Date: 27/8/2002


The Israeli state-run radio on Sunday quoted an army spokesperson as saying that soldiers had indulged in widespread acts of theft in Ramallah and other towns in the West Bank.

The army official described the phenomenon as "worrying" and "disgraceful". He added, "This worrying phenomenon brings shame to the Israeli forces."

He also hinted that these acts were still taking place in the West Bank with the knowledge of the Israeli government and army officials.

Palestinian and human rights groups have documented hundreds of incidents in which Israeli soldiers manning roadblocks and checkpoints throughout the West Bank and Gaza stole money and other valuables from Palestinian passengers at gunpoint.

According to several investigations, carried out by these groups, Israeli occupation soldiers reportedly threaten their victims with arrest, and in a number of cases with, death, in case they complain to the police.

It is widely believed that thousands of other similar cases go unreported for fear of reprisals by the soldiers.

Earlier this year, the Israeli government gave the Israeli army a complete freedom to "act as deemed fit" in Palestinian towns.

Eyewitnesses and some reporters spoke of wild acts of theft and vandalism by the soldiers during which Palestinian businesses were broken into by soldiers who stole appliances and other valuables, which were worth millions of dollars.

The Israeli occupation army said then it would investigate the "reports" but did next to nothing to punish the soldier.