Yesterday, AP published an encouraging story that torture in the PA's West Bank prisons has dramatically declined.
Today, Jerusalem Post reporter Khaled Abu Toameh contacted Hamas figures in the West Bank who told him the PA continues torturing prisoners.
I'm not losing sleep over Hamas terrorists and supporters being tortured by the PA. But I am inclined to believe Hamas on this one. One particular JPost snippet was the tipping point:
Earlier this week, the PA organized a tour for reporters to one of its prisons in Nablus, where Hamas inmates said that the torture had ended.
When it comes to Palestinian prison tours for journalists, it pays to be very, very skeptical.
Here's but one reason why: In 2008, the PA wanted to put to rest rumors that a pair of terrorists escaped from a Hebron prison after killing two Israeli hikers. So an Israeli TV crew interviewed Ali Dandanes and Amar Taha behind bars at the PA's invitation.
But YNet News reported the next day that the pair had been furloughed, then asked to return for the interview, when the PA could no longer ignore the escape rumors.
Related reading: Reuters Jailhouse Crock
