Q&A: Amiram Ben-Uliel
Amiram Ben-Uliel
Question
I recently saw that the sector’s newspapers are full of petitions calling for Amiram Ben-Uliel to be transferred to better conditions, for a retrial, or both.
I’d be glad to hear your opinion on the matter. As I understand it, there are two layers here:
the moral layer and the practical layer.
If there really is something to the claims about a confession extracted under torture, then maybe that should be investigated and, if necessary, a retrial should be held. On the practical level, though, the moment you do that with detainees of the Shin Bet, you have a problem, because for every Amiram Ben-Uliel in the Shin Bet’s basements, I assume there are dozens of Arabs who are there because of confessions extracted under torture. And if the state recognizes that, it will have to conduct retrials for all those Shin Bet detainees, essentially neutralizing one of the Shin Bet’s tools in the fight against terror—namely torture. Here too there is the question of how much power the Shin Bet should have.
To sum up the questions:
1. What is your opinion of the demand to transfer him to better conditions?
2. What is your opinion of the demand to grant him a retrial?
3. What powers should the Shin Bet have, and what limits should there be on its power? And is there any difference between using those powers against Jews and against Arabs?
Thank you, and have a good day.
Answer
I don’t have enough information, so I can’t answer. Clearly, the policy should be equal for everyone, and everything should depend on the need and the circumstances.