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Abusive treatment includes slapping, punching, beatings and more. An unidentified 12 year old minor reported the following:
"They put me in a room that was about 5 square meters. I sat on my knees facing the wall. Every time I moved, a man in civilian clothes hit me with his hand on my neck. I was alone in the room. At around five in the morning, I asked to go to the bathroom, but the man refused and told me to remain facing the wall. When I refused, he hit me and pushed me forward; my nose slammed into the wall and began bleeding. I asked for a tissue, but was refused."
"The man asked me to prostrate myself on the floor and ask his forgiveness, but I refused and told him that I do not bow to anyone but Allah. All the while, I felt intense pain in my feet and legs. I felt intense fear and I started shaking....every once in a while he put pressure my shoulders causing me pain."
Residents say child arrests are frequent, and abuses like the above common, often beginning with middle of the night arrests, parents prohibited from accompanying children to police stations or seeing them there. At other times, they're arrested at school or at play, even those under age 12, some as young as 8 or 9.
Under Israeli law, criminal responsibility begins at age 12, yet 8, 9 and ten year olds are arrested and criminally charged for suspicion of offenses like stone-throwing. "In a society that (should seek) to protect (their rights), this is a patently unacceptable way for the police to carry out their duties."
Security Guards: Quick on the Trigger
Israel's Ministry of Construction and Housing has responsibility for providing them, contracting work to private companies. "Civilian Intelligence" is the largest, employing hundreds of armed guards for settlers.
They get round-the-clock comprehensive, broad protection, backed up by surveillance cameras in Palestinian neighborhoods. They're also given bodyguards, and in some cases, transport in heavily armored cars.
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