Urgent Action Appeal

“Brave Ambassador of Torture”

“Israel may have to restore moderate physical pressure on terrorist suspects,”

Carmi Gillon (Israel’s ambassador designate to Denmark and former head of Israeli internal security)

This statement is a testimony by Mr. Carmi Gillon, a well informed source, that Israel has used and will use torture against Palestinians. How well informed is Mr. Gillon?

1.1995-1996, Head of Israel’s General Security Service (GSS or Shabak), which is the internal security apparatus responsible for interrogating and torturing tens of thousands of Palestinians.

2.During his tenure at the head of the Shabak, Mr. Gillon admitted to have given directives the lead to torture at least 320 Palestinian suspects. It is believed that one person (Abed Al-Samid Hareizat) died during an interrogation that was authorized by him (Al-Haq, 11 Jul 2001).

Mr. Carmi Gillon (Israel’s ambassador designate to Denmark) caused uproar in Denmark with this remark, stated in an interview with Danish TV. The furry came on the footsteps of an earlier controversy over his appointment as Israel’s ambassador to Denmark. The controversy over his appointment stemmed from his record of practicing and authorizing torture.

In response to the condemnation of his remarks, Mr. Gillon stated, “I told the truth; and I never regret telling the truth,” (Ha’aretz, 78, 249270).

Bravely, Mr. Gillon tried to justify the use of torture by saying that it is used against Islamic fundamentalists who do not volunteer information, especially about suicide bombers. If Mr. Gillon told the truth about the principle of using torture in Israel, he marred it with this justification. International and local human rights organizations have documented the fact that Israel has been using torture against Palestinian suspects, regardless of their ideology or political affiliations, since its establishment.

Mr. Gillon’s justification continues by claiming that torture is a defense of a democratic society surrounded by enemies. “Israel protects human rights, and we are the only country doing so in our neighborhood of piranhas,” claims Israel’s ambassador of torture in the same interview with Ha’aretz newspaper.

In light of Mr. Gillon’s testimony, one cannot but lament a State that justifies one of the most barbaric human rights violations in our time, while claiming to be an advocate of democracy. At the same time, the civilized world must act to stop this dangerous breach of human rights and principles of humanity.

Dr. Jens Modvig, the Secretary-General of the International Rehabilitation and Research Council for Torture Survivors in Denmark states, “The UN Convention against Torture (ratified by Israel in 1991) includes an absolute prohibition on the use of torture.” In addition, he says that, “The UN Convention against Torture includes a provision that if a suspected torturer is apprehended on a member State’s territory, the State is obliged to hand over the case to the competent authorities for the purpose of prosecution of the torturer, unless he is extradited….. If a State party to the Convention does not prosecute a person who is known to have participated in torture, or does ot allow another State to do so, the State does not live up to its obligations under the convention against torture.”

The Gaza Community Mental Health Programme calls upon all advocates of freedom and the principles of humanity to condemn Israel’s torture policy. In addition, the Programme calls upon the Government of Denmark to live up to its obligations under the UN Convention against Torture, and to prosecute Mr. Carmi Gillon if and when he sets foot on Danish soil.

Dr. Eyad El-Sarraj
Director-General

Addresses:

International Community:

Mogens Lykketoft, Danish Foreign Minister

Fax: +45-32-540533

E-mail: um@um.dk

Kofi Annan, UN Secretary-General

Fax: +1-212-9632155, 9635072

E-mail: ecu@un.org

Mr. Romano Prodi, EC President

E-mail: romano.prodi@cec.eu.int

George W. Bush, US President