Human rights group says 162 complaints filed by Palestinians over alleged orchard vandalism by settler last seven years have yielded only one indictment
The Yesh Din – Volunteers for Human Rights group leveled harsh criticism at the Judea and Samaria District Police Thursday, saying the department is failing to prosecute cases of vandalism against Palestinian orchards in the West Bank.
According to a report by the group, released following the beginning of the olive-picking season, the 162 complaints filed by Palestinians over the past seven years – mostly against settlers – have so far yielded only one indictment.
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The complaints detail acts of damaging trees, uprooting them, cutting them down and stilling the produce, Yesh Din said.
The majority of complaints entail damage done to olive groves across the West Bank, but some detail damage to fruit orchards as well.
According to the report, 124 of the cases were dismissed on grounds of “felon unknown”; 16 cases were dismissed over insufficient evidence; two cases were dismissed over “lack of criminal liability” and the reason for the dismissal of five other cases were not released.
The police told Yesh Din that files concerning two of the complaints were lost.
The Judea and Samaria District Police said in response that, “The report compiled by Yesh Din has yet to be received by the police. It will be reviewed and we will respond to it accordingly.”
Yesh Din’s report further criticizes the police for also failing to enforce the law and deal with what the group defines as “Ideological offences by Israeli citizens against Palestinians in the West Bank.”
According to the group, less than 9% of all active cases resulted in any kind of legal action.
“The police’s failure to enforce the law encourages such acts of vandalism, since the perpetrators are not punished.”
#1 by Matthew/Boston on October 13, 2012 - 12:31 am
No suprise here. No police investigation, no individuals identified, no one to prosecute. More Jewish justice.
#2 by annebeck58 on October 13, 2012 - 2:59 am
These so-called, “settlers”, aka, squatters, land thieves, are disgusting.
I wish, because I have paid to have trees planted in Palestine, I had a right to also file against the occupiers. I wish the OWNERS of these trees, gifts or not, were able to get some retribution.
But, it’s Izrahell; OCCUPIED PALESTINE..
Would the occupiers ever pay? According to International Law(s), yes; but these people are some kind of special, I guess.
Sickening/
#3 by ruby22-kate on October 13, 2012 - 5:04 pm
The usurpation of Palestine is a crime.
The Palestinians revere their homeland,they know it intimately and treat it with respect. Israeli Jews imho, only wish to exploit the Holy Land, and if they pollute the water, steal topsoil and destroy historic sites, they care not.
Palestinians, Christians and Muslims, have lived in peace with Jewish Palestinians for many centuries. Zionist Jews seemingly only thrive on discord, chaos and persecution.
Destroying olive groves and fruit orchards is symbolic of Israeli disregard of the land. No justice for those who’ve lost their precious groves and orchards is another sign of Israeli racism, hate and hypocrisy. In Israel there is no justice for Gentiles.
#4 by Isaac on October 15, 2012 - 5:34 am
In his book “The Ethnic Cleansing Of Palestine”, Illan Pappe describes the horrors, massacres, crimes against humanity that the Palestinians have suffered under the unruly entity of Israel.