Israel defends record at UN committee on torture

May 6, 2009, 17:46 GMT

Geneva - An Israeli delegation completed Wednesday a defence of its policies related to the international treaty against torture at the United Nations, saying that it aimed to protect human rights even in times of conflict.

Israeli delegates said legislation prohibited the use of torture and also granted prisoners and detainees rights, including a humane environment and access to family visitations.

Members of the UN Committee Against Torture focused in part on allegations that while Israeli authorities opened investigations into charges against soldiers and police officers, those rarely led to indictments when made by Palestinians.

Shai Nitzan, an Israeli state attorney, said this was largely due to a lack of evidence.

The committee also veered off the Palestinian issue and questioned Israel's policy on refugees, noting that it returned asylum seekers to Egypt. The neighboring Arab state, in turn, evidence indicated, sent them to their home countries where in some cases they were tortured.

Israel, two committee members said, had an obligation to ensure that no harm would come to people it deported. Most came from countries in Africa.

The country's delegates were also questioned on the existence during the earlier half of this decade of a secret prison, known as Facility 1391.

Much of the proceedings focused on issues which commonly resurface during debates on Israel, including its military conduct during the recent offensive in the Gaza Strip during which a reported 1,400 Palestinians were killed.

Committee members also asked about the policy of building settlements in the West Bank and the violence against Palestinians by radical settlers. Nitzan said Israel investigated all charges of abuse.

Based on the report prepared by Israel on its progress in passing legislation to ensure its commitments to the UN's convention against torture since its previous review in 2001, as well as the delegation's responses to questions, the committee would prepare recommendations for the Jewish State.