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<div class="ViewDetails_Title"><b><big><big>'5-year high'
in number of Palestinians killed in West Bank</big></big></b></div>
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<div class="ViewDetails_Stamp"><br>
Published today (updated) 31/12/2013 18:03<br>
<small><small><b><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=661737">http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=661737</a></b></small></small><br>
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<div id="BODYdiv" class="ViewDetails_BodyDiv">BETHLEHEM
(Ma'an) -- Israel killed 27 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank in
2013, making it the deadliest year for Palestinian fatalities since
2008, Israeli rights group B'Tselem said Monday.<br>
<br>
According to data compiled by the rights group, three times as many
Palestinians were killed in the West Bank in 2013 compared to 2012.<br>
<br>
By contrast, in 2012 Israeli security forces killed eight Palestinians
in the West Bank and 246 in the Gaza Strip, including at least 167 in
its November war on the coastal territory.<br>
<br>
In nine of the 2013 West Bank killings, Israeli military forces raided
Palestinian communities during arrest operations. <br>
<br>
Four of those killings involved an exchange of fire, according to
Israel's army, while four other cases involved Israeli soldiers opening
fire after stones had been thrown at them.<br>
<br>
Seven other killings took place while Israeli soldiers were lying in
wait to capture alleged stone throwers or after Israeli soldiers had
used live fire against Palestinians throwing stones.<br>
<br>
One Palestinian was killed when he tried to enter Israel without a
permit, one female bystander was shot dead by soldiers, another man was
killed after breaking into a military base with a tractor and one man
was shot after allegedly assaulting a border police officer.<br>
<br>
In the final case, the Israeli border police volunteer retracted his
original claim that Antar Shalabi Mahmoud al-Aqraa had tried to stab
him before being shot dead.<br>
<br>
In the Gaza Strip, nine Palestinians were killed, four of whom were
allegedly taking part in hostilities when they were killed and three
who were not, B'Tselem said.<br>
<br>
In one case the group said it is unknown if the victim was taking part
in hostilities. Another Palestinian was assassinated by Israeli forces.<br>
<br>
Three-year-old Hala Abu Sbeikha was killed last Tuesday in Gaza
following an Israeli airstrike.<br>
<br>
<b>Investigations into killings 'slow and cumbersome'</b><br>
<br>
B'Tselem says that over two years have passed since a new investigative
policy by the MAG Corps unit went into effect, in which time 35
Palestinians were killed by Israeli soldiers.<br>
<br>
A total of 23 investigations into the fatalities were launched, with
the MAG corps reaching a decision on only five of the cases.<br>
<br>
In one case, a decision was made not to open an investigation, in three
cases the file was closed, and in another an Israeli soldier was
indicted and convicted by plea bargain based on his admission, B'Tselem
said.<br>
<br>
"The sharp rise in fatalities in the West Bank only serves to intensify
concern about lack of accountability. Admittedly, MPIU investigations
are now launched almost automatically, yet the essence of the
investigative mechanism remains unchanged," B'Tselem Director Jessica
Montell said.<br>
<br>
"It is slow and cumbersome and decisions are made only years after an
incident takes place. Such a mechanism, in which practically no one is
held accountable for the killing of Palestinians, does not serve as a
deterrent and indicates disregard for human life."</div>
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