mostofwhichwas

conductedintheirabsence.

Zuheir,13,wasarrestedon10January2010.HisfamilyinformedthepolicethatZuheirsfather

washavingtroublegettingtothepolicestationandthatanothermemberofthefamilywould

takehisplace.Thirtyfiveminuteslater,theinterrogationbegan,withoutwaitingforthefamilys

representative.Article9H(c)1oftheYouthLawallowsaninterrogationtostartwithoutaparentbeingpresentiftheparentorotherrelativedidnotarrivefortheinterrogationwithina

39YouthLaw,article9H(g).

40Article9H.


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21

reasonabletime,underthecircumstances,aftertheinvitationwasmade.Thelimitedtimegiven

inthiscaseisinconsistentwiththestatute.Furthermore,Zuheirwasquestionedforanoffense

thatwascommittedfivedaysearlier,sotherepresumablywasnospecialurgencyforthe

interrogationjustifyinginfringementoftherightofanadulttobepresentonhisbehalf,whichthe

policesaidheexpresslyrequested.41

Wadia,12,wasquestionedatthepolicestationon10January2010,withouthisparentsbeing

present,afterwritten,signedauthorizationwasgivenstatingtherewasfearfortheminorswell

beingiftheparentweretobepresentattheinterrogation.42Theformdidnothaveadate,and

Wadiasattorneyclaimsthattheyouthandhisparentswerenotproperlynotifiedoftheir

rights.43Wadia

confessed

to

throwing

one

stone,

five

days

earlier,

under

different

circumstances

thanthoseforwhichhewasincriminatedandsummonedtointerrogation,andhisparentswere

orderedtopostabondinthesumofNIS4,000.

InthecaseoftheinterrogationofWisam,13,whowasarrestedon18October2010,thefather

noticed,whilepresentattheinterrogation,thathissonseyewasswollen.When,atthebeginning

oftheinterrogation,thefathertriedtoaskhissonwhetherhehadbeenbeaten,hewas

immediatelyremovedfromtheinterrogation.44Thepresenceofaparentduringtheinterrogation

ofaminorisintendedtoprotectthechildsrights,andtheattempttodetermine,beforethe

interrogationitselfbegan,whetherthechildhasbeentreatedviolentlyclearlyhelpssafeguardhis

rights.Theremovalofthefatherfromtheinterrogationbecauseheworriedabouthissonswell

beingconstitutesadoubleinfringementoftherightsoftheminor,whosefathersuspectedhehad

beenthevictimofviolence.

TheinterrogationofNabil,12,whowasarrestedon17October2010,involvedanother

disturbingphenomenon:thediscriminationbetweenhisparentsbasedontheirlegalstatusin

41MemorandumInvestigativeReportbytheInternalAffairsDepartment,[??]IsraelPolice,10January2010.

42TheformwassignedbytheheadoftheheadoftheInterrogations Office,[??],CentralUnitJerusalem,an

officerholdingtherankofsuperintendent.

43Letterof2February2010fromAttorneyShlomoLeckertoDalitBenYaakov,secretaryoftheDepartment

fortheInvestigationofPolice.

44ThetestimoniesweregiventoAmerArurion26October2010.


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22

Israel.HismotherisaresidentofEastJerusalem,whilehisfatherisaresidentoftheOccupied

Territories.ThroughoutNabilsdetention,hisfamilywastoldthat,sincehisfatherwasnota

residentofJerusalem,onlyhismotherwouldbeallowedtomaintaincontactwiththepoliceand

bepresentduringinterrogation.ItshouldbeemphasizedthattheYouthLawgrantstheminortherighttohaveaparentorotherrelativepresentduringtheinterrogation,andthereisnorestriction

inthestatutedealingwiththelegalstatusofhisrelative.

TakingmeasuresagainsttheparentsNabil,12,wasarrestedintheearlyhoursof17October2010andreleasedthesamedayto

housearrestfortwoweeks.HismotherinformedBTselemthat,on21October,shewas

summonedtotheofficesoftheMinistryofWelfareandSocialServicesinthecenterofthe

Jerusalem,todeterminewhethershewasneglectingherson,sincehespenttimeonthestreet,

wasinvolvedinstonethrowing,andwasinjuredduringthisactivity.Theostensibleconcernof

thechildwelfareauthoritiesissurprising,giventhattheseauthoritiesthemselvesroutinelyand

clearlybreachtheprovisionsofAmendment14totheYouthLawwithrespecttothearrestof

minorsfromSilwan,harmingtheirwellbeing.Theabsurdityininitiatingtheseproceedings

againsttheparentsoftheminorisespeciallygraveinlightofthecontinuingneglectinproviding

welfareservicestoEastJerusalem,Silwaninparticular.45Theminorswhowereinterviewedby

BTselemdescribedtheirfeelingsofseveredeprivationduetothelackofproperplacestoplayin

theneighborhood.Khaled,14,relatedthat:

Theproblemisthatwehavenoplacetoplay.Icomehomefromschool,eatlunch,do

myhomework,andthenIgoplayinfrontofourhousewithkidsfromthe

neighborhood.Thesettlersdontlikethis,especiallytheguardswhoarethere...

Theydontwanttoseeusplayingthere...Therearelotsofchildrenwhoareafraidto

playinthearea,mostlybecausetheirfamiliesalwayswarnthemtokeepawayfrom

thesettlersandtheirhouses.

BTselemisunawareofothercasesinwhichparentsofminorsfromSilwanweresummonedfor

45SeeAssociationforCivilRightsinIsrael,HumanRightsinEastJerusalem:FactandFigures(May2010),16,availablewww.acri.org.il/pdf/eastjer2010.pdf.


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23

similardiscussions.

ViolenceAfewoftheminorswhoweredetainedorarrestedatnightreportedthattheyweretreated

violently,mainlyduringthecourseofthedetention/arrestandonthewaytothecentral

JerusalempolicestationintheRussianCompound.Aswaspointedoutabove,atthisstage,the

minorsaregenerallynotaccompaniedbyanadultmemberoftheirfamily,soitwasimpossibleto

obtainsupportingtestimony.Alltheminorsarrestedbyspecialforcesreportedsevereviolence

duringthearrestandonthewaytotheRussianCompound.Forexample,Nasser,13,whowas

arrestedneartheBeerAyubMosqueon11October,relatedthat:

Isawamaskedmandressedinblack.Hegrabbedmebytheneckandhitmeinthe

chest.Helaidmedownonthegroundandhitmeintheface.Mylipstartedtobleed.

ThentheundercoverpolicemanputmeintothebackofawhiteToyota.Thechild

Hassanwasthere.Theythrewmeonhim,andthetwoofuswereonthefloorofthe

vehicle.Twomaskedmensatwithusintheback.Twopolicemenwereinthefront.

Insidethevehicle,thetwomaskedmenhitus,andwestartedtocry.Iwasso

frightenedthatIpeedinmypants.46

Sincethesearecommentsmadebychildren,oftenwithnoothermaterialtocorroboratethem,we

relatetothemcautiously.However,someoftheparentsreportedthattheysawbruisesonthe

bodyoftheirchildrenandsomeofthechildrenwereexaminedbyaphysician.Thecaseof

Wisamsfather,whowasremovedfromtheinterrogationwhenhetriedtolearnwhyhissons

eyewasswollen,illustratesthedisregardofinterrogatorstothepossibilitythattheminors

indeedmayhavesufferedfromviolenceatthehandsofthepersonswhoarrestedthem.

BTselemwrotetotheDepartmentfortheInvestigationofPolice,demandingthatitopenan

investigationintotheviolenceapparentlyusedagainstfiveminors,twoofwhomwerearrested

inNovember2009,twoinJanuary2010,andoneinOctober2010.BTselemalsoknowsofanother

caseinwhichthereisasuspicionthatviolencewasusedagainstaminorwhowasarrestedin

January,andhasalsofiledacomplaintonthissixthcasewiththeDepartmentforthe

46TheinterviewwasgiventoAmerArurion12October2010.


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24

InvestigationofPolice(DIP).Inthreeofthecases,theDepartmentopenedaninvestigation.All

wereclosedwithouttakinganymeasuresagainstanyofthepersonsinvolved.Inonecase,the

Departmentdidnotopenaninvestigation,andinanothercase,theparentsdidnotfilea

complaint.ThecasefromOctober2010hasnotyetbeeninvestigated.Itisimportanttonotethat

infourteencasesfromOctober2010,thefamiliesrefusedtofileacomplaint,despiteBTselems

recommendation,duetotheirlackoftrustintheIsraelilawenforcementsystem.

OneofthecasesthattheDepartmentinvestigatedwasthatofWadia,12,whowasarrestedon

thenightof10January2010.47WadiastatedtoBTselemandtoDIPsinvestigatorthathehad

beenhitinthebackoftheneck.Hisheadwasslammedintoawall,causinghisnosetobleed,and

hewas

exposed

to

alot

of

cigarette

smoke

in

aclosed

space.

Wadia

identified,

in

pictures

from

a

securitycameraathishousethatdocumentedhisarrest,thepolicemanwhoassaultedhim,and

describedindetailtheactsofotherpolicemenwhowerewithhimatthetimeofthedetention,

andstatedthatatleastoneofthemwaspresentduringpartoftheviolentactions.

WadiaandhisparentsfiledacomplaintwithDIPthesameday.Thenextday,Wadiawentto

theemergencyroomatShaareZedekHospital,complainingofeyepains,whichresulted,he

believed,fromthecigarettesmoketowhichhewasexposed,andwastoldtofollowamedication

regimenandreleased.Whenhereturnedtothehospitalforanothervisittotheophthalmologist,

on14January,itwasdeterminedthathehadaneyeinfection.

Initsinvestigation,DIPdidnotquestiontheotherpolicemenwholikelywerewitnesses.The

testimonyofthepolicemanWadiaidentifiedastheonewhohithimwastakenfourmonthsafter

theincident.Thepolicemandeniedthesuspicionsoutright.48DIPsinvestigatorapparently

acceptedhisversion.Priortothis,threemonthsaftertheincident,thepoliceinterrogatorwho

questionedWadiaafterhisarrestwasquestioned.Wadiastatedthathehadmentioned,during

hisinterrogation,theviolencehesuffered.ThequestionsthatDIPsinvestigatoraskedthe

interrogatorfocusedontheattempttounderstandwhyWadiascomplaintofviolencewasnot

47ThedescriptionofthecaseisbasedonBTselemsinvestigationandonmaterialfromtheDepartments

investigationfile156/2010thatwasprovidedtoBTselem.

48Statementofthepolicemansuspectedofviolence,giventotheDepartmentfortheInvestigationofPolice

on4May2010.


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25

recordedinthechildsconfession,andwhythereweretechnicalproblemsinplayingthetapeof

Wadiasconfession.49Thepolicemanwho,accordingtoWadia,waspresentduringpartofthe

eventswasnotquestioned.

Sixmonthsaftertheincident,on15July,BTselemwasinformedthatthefilehadbeenclosedon

groundsoflackofevidence,inthattoprosecuteandachieveaconvictionofapersoninacaseof

thiskindrequiresahighdegreeofcertainty...Thereisnotareasonablelikelihoodthata

convictioncanbeobtainedinthefile.50Acceptingthetestimonyofthesuspectandignoring

potentialwitnessesclearlymentionedbytheminorindicatesthatnorealandeffectiveattempt

wasmadetoattainthetruth.TheAssociationforCivilRightsinIsraelrecentlyappealedthe

closingof

this

file.

IncriminationbyothersgroundsforarrestOnemethodthepoliceusetoidentifyjuvenilestonethrowersisincrimination:thepolicearrest

oneormoreyouths,theyarerequiredtogivenamesofotheryouthswhomtheysawthrowing

stones,andtheseyouthsarethenarrestedandrequiredtoprovidethenamesofothers,andso

on.Thenamescollectedinthischainarebasedentirelyontestimoniesofminorsinastressful

situation,questionedbypersonstheydeemhostile,oftenaftertheyhavebeentakenfromtheir

homesinafrighteningmannerinthemiddleofthenight,insomeinstanceswithoutaparent

beingpresent,andunderthethreatofarrestandprolongeddisruptionoftheirlives.Ifindeed

violencealsousedagainstsomeoftheminorsontheirwaytointerrogation,thisundoubtedly

increasedthelikelihoodthatnamesofotherminorswereprovidedunderthepressureofthe

interrogation,suchthatsomeofthemmightnothavebeeninvolvedinstonethrowingatall.

Relianceontestimoniesobtainedinsuchcircumstancesforthepurposeofconductingfurther

arrests

expands

the

circle

of

injustice

of

interrogation

of

minors

in

ways

contrary

to

the

Youth

Law.

AnexampleoftheuseofincriminationcanbefoundinthearrestsmadeinearlyJanuary2010,

followinganincidentinwhichstoneswerethrownataBorderPolicejeeponthemorningof5

49Statementoftheinterrogator,giventotheDepartmentfortheInvestigationofPoliceon18April2010.

50Letterof15July2010fromAyalaPlotnick,oftheDepartmentfortheInvestigationofPolice.


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26

January2010.ThepolicecontingentthatarrivedatthescenecaughtredhandedtheyouthKhalil,

15.Inhistestimony,Khalilconfessedtothrowingstonesatthejeepandatthejeepoftheprivate

securitycompanyworkingfortheEladorganizationaweekearlier.Healsoapparentlyprovided

thenamesofsixotherminorswhomhesaidtookpartinthestonethrowing,amongthem

Wadia,whowasmentionedabove.Allsixyouths,alongwithanumberofotheryouths,were

arrestedonthenightof10January.Inordertoallowanexceptiontotheprohibitiononnight

timeinterrogation,theinterrogatorsrecordedalltheinformationononeformforapprovalofthe

interrogationatnightofsixoftheyouths,althoughtheformisintendedforasingleindividual.51

Wadiawastakenfromhishomeonthenightof10JanuarybyBorderpolicemenandISAagents

incivilian

dress

and

was

rushed

outside

the

house

and

handcuffed.

As

mentioned

above,

he

claimedhewastreatedviolentlyduringthearrestandwhilewaitingfortheinterrogationto

begin.52Underquestioning,Wadiagavethenamesofthreeminorswhomhestatedthrewstones

intheincidentforwhichhewasarrested.NoneofthechildrenWadiamentionedappeared

amongthenamesgivenbyKhalil,whichledtohisownarrest.Whentheinterrogatoraskedhim

aboutoneoftheyouthswhohadbeenarrestedwithhim,andwhoadmitted,accordingtothe

interrogator,thathesawWadiathrowstones,Wadiarelatedthatthatchildwasnotwithhimat

thetimeoftheincident.WadiaadmittedthatlateinthemorningoftheprecedingTuesday

(apparently5January),hethrewstonesatsettlerssecurityguards.Thistestimonycontradictsthe

testimonyofKhalil,whichledtoWadiasarrest,wherebytheythrewstonesatthesametime,

moreorless,withotheryouths,ataBorderPolicejeep.

FalsearrestduetomistakennamesRafiq,14,andRafiq,19,arecousinsandhavethesamename.Thetwowerearrestedonthenight

of7October2010andquestionedonsuspicionofstonethrowing.Theyoungerofthetwo

reportedthat,duringhisinterrogation,hewasshownavideoofminorswhohadattacked

vehiclesandwasaskedifheappearsinthevideo.Hesaysthathedeniedbeinginthefilm.He

wasreleasedonunpaidbond.Hewasarrestedagainon1November,andthistime,too,another

boy,alsofourteenyearsold,withthesamenamewasarrestedaswell.Thearrestsoftwopersons

51Seeabove,...

52Seeabove,...


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27

havingthesamenameonthesamenightraisesthesuspicionthattheinterrogatorsactedonthe

basisofgeneralinformationthatmighthaveoriginatedfromtheconfessionofanotherminor,

withoutbeingcertainoftheminorsidentity.Nightarrestofaminornotbasedoncertain

informationregardinghisinvolvementinthecommissionofanoffenseisunacceptable.

Nabil,8,andNabil,12,bothfromSilwan,havethesamenamebutarenotrelated.Thetwodo

notevenknoweachother.On12October2010,policeforcesarrestedtheeightyearoldchildat

5:00A.M.,andaftertheinterrogatorwasconvincedthatthechildhadnotthrownstones,focused

thequestioningonclarifyinghisrelationshipwiththeotherboynamedNabilAfewdayslater,in

theearlyhoursof17October,BorderpolicemenandISAagents,relyingonfilmshowingthe12

yearoldNabilthrowingstones,arrestedtheyouth.Hewasplacedunderhousearrestfortwo

weeksuntilhistrial.Itshouldbenotedthat,followingtheincidentforwhichtheolderNabilwas

suspectedofthrowingstones,hewashospitalized,andthepolicecouldhaveverifiedhisprecise

particulars.Despitethis,thesecurityforcesarrestedaveryyoungboy,undertheageofcriminal

responsibility,inthemiddleofthenight,onlybecausehisnamewasthesameasthatofthe

youthwhowassuspectedoftheoffense.Thefactthatthepolicewaitedafewdaysfromthetime

ofthearrestoftheeightyearoldchildbeforearrestingtheolderboyraisesdoubtaboutthe

urgencyofthearrestandthenecessityofconductingitatnight.Thesecurityforceshandlingof

thesecaseswascarriedoutwithdisgracefuldisregardfortherightsofthechildren.

ConclusionTheIsraelPolicerelateveryseriouslytostonethrowingbyPalestinianyouthsinSilwan.This

attitudeisreflectedinthelargenumberofarrestsofyouths,asubstantialportionofthembeing

madeinthemiddleofthenight,andinthehighfinesimposedontheparentsintheattemptto

eliminatethestonethrowing.

Itiscertainlytruethatstonethrowingcancauseseverebodilyinjuryaswellaspropertydamage.

Stonethrowingbyminors,someofthemundertheageofcriminalresponsibility,posesadifficult

challengetothepolice.However,lawenforcementmustbecarriedoutwithoutdiscrimination

andinaccordancewiththelaw.Thecasesdescribedaboveillustratehowthepolice,whenthey

arrestjuvenilesinSilwan,consistentlybreachtheLaw.Thebreachofthestatuteisespecially


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28

gravegiventhatthestatutegrantsminorsspecialprotectionsandrequiresspecialconsideration

oftheirageandcircumstancesoftheoffense.

ThetensioninSilwanisconnectedtoIsraelscontinuingdiscriminatorypolicyinEastJerusalem

andtothelengthypoliticalprocessestakingplaceinthisarea,includingtheGanHamelech

projectbeingpromotedbyJerusalemsmayorandthecontrolofhousesintheneighborhoodby

settlernonprofitassociations.

TheminorsactsarenotthesolefactorfortheenflamedsentimentsinSilwan.Recently,casesof

violence,includingstonethrowing,bysettlersinthevillageagainstthePalestinianresidentshave

beendocumented.Stonethrowingbysettleradultsandminorsismuchlessprevalentthanby

Palestinians,butweseethattheauthoritiestreatthetwophenomenainacompletelydifferent

manner.On15October2010,forexample,theWadiHilwaSilwanInformationCenter

documentedadultandminorsettlersthrowingstonesatPalestiniansfromtheyardofoneofthe

houseswhosepossessionhadbeentransferredtosettlers.BorderPolicepresentatthesiteto

protectthesettlersdidnothingtostopthestonethrowing,andcertainlydidnotarrestanyofthe

personsinvolved,adultsorminors.

On17October2010,theWadiHilwaSilwanInformationCenterfilmedborderpolicemenjoining

settlersinstonethrowing.53TheJerusalempolicestatedthatthematterwouldbeinvestigated

andhandledinadisciplinaryproceeding.54Settlingfordisciplinaryhandlingofanoffenseofthis

kindendangerstheresidentsandalsoplacesthepolicingforcesclearlyontheonesideofthe

conflict.

Theseveremeasures,incontraventionofthelaw,thatthepolicetakeagainstPalestinianminors

inSilwanareespeciallygravegiventheauthoritieslenienttreatmentregardingviolentoffenses

committedbysettlers,minorsandadults,whichhavebeendocumentedonvariousoccasions,

53ThephotoswerebroadcastonthenewsofthreeTVstations.See,forexample,Channel1sreport,at

http://news.walla.co.il/?w=%2F1%2F1745109.

54MosheNussbaum,TheStonesWar,Channel2News,18October2010.Seehttp://reshet.ynet.co.il/%D7%97%D7%93%D7%A9%D7%95%D7%AA/News/Politics/Security/Article,53836.a

spx.


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andbyborderpolicemeninSilwan.Thelawprovidesgovernmentauthoritieswithvarious

alternativesforcopingwiththestonethrowing,suchasrequestingtheparentstobringtheir

childreninforquestioning.

BTselemurgestheJerusalemPolicetoobservetheletterandspiritoftheYouthLawwhile

copingwithstonethrowingincidentsinEastJerusalem.Thepolicemustimmediatelyendthe

arrestofminorsatnightandtheuseofviolencebyspecialforcesduringarrests.Thepolicemust

alsoensurethatminorsareinterrogatedonlyinthepresenceoftheirparents,andmust

emphasizeoptionsfortherehabilitationoftheminorsandforpreventinginjurytothem.

ThesettlementsIsraelhasbuiltinEastJerusalemconstituteaviolationofinternationallaw.The

settlementclustersintheheartofthePalestinianpopulationinSilwanandotherneighborhoods

createtensionandleadtoarealityofconstantconfrontationbetweenthetwopopulations.These

settlementsshouldberemovedimmediately.

Documents

Caution Children Ahead : The Illegal Behavior of the Police toward Minors in Silwan Suspected of Stone Throwing