Letter from B'Tselem's Director: Important Achievement for Human Rights

Dear friends,

I write to share with you a very important achievement of the human rights community: a change in Israeli military policy to ensure greater accountability for Palestinian civilian deaths.

Those of you who follow B'Tselem's work know that accountability has been a central priority from the day B'Tselem was founded. In fact, accountability is the heart of human rights organizations around the world; what is the meaning of human rights if no one is held accountable when rights are violated? This is especially true when it comes to the most basic right: the right to life.

Unfortunately, since 2000, accountability in cases where Palestinians are killed by Israeli forces has been the exception rather than the rule. The root of the problem was a new military policy adopted in the fall of 2000 to only open investigations in cases where there was prima facie evidence of illegal behavior – but how can there be such evidence without an investigation?

We at B'Tselem decided that amending this policy was a central strategic priority, and we have invested great efforts to bring about this change. We documented individual cases and filed 300 demands for investigations; we conducted comprehensive research on the broader policies regarding accountability, and our research served as the basis for legal advocacy, direct engagement with military officials, public campaigns and international advocacy.

I am pleased to report that last week, the military announced that the policy has been changed; from now on the military police will automatically investigate every case where a Palestinian who did not engage in hostilities is killed in the West Bank. Of course, getting an investigation opened is only the first hurdle - these investigations need to be effective. And effective investigations are themselves instrumental to a larger goal: obtaining justice and redress for victims of human rights violations and deterring future violations. So there is still much work to be done. But we have succeeded in overcoming the first hurdle and this is a very significant achievement.

It is always hard to know all of the factors that go into bringing about a policy change, and this case is no different. However, I have no doubt that the work of B'Tselem and the broader human rights community played a very significant role.

There are many moments of frustration in our work, and many setbacks as we struggle for human rights. Often, we take on challenges that seem hopeless. But, every once in a while, the impact of our work is abundantly clear. This is a moment to savor. It is also a moment to recognize all those who helped make it a reality: Israeli, Palestinian and international partner organizations, and particularly our partner in the petition to the High Court of Justice, The Association for Civil Rights in Israel; our donors without whom our work would literally not be possible, the diplomatic community, and all those academics, jurists and activists who spoke up on this issue.

It is a privilege to be a part of this community of individuals and institutions who share our vision of universal respect for human rights. I look forward to our ongoing cooperation, despite the many challenges to come, as we work to make this vision a reality.

Sincerely,

Jessica Montell
Executive Director