Israel: Information on the methods used by the Israeli security forces to recruit Palestinian collaborators
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 March 1992 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | ISR10439 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Israel: Information on the methods used by the Israeli security forces to recruit Palestinian collaborators, 1 March 1992, ISR10439, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6aba878.html [accessed 31 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to a representative of the Palestine Human Rights Information Centre in Jerusalem, generally the Israeli security forces will try to recruit Palestinian collaborators when a Palestinian is coming back to the Occupied Territories or Israel (11 March 1992). The Palestinian may have to meet with Israeli authorities and ask to collaborate in order to be allowed to stay (Ibid.). Also, Palestinians searching for a job or for a job promotion can be pressured to become collaborators (Ibid.).
According to the Chairperson of the Israeli League for Human and Civil Rights in Jerusalem, there are two main methods used by the Israeli security forces (11 March 1992). The first is to promise release to Palestinians accused of criminal acts if they accept to collaborate (Ibid.). The second method is to use the context of family reunion (Ibid.). In order to be reunited will their family in the Occupied Territories, Palestinians need a residence permits (Ibid.). Since the permits are very difficult to obtain, Palestinians are pressured into collaborating by Israeli security forces or else face family separation (Ibid.). A professor of Middle Eastern Studies at the University of McGill in Montréal reported that there is a wide variety of methods used by the Israeli security forces in the Occupied Territories to recruit collaborators, including bribery, blackmail, pardon for criminal offenses, physical intimidation of the person or family members, low level of detention and harassment (11 March 1992). The methods used can vary according to what the Palestinian needs from the Israeli authorities, residence permits, for examples (Ibid.).
For further information please refer to the attached documents.
Bibliography
Israeli League for Human and Civil Rights, Jerusalem. 11 March 1992. Telephone Interview with Representative.
Palestine Human Rights Information Centre, Jerusalem. 11 March 1992. Telephone Interview with Representative.
University of McGill, Middle Eastern Studies, Montréal. 11 March 1992. Telephone Interview with Professor.
Attachments
The Guardian. 28 June 1989. Black, Ian. "Guardian of Intifada Mete Out Bloody Justice to Suspected Collaborators."
The New York Times. 24 September 1989. Chartrand, Sabra. "Israelis Training Groups of Arabs to Halt Uprising."
Al-Haq. A Nation Under Siege. 1989.
