Government Of Israel And Torture

EDM number 1511 in 1994-95, proposed by Neil Gerrard on 25/10/1995.

That this House is appalled at reports that the Government of Israel are considering a draft Bill which, while purporting to prohibit torture, would effectively legalise its use, by excluding from the definition of torture pain or suffering inherent in interrogation proceedings or punishment according to law; notes that the United Nations Convention against Torture specifically forbids torture during interrogation or punishment; notes also that the Israeli General Security Service has for many years routinely ill-treated Palestinian prisoners during interrogation; calls on the Government of Israel to amend the definition of torture in the draft Bill to accord with the UN convention; and calls on Government Ministers to make representations to the Government of Israel that no elected Government should pass such a Bill.

This motion has been signed by a total of 14 MPs.