Israeli Torture
Re “3 U.S. Arabs Say Israelis Tortured Them,” Aug. 27: The State Department is well aware that Israel regularly tortures detainees. It admits so by issuing a warning to travelers that “U.S. citizens arrested for security offenses [by Israel] may be subject to mistreatment during the interrogation period of their cases.”
Torture is a violation of international conventions, and government officials responsible for it can be arrested and tried in any country, just as Augusto Pinochet recently was arrested Britain.
The fact that Israeli security officials continue to visit here freely leads one to the sad conclusion Israel’s “special relationship” with the U.S. includes a grant of immunity from any and all crimes.
YIGAL ARENS
Los Angeles
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You would think that when you give a country $6 billion a year in foreign aid the least it could do is not torture your citizens.
CHERYL COOKY
Los Angeles
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