Israeli police accused of abuse

Israeli checkpoints are a part of daily life for Palestinians.

Five Israeli border policemen have been arrested for allegedly abusing two Palestinians at a checkpoint near the West Bank town of Abu Dis.

The Palestinians were taken from the checkpoint to a nearby abandoned building, according to the complaint.

There, the policemen allegedly urinated in a bucket and poured the contents over the faces of the Palestinians.

The policemen then allegedly burnt the men with cigarettes before forcing them to jump from a second floor window.

The men were then released by the policemen.

Abuse

Israeli border police often work alongside soldiers at military checkpoints throughout the West Bank.

Israel says the checkpoints are necessary to stop attacks by Palestinian militants.

Palestinians complain of frequent abuse and long delays at the roadblocks.

They also complain that soldiers and policemen are rarely punished when they commit acts of violence.

A soldier was recently jailed for six months after he was filmed punching and kicking Palestinians at a checkpoint outside Nablus.

A court is expected to rule in the coming weeks on the case of four border policemen accused of killing a Palestinian by throwing him from a moving jeep.