Israel accused of torturing Palestinian bombing suspect
An NGO accused Israeli security forces on Sunday of torturing a Palestinian arrested on suspicion of leading a cell allegedly behind a West Bank bomb attack that killed an Israeli teenager.
Israeli police and the Shin Bet domestic security agency said on late Saturday they had arrested three members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine several weeks ago for the Aug. 23 bombing.
The explosion near a spring close to the Jewish settlement of Dolev, northeast of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, killed 17-yearold Rina Shnerb and wounded her father and brother.
Shin Bet identified the cell leader as Samer Al-Arbeed. It said the cell “was preparing other attacks when the arrests occurred, notably gun attacks and a kidnapping.” On Sunday, Palestinian prisoner support group Addameer said that Arbeed was hospitalized after suffering a “serious health deterioration due to torture and ill-treatment during interrogations.” According to a statement by Addameer, Arbeed was “harshly beaten” by the Israeli police who arrested him.
Shin Bet investigators “continued using torture and ill-treatment,” the NGO alleged.
Arbeed suffered several broken ribs as well as “severe kidney failure,” according to his lawyer, cited by Addameer.
Both Shin Bet and Addameer gave Arbeed's age as 44.
Police refused to comment on the nature of Arbeed's arrest, while the Shin Bet said that during his interrogation he said “he did not feel well.”
“In accordance with procedures, he was transferred to medical examination and care at a hospital,” the security agency said in a statement. Shin Bet refused to provide further details since “the investigation of the terror cell was still ongoing.” Following Addameer's statement, Palestinian Health Minister Mai Al-Kaila appealed to international organizations to “intervene to save the prisoner.”
The Palestinian Prisoners Club called the incident “a crime authorized (by the Israeli) judiciary.”
Govt formation remains elusive
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his rival Benny Gantz traded blame on Sunday over the failure so far of efforts to reach a unity government deal following deadlocked elections.
A new round of negotiations between Netanyahu's rightwing Likud and Gantz's centrist Blue and White broke down Sunday and the two sides appeared far from reaching a compromise.
Likud said Netanyahu would make a “last effort” to reach a deal before informing President Reuven Rivlin he is unable to form a government.
That would leave Rivlin to decide whether to ask Gantz to try to do so or call on Parliament to agree on a candidate for prime minister by a vote of at least 61 out of 120 members. Netanyahu “will make a last effort to realize the possibility of forming a government at this stage, before returning the mandate to the president,” Likud said in a statement.
It called the latest round of negotiations a “big disappointment.”
Blue and White accused Likud of “throwing around slogans with the sole aim of generating support in preparation for dragging Israel into another round of elections at the behest of Netanyahu.”
This month's poll was the second this year, after Netanyahu failed to form a coalition following April polls.
Israel marks the two-day Rosh Hashanah holiday beginning on Sunday night and serious negotiations are not expected during that time.
Likud wants to negotiate on the basis of a compromise set out by Rivlin to form a unity government, which takes into account the possibility of Netanyahu being indicted for corruption in the weeks ahead.
The proposal could see Netanyahu remain prime minister for now, but step aside if indicted.