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From: cramer@sun.uucp (Sam Cramer)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: Israeli torture?
Message-ID: <3222@sun.uucp>
Date: Thu, 6-Feb-86 12:49:03 EST
Article-I.D.: sun.3222
Posted: Thu Feb  6 12:49:03 1986
Date-Received: Mon, 10-Feb-86 22:05:42 EST
References: <82@ubc-vision.UUCP>
Reply-To: cramer@sun.UUCP (Sam Cramer)
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Lines: 70


It appears that Farzin and Nidhal are moving up in the world of press smears
on Israel.  

First, Farzin quotes us the august "Kayhann newspaper, published
in London, England."  Of course, he refuses to answer any questions
about this little known and most suspect source, stating that "I don't
think there is a need to put that newspaper on trial.."

Then Nidhal, by now famous for his fatuous claims of Islamic tolerance 
as exemplified by the regime of well known moderate Ayatollah Khomeini, 
introduces the notorious and long discredited Sunday Times (also of London,
England) article on "torture" of Arab prisoners in Israel.

Unfortunately for Nidhal, the Times article is no more credible than the
anti-Israel fantasies of "Kayhaan".

Before I go on to the specifics of the article, let me give you an idea of the
reaction to this article in Britian.  After pointing out that the Sunday Times 
(by it's own admission) had not bothered to check with the Israeli government 
regarding any of the allegations from Arab sources, Lord Salmon, an esteemed 
British judge stated "I am saddened that such an article could have been 
written and such publicity given to it in such a newspaper."

The Times article is filled with falsehoods and distortions.  I'll quote a
couple of the more straight forward ones.  Many more exist, and I will happily
discuss them if net.politics readers so desire.

1.  The Sunday Times stated the following about a case initiated by
    Felicia Langer (a member of the Moscow line Israeli Communist Party who
    often defends Arab terrorists):

    "The plaintiffs' lawyer was not even allowed to be in court.  We found
    this procedure remarkable.  The Israelis do not deny this."

    In response Israeli State Attorney Gabriel Bach stated:

    "That, ladies and gentlemen, is absolute rubbish.  This case was handled
    by the State Attorney's office and my assistant was present at the hearing
    of the Supreme Court.  Mrs. Felicia Langer appeared in court and her exact
    words are on record and available for scrutiny.  There is no such thing as
    a Supreme Court action in which the representative of the plaintiff cannot
    appear."

2.  The Sunday Times article related the story of Omar Karim, who had been
    found guilty of possession of weapons and membership in a terrorist group.
    The Times story stated that Karim was returned to Jordan on a stretcher,
    and had claimed to have been mistreated.  What the article failed to 
    mention was the fact that Karim (as documented by medical certificates) 
    had been very sick for a long period of time previous to his arrest.  As 
    a result of his illness, he asked to be repatriated to Jordan.  On 
    humanitarian grounds, the Israelis complied, despite the fact that he 
    had been caught with arms and was a member of a terrorist organization.  

    Collaborating with the Israelis is a capital crime in Jordan, and it
    appears likely that Karim fabricated charges of torture to dispell any
    suspicion that cooperation with Israeli authorities led to his release.
    If, in fact, the Israelis had tortured Karim (which of course they did not),
    it would certainly not be logical for them to repatriate him to Jordan, 
    where he could publicize his mistreatment.

In closing, I'd like to note that the Israeli judiciary is the most respected
govermental institution in that country.  It has a well deserved reputation for
independence and fairness.  The Israeli courts have acted responsibly when
presented with credible evidence of mistreatment of prisoners or Jewish 
terrorism (consider the case of the Jewish "underground" in the West Bank;
many of the perpetrators of these vile crimes are now serving life sentences
in Israeli jails).  Claims to the contrary are demonstrably false.

Sam Cramer	{decwrl, hplabs, seismo, ucbvax}!sun!cramer