Report Cites Abuse in Palestinian Territories

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STEVE INSKEEP, host:

Here's one other piece of news from the Middle East. A new report by Human Rights Watch outlines abuses faced by Palestinian women. The report cites widespread rape and beatings of women in the occupied territories and also rape victims who are forced to marry their attackers, as well as light sentences for men who kill female relatives accused of adultery.

These are all crimes largely ignored by Palestinian government agencies.

RENEE MONTAGNE, host:

Human Rights Watch says the problem is aggravated by growing poverty and lawlessness in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. A spokesman for the Palestinian government acknowledged there is a problem, but blamed it on the security and political situation in the territories over the past couple of years.

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