In the Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz, writer and researcher Adam Raz describes findings described in a new book from the Akevot Institute for Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Research, “Military Rule, 1948-1966: A Collection of Documents.” He reports that the origins of Israel’s current brutal treatment of Palestinians goes back decades to the period of military rule in Israel.

Raz says Palestinian citizens were subject to an oppressive regime that included limitations on movement outside their own villages, permanent curfew, restrictions on relocation, prohibition of most political and civil organizing, and lack of access to entire regions where they had lived before 1948. Akevot documented that illegal measures were used against Palestinians during interrogations, such as using dogs and other threats. He reports that “military government representatives harassed farmers and destroyed their property; people were humiliated regularly and addressed in coarse language; violence was perpetrated on children; and military government personnel made threats against Arab citizens if they didn’t vote in elections for the candidates favored by the authorities.”  

Palestinians have also described their experiences during the military rule period.

Akevot is the Institute for Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Research and promotes transparency, democracy and human rights.