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.
President Arafat has on several occasions stated his commitment to incorporating international human rights standards into Palestinian law, a goal that your administration has endorsed. You should make very clear that abolishing the state security courts would be a vital step in that direction. We are asking you to retract, finally and unequivocally, Vice-President Gore's praise for the establishment of these state security courts in 1995.
In addition, the U.S. should make clear its view that the use of military courts should be sharply restricted and all courts, regardless of their jurisdiction, should meet basic fair trial standards, including the right have adequate time and facilities to prepare a defense and the right of appeal.
We thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
/S/
Hanny Megally
Executive Director,
Middle East and North Africa Division
cc:Vice-President Al Gore
Ambassador Dennis Ross
National Security Adviser Samuel Berger
