April 1990, Page 43b

From the Hebrew Press

Translated by Dr. Israel Shahak

A Complaint: Torture and Theft by Golani Soldiers

By Yosef Cohen Kol Ha'ir, Jan. 19, 1990

Members of the Abu-Kabita family from the [West Bank] village of Yatta complained this week to the Hebron police about the theft of thousands of [Jordanian] dinars from their house by soldiers. On the night of Jan. 12-13, the Israeli army conducted a widespread "initiated activity" in the West Bank, during which a force from the Golani Brigade conducted house searches in the village of Yatta, near Hebron. The family reported that the soldiers entered the house at about 2 a.m.

They first beat up Hassan, the father of the family, and his wife and son. According to the detailed testimony which was given to the "Focus for Helping Those Injured by Violence" in Jerusalem. the soldiers then dragged the father to the roof, while continuing to beat him. Then, holding him by his ears only, they dangled him from the roof. The soldiers also smashed all the furniture in the house, spoiled all the food, and took away with them 3,000 dinars and gold jewelry to the value of 1,400 dinars.

Military authorities responded to the family's complaint to the Hebron police, saying the incident was one of robbery by persons wearing Israeli army uniforms. The police concluded, from the information they received, that it wits a case of ordinary robbery. The police therefore determined that they would initiate no investigation of any action taken by the army.

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