The High Court of Justice yesterday ordered several human rights organizations to explain their charges that the new regulation in the Israel Defense Forces - which permits limited use of Palestinian civilians for military purposes - is illegal according to international law. Justice Tova Strasberg-Cohen, Izhak Englard and Ayala Procaccia gave them 30 days to do so.
     Meanwhile the court has left in effect a temporary injunction forbidding the IDF to use any "human shields."
     The six human rights organizations appealed to the court to forbid what is known as "the neighbor practice," using a neighbor to check whether a Palestinian is in his home when the IDF is looking for him. The court then issued the injunction, some five months ago.
     The IDF replied at the time that it is no longer using Palestinians as human shields but merely getting their assistance "to prevent harm to human lives." The civilian was used only when he agreed to this, the IDF said, and when a senior officer had determined that his life would not be endangered.
     Advocate Marwan Dalal, who represented the rights groups, said the IDF was continuing to use civilians as human shields and hostages. He said the new regulation contravened the Geneva Convention. Dalal said the IDF was ignoring the interim injunction and must be fined for contempt of court.

Och så här ser nyheten alltså ut, som den rapporterats till svenska folket:


Israel får använda palestinier som sköldar
Sveriges Radio
Onsdag 22 januari 2003

Israels Högsta domstol har upphävt ett tidigare beslut som förbjöd israeliska soldater att använda palestinier som mänskliga sköldar.
     Enligt flera oberoende rapporter har israeliska soldater tvingat palestinier på ockuperade områden att agera som sköldar när israelerna sökt efter misstänkta militanta palestinier. I augusti förra året infördes ett förbud mot det förfarandet.
     Men nu har alltstå Israels Högsta domstol upphävt det beslutet med tillägget att palestinier som används som sköldar måste gå med på det.