In October 2000, in response to increasing violence against Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territories, the Arab Palestinian community in Israel staged protests in villages across the country. State forces responded to the predominantly peaceful demonstrators with live ammunition, rubber bullets, and tear gas. By the end of the week, state authorities had killed thirteen unarmed Arab citizens, injured 1,000, and arrested 660.

In the aftermath of these events, the Israeli government established the Or Commission to inquire into the events of October 2000. Following extensive investigations, the Commission declared the state’s use of violence, especially the use of live gunfire, unjustified in light of the meager threat posed by the demonstrators.

Despite the Commission’s unequivocal findings, the state did not indict or prosecute any of the responsible authorities.

Since October 2000, state violence against Palestinians has only increased. Meanwhile, Israeli authorities, including the government, legislators, and courts, tacitly permit this phenomenon through repeated leniency. Israel generally grants police forces and security personnel immunity from legal action and prosecution, dismissing their charges without final verdict or conclusion.

In seventeen years, Israeli state authorities have killed forty-eight Arab citizens, bringing none of those responsible to justice.

The Mossawa Center calls on the state of Israel to massively overhaul its institutions, namely its security and policing institutions, as well as its judiciary. Moreover, the Center calls on state authorities to refrain from using excessive force, especially live ammunition. Not only does doing so sacrifice the basic human rights of those touched by the violence, but it also undermines freedom of assembly, one of the most important pillars of democracy.

The Mossawa Center also urges the international community to pressure the state of Israel to uphold its commitments under international law and international agreements regarding respect for human rights and democracy.

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