You win, Dan. Won't alter your opinions. Someone else may read this, and I just can't let the matter die. Torture is kinda terrible.
You can't torture people and then claim moral outrage at a suicide bomber, and up until September 1999 torture was completely unregulated in Israel. Torture was official, rather than unofficial, policy.

Torturing prisoners was routine, permitted, and just done. Palestinians resented it.

The UN condemned it. It's no wonder the Israelis don't trust the UN. The UN doesn't like torture.

On September 6, 1999, Israel "banned torture". However, some special cases and exceptions would still be allowed. To truly eliminate the "culture of torture" which is deeply-ingrained in Israel's interrogation system, a serious punishment of interrogators who violate this law must be instituted. Sadly, interrogators are already given a wink, with special cases and exceptions, "a court might accept the argument that physical force was necessary." (AP, Sep 6).

Henry Kissinger, former U.S. Secretary of State, and a Nobel prize laureate, recommended that Israel put down the Palestinian uprising "as quickly as possible--overwhelmingly, brutally and rapidly. The insurrection must be quelled immediately, and the first step should be to throw out television, a la South Africa. To be sure, there will be international criticism of the step, but it will dissipate in short order." He added: "There are no awards for losing with moderation." -- Quoted in 12/97 article by Donald Neff in The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs.

One - torture IS policy when approved, much like wiretapping in the US.

Two - torture is reported as occurring when not approved. The problem for this board is that it's reported by Palestinians.

Three - Sharon wants to make it even more legal. Do you think he'd pass it up? Not known for kindness.

Four - Until September 1999 it was completely legal, no oversight at all. Until September 1999. There are a lot of tortured Palestinians out there.

Arf