NEWS & VIEWS

Police Brutality in Israel - October 2000

Grotius – Center for International Law and Human Rights

13 September 2014

News Update

 

New Report: Criminal Responsibility of Senior Israeli Officials for Use of Snipers in October 2000

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Grotius – Center for International Law and Human Rights announces the launching of the electronic version of its new report War Game Ruah Seara: Criminal Responsibility of Senior Israeli Officials for Use of Snipers in October 2000. Authored by the organization’s Executive Director Marwan Dalal the report provides analysis about the criminal responsibility of senior Israeli officials for the use of snipers and live ammunition against unarmed protesters in Umm al-Fahm area on 2 October 2000 which resulted in the death of one protester and caused serious injuries at least to seven others. The senior officials at the time were: Prime Minister Ehud Barak; Minister of Internal Security Shlomo Ben Ami; Head of the General Security Service Avi Dichter; Chief of Police Yehuda Vilk; and the police’s Commander of the Northern District Alik Ron.

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The beginning of October 2000 witnessed the largest demonstrations by the Arab minority since Israel was established in 1948. The Israeli police suppression of the unarmed protests culminated in the death of 13 individuals and injuring numerous others. The police used live ammunition, including through snipers, as well as rubber coated metal bullets.

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The attached report is in English, details the background to the October 2000 protests, and criticizes the failures of the Israeli investigative process regarding the criminal responsibility of the senior Israeli command for using snipers in the Umm al-Fahm area on 2 October 2000: the State Investigation Commission Report (The Or Commission Report, 2003); the Police Investigation Unit Report (Mahash Report, 2005), and the Attorney General Office Report (2008).

Upon the recommendation of Prime Minister Ehud Barak and with the participation of Minister of Internal Security Shlomo Ben Ami and Chief of Police Yehuda Vilk, the police conducted a war game on 6 September 2000 which anticipated the protests in an accurate manner.

 

Titled Ruah Seara (Stormy Wind) the war game also expected the use of snipers in Umm al-Fahm area about a month prior to their actual deployment. The scenario envisaged by the police was identical to developments on 2 October 2000 except for shooting by protesters. According to the representative of the police’s northern district at the war game:

“As a response to the scenario, first stage in Bartaa’, first stage in Bartaa’ concentration of protection measures and snipers, dealing with the event on the basis of public disorder control, develops to shooting, isolating road 65 by check points.”

 

Prime Minister Ehud Barak described during a radio interview on the morning of deploying and using snipers his instruction to the police to use all necessary force to open blocked roads. He also praised the police’s conduct a day before despite his awareness that they killed at least one person and injured many others:

“At a meeting that lasted until after midnight at my home, I directed the police force and the Minister of Internal Security – incidentally, both deserve great praise for the self-control they exhibited yesterday during the demonstrations – but I told them that they have a green light to take any action necessary to maintain law and order and ensure that citizens of the state are free to move about everywhere in the state.

 

Ehud Barak supervised the police’s conduct in October 2000 and testified before the Or Commission about his first-hand experience as a former senior security official in commanding and leading responses to disturbances:

“I was IDF’s Deputy Chief of Staff and participated in government meetings when Popper murdered the workers near Rishon Lizion, and when the events at the (1990 –MD) Temple Mount took place resulting in 21 killed. And I was IDF’s Chief of Staff during the massacre at the Cave of Machpelah, and the subsequent harsh events. All of this I know. From personal and direct experience.”

 

Minister of Internal Security Shlomo Ben Ami and the police’s senior command praised the use of snipers against unarmed protesters as a deterrent, rather than as a response to imminent threat to life, in their conclusion to an assessment meeting held on 8 November 2000:

“The calculated combination of special professional forces (snipers, undercover personnel, and more) during the serious public disorder events, was a turning point in handling the events.”

 

When Prime Minister Ehud Barak was asked by Judge Theodor Or during his testimony before the State Investigation Commission whether there had been any comprehensive governmental deliberations about the status of the Arab minority prior to October 2000, the Prime Minister’s answer included the following:

“There is danger that has been developing of mutations overcoming antibiotics, this is a threat for the health system, because they are of course concentrated in hospitals...our hospitals are under pressure but that does not mean that it requires a comprehensive governmental deliberation.”

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For additional information, please contact:

Marwan Dalal, Executive Director