Bob Carr raises concerns over plight of Palestinian children in Israeli jails

[Violet_Crumble]

AUSTRALIA has formally raised concerns with Israel about the detention of Palestinian children in Israeli prisons.

This follows an article in The Weekend Australian Magazine last November detailing the operations of Israel's military court, which imprisons Palestinian children as young as 12.

Following that report, then foreign minister Kevin Rudd instructed officials to visit the court, which they have since done twice.

This week a spokesman for his successor, Bob Carr, said officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade had met Israel's chief military prosecutor.

"DFAT officials raised concerns about the detention of Palestinian children in Israeli jails, and have continued to urge Israel to protect human rights and the welfare of children," he said.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/bob-carr-raises-concerns-over-plight-of-palestinian-children-in-israeli-jails/story-fn59niix-1226437135874

[Violet_Crumble]

1. Related threads...

UK raises concerns over Israel's treatment of Palestinian children
Israel policy of detaining kids questioned

[bemildred]

2. Good. nt

[Fantastic Anarchist]

3. Where are all the Israel-Firsters????

**Crickets!**

[aranthus]

4. They don't exist for the most part.

What is there to respond to? Australia and the UK have raised concerns about children being imprisoned. I think most Western countries would share those concerns. That doesn't mean that Israel is wrong to do so, and it doesn't mean that Israel is right to do so. It means that the issue deserves a look.

[Bradlad]

5. I guess I'd be one of those . .

. . by your definition.

I'd be critical of Israel if they were mistreating Palestinian children. So when I saw this I tried to check it out. I can't read the Australian article without giving them a lot of personal information. In the 1st comment the OP author provides a link to a similar OP she posted last January which references a Guardian article on the topic. That article repeatedly accuses Israel of "shackling minors" yet the one photo they provide shows several children under IDF guard, sitting in row but are not "shackled". Then the article seems to explain that "shackling" is common during court appearances.

It would be interesting to know if by "shackling" they mean hand cuffs and also if there are some court rules involved here that haven't been explained.

I guess I'm somewhat skeptical at this point since the accusers are offering no real evidence of mistreatment but a lot of accusations from groups, some of which have been known to stretch the facts a great deal and who usually jump on every IDF "atrocity" story they see before the facts come in that show it to be otherwise, some times a hoax.

Also, the solitary confinement thing. Are we talking here Paul Newman's steel cage in Cool Hand Luke - or is it that they get a private room to sleep in at night? Or something in between? It seems to me the article would explain this accusation in more detail if it were something to be concerned about.

Then there's the charges of abuse of children who were arrested for "throwing" rocks. That raised my skepticism right there because I almost never see a video clip of Palestinian kids throwing rocks. They launch them with high velocity slings. Those high speed projectiles can cause serious injury and even kill someone if they hit them in the right place.

Accusations of child abuse are a serious thing to me. They deserve the attention of anyone who cares about humane treatment of all helpless people in custody, but especially kids. That's why they are so prized by those who have a motive to smear Israel with the most powerful and damning accusations. And so it's important that accusations be substantiated beyond a reasonable doubt. That hasn't happened here IMO but I'm open to more evidence - especially from some source other than the usual anti-Israel orgs.