In a letter to the White House released today, Human Rights Watch asked President Clinton to press Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat to abolish Palestinian state security courts and sharply restrict the use of military courts. Trials in these courts are typically closed to the public, last only a few hours, and lack almost all due process rights. The rights group urged the President to reverse earlier U.S. endorsements of the state security courts.
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These courts lack the most basic guarantees for fair trial, including the right of appeal, and have been responsible for most of the twenty-five death sentences issued under the Palestinian Authority. It's long past time for the administration to revoke its earlier endorsement of an institution that regularly makes a mockery of justice.
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While visiting Arafat in March 1995, Vice President Al Gore hailed Arafat's plan to set up the security courts as "an important step forward in helping to build confidence in the peace process." Responding to criticism a few weeks later, the Vice President said, "I personally believe that the accusations are misplaced and that they are doing the right thing in progressing with prosecutions."
A state security court death sentence was handed down as recently as March 10. A military court death sentence was carried out two weeks earlier, on February 26.
A copy of the letter to President Clinton is attached.
