10 sept 2013
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Bassem Abu Rahme was the victim of murder and unfortunately – he is just one of so many other Palestinians who end up losing their lives without any accountability for their murderers. If you think that’s unjust … welcome to the life of a Palestinian. There is a pattern of indiscriminate killings by the Israeli military and and even more visible pattern of allowing Israeli soldiers to avoid punishment for their war crimes.
The Israeli military has a history of injuring peaceful protesters with these tear gas canisters which Haaretz characterizes as “40 mm rounds with a range of 250 meters”. In fact – the Israeli military stopped using these high velocity tear gas canisters after numerous injuries to protesters; shortly thereafter – the Israeli military resumed use of these weapons (source). And in this case – Bassem Abu Rahme was the victim of a horribly unjust crime and the soldier who murdered him is hanging out like nothing happened. Bassem’s sister Jawaher Abu Rahmah also died because of asphyxiation caused by tear gas fired by Israeli soldiers (source). And this is video of the Israeli military shooting his brother while unarmed and blindfolded HERE. B’Tselem posts this video from 3 different angels all at the same time showing the murder. B’Tselem explains more HERE: 30-year-old Bassem Abu Rahmeh, a resident of the village of Bil’in, whose story |
was told in the film “Five Broken Cameras” nominated for Best Foreign Film in the Academy Awards, was killed in April 2009 after he was struck in the chest by an extended-range tear gas grenade during a demonstration against the Separation Barrier in his home village of Bil’in. Three video segments filmed during the demonstration prove that Abu Rahmeh was situated to the east of the barrier, did not act violently, and did not endanger the soldiers in any way. An analysis of the video footage of the incident, by visualization experts determined that the grenade was fired directly at Abu Rahmeh, in complete contravention of open-fire regulations.
Breaking the Silence has testimony from a soldier who knew the soldier who killed Bassem. It’s written in Hebrew HERE but I was given a translation. Pardon the imperfect English but I wanted you to see these words written by an Israeli Jew who is in solidarity with the cause:
Catalog Number: 635 697 Rank: Sergeant Unit: 7th Armored Brigade Period : 2009
There are soldiers who had grenade launcher on their weapons, so it was also possible to shoot Gas . The other company was in Ni’lin during that period , there was one guy, who was killed in Bil’in , so that’s how he was killed, from the launcher of one of the soldiers . Bottom line the orders were not to shoot tear gas canisters directly, the intention was – say it is an area of the protesters , then you aim in an arc and then the grenade flying to their center (of the demo) more or less and the gas diffuse there and it is supposed to keep them away.
But in this story what happened. one of the soldiers just pointed at someone directly and hit him in the chest and then he was killed. How did you hear about it ? Everyone heard about it. It was a mess. Once something has happened , everyone had heard about it. It’s something that happens in the sector . How everyone knew it was direct fire ? Because they explain what happened. The Commanders talked about it ? Talking , you know, not bothering about it. They explained what happened there. The use of canister launcher is not that common. Usualy the border police deal with protests . What do you mean by “ explained”? The Commander , Usually in briefings they explained what happened recently and they explained what happened there . Truth is that at that time there was a video of this incident, you could see the guy that got hit and then you see something hit him and then he rolls on the floor and yell .
The bottom line after that he was dead . Some soldiers had this video on their phones. They sent it to each other and laughed about it a bit. The fellow that shoot, I do not remember his name, I personally do not know him too but more or less I knew who he was. he actually quite liked the story he put an X on the canister launcher . There were more stories like this ? Also in the time we were there one of the Border Police killed someone with a Ruger , a type of rubber bullets weapons, bit different. It was in Ni’lin . Don’t know exactly what happened there.
It happened in one of the demonstrations , it was around August , I’m not sure, something this time of year , one of the border police shot him with a Ruger or something and he was killed. Shot him in the chest and he was killed . We didn’t have so many Rugers but the Border Police had them . They (border police) had no laws , shooting. Everybody they were like : shoot and kill them , it does not matter. In the border police there are no rules . Even they laughed about it and call us Armored corps Tzh”liim(from zhal=IDF) , it was their nickname . ” You with your laws .”
“We are border police , we do what we want.” Did they talked about what happened there? When such cases has happened they (commanders) talked more about the next demonstration how it will be more massive because someone was killed . In these periods there were funerals and they feared that it will develop into something problematic. It was more like being more alert in case something happens now that someone got killed then there may be more tension and more chaos , more stone throwing and things like that.
But Americans are paying for this. As Electronic Intifada points out HERE:
“From fiscal year 2000 to 2009, the State Department licensed — and US taxpayers funded — the delivery of more than 595,000 tear gas canisters and other ‘riot control’ equipment to the Israeli military, valued at more than $20.5 million,” according to the report.
Breaking the Silence has testimony from a soldier who knew the soldier who killed Bassem. It’s written in Hebrew HERE but I was given a translation. Pardon the imperfect English but I wanted you to see these words written by an Israeli Jew who is in solidarity with the cause:
Catalog Number: 635 697 Rank: Sergeant Unit: 7th Armored Brigade Period : 2009
There are soldiers who had grenade launcher on their weapons, so it was also possible to shoot Gas . The other company was in Ni’lin during that period , there was one guy, who was killed in Bil’in , so that’s how he was killed, from the launcher of one of the soldiers . Bottom line the orders were not to shoot tear gas canisters directly, the intention was – say it is an area of the protesters , then you aim in an arc and then the grenade flying to their center (of the demo) more or less and the gas diffuse there and it is supposed to keep them away.
But in this story what happened. one of the soldiers just pointed at someone directly and hit him in the chest and then he was killed. How did you hear about it ? Everyone heard about it. It was a mess. Once something has happened , everyone had heard about it. It’s something that happens in the sector . How everyone knew it was direct fire ? Because they explain what happened. The Commanders talked about it ? Talking , you know, not bothering about it. They explained what happened there. The use of canister launcher is not that common. Usualy the border police deal with protests . What do you mean by “ explained”? The Commander , Usually in briefings they explained what happened recently and they explained what happened there . Truth is that at that time there was a video of this incident, you could see the guy that got hit and then you see something hit him and then he rolls on the floor and yell .
The bottom line after that he was dead . Some soldiers had this video on their phones. They sent it to each other and laughed about it a bit. The fellow that shoot, I do not remember his name, I personally do not know him too but more or less I knew who he was. he actually quite liked the story he put an X on the canister launcher . There were more stories like this ? Also in the time we were there one of the Border Police killed someone with a Ruger , a type of rubber bullets weapons, bit different. It was in Ni’lin . Don’t know exactly what happened there.
It happened in one of the demonstrations , it was around August , I’m not sure, something this time of year , one of the border police shot him with a Ruger or something and he was killed. Shot him in the chest and he was killed . We didn’t have so many Rugers but the Border Police had them . They (border police) had no laws , shooting. Everybody they were like : shoot and kill them , it does not matter. In the border police there are no rules . Even they laughed about it and call us Armored corps Tzh”liim(from zhal=IDF) , it was their nickname . ” You with your laws .”
“We are border police , we do what we want.” Did they talked about what happened there? When such cases has happened they (commanders) talked more about the next demonstration how it will be more massive because someone was killed . In these periods there were funerals and they feared that it will develop into something problematic. It was more like being more alert in case something happens now that someone got killed then there may be more tension and more chaos , more stone throwing and things like that.
But Americans are paying for this. As Electronic Intifada points out HERE:
“From fiscal year 2000 to 2009, the State Department licensed — and US taxpayers funded — the delivery of more than 595,000 tear gas canisters and other ‘riot control’ equipment to the Israeli military, valued at more than $20.5 million,” according to the report.
Military advocate general cites lack of evidence in 2009 death of Bassem Abu Rahmeh, whose story was documented in the Oscar-nominated film Five Broken Cameras.
Israel's military advocate general has closed the investigation into the circumstances of the death of a Palestinian during a demonstration in the West Bank village of Bil'in in April 2009, citing a lack of evidence.
Bassem Abu Rahmeh died after being struck in the chest by a tear-gas canister fired by a Border Policeman while protesting the separation barrier. His story, and that of the village, were documented in the Oscar-nominated film Five Broken Cameras.
The prosecutor for operational affairs submitted Military Advocate General Danny Efroni's opinion to the State Prosecution at the end of July. Efroni instructed to close the investigation after concluding that there was insufficient evidence to pursue legal steps against the soldiers involved.
Notice of the closure of the investigation, four and a half years after Abu Rahmeh's death, became known following the State's response the High Court appeal filed by Abu Rahmeh's mother last March. The appeal demanded that the military advocate general explain why no indictments were filed against those soldiers involved in the shooting.
A concurrent investigation was being conducted with the Judea and Samaria District Police due to the fact that Border Policeman were involved in the incident. The State's response indicates that in this case as well, the prosecution decided to close the police investigation against the suspected Border Policeman, after finding that the identity of the perpetrator could not be ascertained. As such, there was not sufficient evidence to warrant the pursuit of criminal proceedings.
The investigation was marred by difficulties from the very beginning: The military police only launched the investigation one year after Abu Rahmeh's death, in July 2010, and only as a result of appeals made by Israeli human rights organizations B'Tselem and Yesh Din. They based their appeal on video footage from the protest, as well as opinions of experts who determined the fire was directly aimed at Abu Rahmeh.
"The deputy state prosecutor also reached the conclusion that there is not enough evidence to prove that the fire was in breach of military order," the State Prosecution's lawyers explained.
Israel's military advocate general has closed the investigation into the circumstances of the death of a Palestinian during a demonstration in the West Bank village of Bil'in in April 2009, citing a lack of evidence.
Bassem Abu Rahmeh died after being struck in the chest by a tear-gas canister fired by a Border Policeman while protesting the separation barrier. His story, and that of the village, were documented in the Oscar-nominated film Five Broken Cameras.
The prosecutor for operational affairs submitted Military Advocate General Danny Efroni's opinion to the State Prosecution at the end of July. Efroni instructed to close the investigation after concluding that there was insufficient evidence to pursue legal steps against the soldiers involved.
Notice of the closure of the investigation, four and a half years after Abu Rahmeh's death, became known following the State's response the High Court appeal filed by Abu Rahmeh's mother last March. The appeal demanded that the military advocate general explain why no indictments were filed against those soldiers involved in the shooting.
A concurrent investigation was being conducted with the Judea and Samaria District Police due to the fact that Border Policeman were involved in the incident. The State's response indicates that in this case as well, the prosecution decided to close the police investigation against the suspected Border Policeman, after finding that the identity of the perpetrator could not be ascertained. As such, there was not sufficient evidence to warrant the pursuit of criminal proceedings.
The investigation was marred by difficulties from the very beginning: The military police only launched the investigation one year after Abu Rahmeh's death, in July 2010, and only as a result of appeals made by Israeli human rights organizations B'Tselem and Yesh Din. They based their appeal on video footage from the protest, as well as opinions of experts who determined the fire was directly aimed at Abu Rahmeh.
"The deputy state prosecutor also reached the conclusion that there is not enough evidence to prove that the fire was in breach of military order," the State Prosecution's lawyers explained.
Court finds man guilty of physically, mentally, sexually abusing six women, dozens of children, some of them his own
The Jerusalem District Court on Tuesday convicted the head of a "sadistic cult" and his assistant, who were arrested two years ago. The two were found guilty of most charges, including sex offenses, holding individuals in slavery conditions and abusing women and dozens of children, some of them the biological kids of the cult head.
The "family" included six women and dozens of children. The head of the cult convinced the women to join him pleasantly, but once they did – he turned their lives into a living hell, including physical, sexual and mental abuse, both against them and against their children. Two of the women were removed from the courtroom as the verdict was being delivered after causing a commotion. "There was only love in the house," one of them said later.
"It's all a lie." A gag order has been placed on the full indictment in a bid to prevent the identification of the dozens of young children and their mothers. According to a summarized version cleared for publication, the main culprit, D., was charged with holding individuals under conditions of slavery; physically, mentally and sexually abusing minors and their mothers, false imprisonment, rape, sodomy and indecent acts, as well as serious violence offenses.
According to the indictment, D. saw himself as the successor of a well-known figure from his Hasidic movement and the person chosen to distribute his doctrine in the world. He got more and more women to join his cult by convincing them of his "powers." Once these women fell into his trap, his pleasant behavior was replaced with violence, abuse and contempt – which moved on to the next generation when the children were born. The indictment says D. headed a "family" of six women and dozens of children, some of them his biological kids, who lived in apartments in Jerusalem and Tiberias, and treated them brutally and violently, doing "whatever he wanted."
He was accused of fully controlling the women and children's lives, turning the kids into beggars and distributing his religious doctrine from dusk till dawn, using cruel measures to punish them according to his unexpected caprices, erasing their personality and distorting their thoughts.
The punitive measures, according to the State Prosecutor's Office, were carried out with unusual cruelty, using harsh violence, imprisonment, starvation, physical and mental abuse and humiliation, including serious sex and violence offenses and keeping the children away from their mothers. D. was accused of 15 different counts, including serious sex offenses against his stepdaughters and other children. According to the State Prosecutor's Office, the brutal regime in the "family" home and his full control over the women and children stemmed from his charismatic personality and spiritual traits they attributed to him.
After the trial, the women turned to the cameras and insisted "it wasn't abuse; it was love."
"They shut our mouths. We weren't allowed to speak, the women and children were threatened," said one of the women. According to her, it was actually the police that harmed her: "I got beaten up by the police so I would testify against him. They locked us up in prison for 11 months." Other women also claimed that the police threatened them and made them give "false testimonies under threat."
Regarding D., some of the women said: "He is an amazing, righteous and real person. It doesn't make sense to people that we chose to live with him out of love, and that is why this is a false conviction."
Two men who used to visit the home were also accused of committing serious sex and violence offenses, allegedly under D.'s orders. One of the offenders, whose was also convicted Tuesday, stayed in the "family" home and took an active part in the violence and sex offenses for many years. The other man was accused of committing the offenses in a single incident.
Personal journals kept by the women and children helped police investigators base their case. The diaries pointed to the details of the shocking affair, which was revealed in August 2011 by one of the women who complained to the authorities.
A search of the detainees' homes revealed electric shockers, ropes and rods, as well as medical documents from different hospitals across the country, which point to physical injuries suffered by the children.
The Jerusalem District Court on Tuesday convicted the head of a "sadistic cult" and his assistant, who were arrested two years ago. The two were found guilty of most charges, including sex offenses, holding individuals in slavery conditions and abusing women and dozens of children, some of them the biological kids of the cult head.
The "family" included six women and dozens of children. The head of the cult convinced the women to join him pleasantly, but once they did – he turned their lives into a living hell, including physical, sexual and mental abuse, both against them and against their children. Two of the women were removed from the courtroom as the verdict was being delivered after causing a commotion. "There was only love in the house," one of them said later.
"It's all a lie." A gag order has been placed on the full indictment in a bid to prevent the identification of the dozens of young children and their mothers. According to a summarized version cleared for publication, the main culprit, D., was charged with holding individuals under conditions of slavery; physically, mentally and sexually abusing minors and their mothers, false imprisonment, rape, sodomy and indecent acts, as well as serious violence offenses.
According to the indictment, D. saw himself as the successor of a well-known figure from his Hasidic movement and the person chosen to distribute his doctrine in the world. He got more and more women to join his cult by convincing them of his "powers." Once these women fell into his trap, his pleasant behavior was replaced with violence, abuse and contempt – which moved on to the next generation when the children were born. The indictment says D. headed a "family" of six women and dozens of children, some of them his biological kids, who lived in apartments in Jerusalem and Tiberias, and treated them brutally and violently, doing "whatever he wanted."
He was accused of fully controlling the women and children's lives, turning the kids into beggars and distributing his religious doctrine from dusk till dawn, using cruel measures to punish them according to his unexpected caprices, erasing their personality and distorting their thoughts.
The punitive measures, according to the State Prosecutor's Office, were carried out with unusual cruelty, using harsh violence, imprisonment, starvation, physical and mental abuse and humiliation, including serious sex and violence offenses and keeping the children away from their mothers. D. was accused of 15 different counts, including serious sex offenses against his stepdaughters and other children. According to the State Prosecutor's Office, the brutal regime in the "family" home and his full control over the women and children stemmed from his charismatic personality and spiritual traits they attributed to him.
After the trial, the women turned to the cameras and insisted "it wasn't abuse; it was love."
"They shut our mouths. We weren't allowed to speak, the women and children were threatened," said one of the women. According to her, it was actually the police that harmed her: "I got beaten up by the police so I would testify against him. They locked us up in prison for 11 months." Other women also claimed that the police threatened them and made them give "false testimonies under threat."
Regarding D., some of the women said: "He is an amazing, righteous and real person. It doesn't make sense to people that we chose to live with him out of love, and that is why this is a false conviction."
Two men who used to visit the home were also accused of committing serious sex and violence offenses, allegedly under D.'s orders. One of the offenders, whose was also convicted Tuesday, stayed in the "family" home and took an active part in the violence and sex offenses for many years. The other man was accused of committing the offenses in a single incident.
Personal journals kept by the women and children helped police investigators base their case. The diaries pointed to the details of the shocking affair, which was revealed in August 2011 by one of the women who complained to the authorities.
A search of the detainees' homes revealed electric shockers, ropes and rods, as well as medical documents from different hospitals across the country, which point to physical injuries suffered by the children.
9 sept 2013
Defendant convicted of threatening Ethiopian residents at his mother's building, setting car tire on fire; says anger stemmed from economic distress
A Haifa resident, 37, was sentenced on Monday to four years in prison after he was convicted of setting fire to his mother’s neighbors's house. According to the ruling, the acts were racist in nature, as the defendant addressed the race of the victims, who are of Ethiopian origin, while committing the acts for which he was tried.
The trial focused on incidents that took place in 2011-2012, in the first of which the defendant was piling wood and furniture on the lawn in front of his mother’s building and set them on fire. The victims then stepped outside and tried to extinguish the fire but the defendant prevented them from doing so, while crying out: “I’ll get a knife and you’ll be finished… you Sudanese, I’ll burn you.”
In another incident, he threatened the neighbors saying “Ethiopians, I’ll set you on fire,” and in a third incident he set fire to the tire of one of the neighbors’ car. Once the fire was out, he fled the scene and reiterated his threat to "burn all the Ethiopians in the building.” During the trial, it was revealed that the defendant had perpetrated the crimes under the influence of alcohol and that he had been convicted several times over the past 20 years.
The defendant expressed remorse and burst into tears in the courtroom, saying that he and his family were struggling financially, and attributed his outbursts to his “anger over his mother’s withholding of financial aid during his economic distress.” Judge Diana Sela nonetheless pointed to the racial aspect of the offenses, noting that the defendant’s “explanation is incongruent with the content of his comments in three incidents… there is no explanation as to why his threats were not directed at his mother, but at her neighbors of Ethiopian origin.”
The judge added that “the atmosphere arising from the defendant’s comments suggests that these were hate crimes that stemmed from racism, which must be uprooted. Everywhere, and specifically in the State of Israel, which was destined to harbor all Jews, we must eliminate the freedom some people allow themselves to hurt, including physical and verbal violence, perpetrated only due to someone else’s origin or race, belief or orientation.”
In addition to four years in prison, the defendant was sentenced to 15 years probation and will compensate the owner of the car that was vandalized by NIS 7,000 (roughly $1,900).
Related stories:
A Haifa resident, 37, was sentenced on Monday to four years in prison after he was convicted of setting fire to his mother’s neighbors's house. According to the ruling, the acts were racist in nature, as the defendant addressed the race of the victims, who are of Ethiopian origin, while committing the acts for which he was tried.
The trial focused on incidents that took place in 2011-2012, in the first of which the defendant was piling wood and furniture on the lawn in front of his mother’s building and set them on fire. The victims then stepped outside and tried to extinguish the fire but the defendant prevented them from doing so, while crying out: “I’ll get a knife and you’ll be finished… you Sudanese, I’ll burn you.”
In another incident, he threatened the neighbors saying “Ethiopians, I’ll set you on fire,” and in a third incident he set fire to the tire of one of the neighbors’ car. Once the fire was out, he fled the scene and reiterated his threat to "burn all the Ethiopians in the building.” During the trial, it was revealed that the defendant had perpetrated the crimes under the influence of alcohol and that he had been convicted several times over the past 20 years.
The defendant expressed remorse and burst into tears in the courtroom, saying that he and his family were struggling financially, and attributed his outbursts to his “anger over his mother’s withholding of financial aid during his economic distress.” Judge Diana Sela nonetheless pointed to the racial aspect of the offenses, noting that the defendant’s “explanation is incongruent with the content of his comments in three incidents… there is no explanation as to why his threats were not directed at his mother, but at her neighbors of Ethiopian origin.”
The judge added that “the atmosphere arising from the defendant’s comments suggests that these were hate crimes that stemmed from racism, which must be uprooted. Everywhere, and specifically in the State of Israel, which was destined to harbor all Jews, we must eliminate the freedom some people allow themselves to hurt, including physical and verbal violence, perpetrated only due to someone else’s origin or race, belief or orientation.”
In addition to four years in prison, the defendant was sentenced to 15 years probation and will compensate the owner of the car that was vandalized by NIS 7,000 (roughly $1,900).
Related stories:
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Beit Shemesh: Fight breaks out between haredim, security guards
3 Jerusalem residents arrested for robbery
Ashdod: Sapper deactivating explosive under vehicle
Lt. Col. Shalom Eisner who was documented striking Danish activist addresses his plea deal in email to friends: 'The question is, what is the message to commanders who are at the frontline'
A few days after reaching a plea bargain with a military court after being filmed hitting a foreign peace activist from Denmark with his M-16 rifle, Lt. Col. Shalom Eisner sent his officer friends an email for the Jewish New Year. In the email, he said, "I have no doubt that this flawed trial is giving me a lot of points in doomsday court." Under the plea bargain, Eisner will serve two months of community service without pay. He will not be discharged from the IDF, but will not be promoted to a new position and will retire from the army early.
In a New Year greeting sent by mail to a group of his friends, the IDF officer said that he's "trying to continue with love and faith, serve truth and justice with the love of Israel, and it's a search, what we are, and what our spiritual strength is."
Eisner, who serves as head of the armored branch at the Zeelim army base, said the plea deal was hard for him to accept. "Even if I was wrong and the rally could be broken with less violence," he said of the pro-Palestinian bike ride where he struck the Dane, "Then I've been punished severely."
A few days after reaching a plea bargain with a military court after being filmed hitting a foreign peace activist from Denmark with his M-16 rifle, Lt. Col. Shalom Eisner sent his officer friends an email for the Jewish New Year. In the email, he said, "I have no doubt that this flawed trial is giving me a lot of points in doomsday court." Under the plea bargain, Eisner will serve two months of community service without pay. He will not be discharged from the IDF, but will not be promoted to a new position and will retire from the army early.
In a New Year greeting sent by mail to a group of his friends, the IDF officer said that he's "trying to continue with love and faith, serve truth and justice with the love of Israel, and it's a search, what we are, and what our spiritual strength is."
Eisner, who serves as head of the armored branch at the Zeelim army base, said the plea deal was hard for him to accept. "Even if I was wrong and the rally could be broken with less violence," he said of the pro-Palestinian bike ride where he struck the Dane, "Then I've been punished severely."
The officer said that "a senior officer told me that's how they punished all IDF commanders. The question is, what is the message to commanders who are at the frontline, doing the dirty work and not hiding behind screens, in the middle of the heat to be in front of protesters who swear and spit at you. I broke my hand in that incident. Those protesters were endangering my life." Eisner said he takes responsibility for what happened, adding "I had no hatred for those activists."
Explaining his New Year message, he said, "These legal proceedings are immoral and unjust. I've already been judged for my actions."
Sources close to the officer stressed that according to senior IDF officers Eisner has been disciplined enough and his trial will cause damage and restrictions for commanders in the field. They said the decision to accept the plea deal came from Eisner not wanting to drag himself and his family through an exhausting trial. Sources also said that in his position at Zeelim, he has support not only from senior officers but from reservists.
Explaining his New Year message, he said, "These legal proceedings are immoral and unjust. I've already been judged for my actions."
Sources close to the officer stressed that according to senior IDF officers Eisner has been disciplined enough and his trial will cause damage and restrictions for commanders in the field. They said the decision to accept the plea deal came from Eisner not wanting to drag himself and his family through an exhausting trial. Sources also said that in his position at Zeelim, he has support not only from senior officers but from reservists.
Nochi Dankner
Israel Securities Authority report claims Israeli tycoon initiated the fraud during a 2012 stock offering by IDB group.
Substantial evidence has been found by the Israel Securities Authority to charge the controlling shareholder of the IDB group, Nochi Dankner, for crimes related to stock manipulation, according to a report cleared for publication by state prosecutors on Monday.
Dankner is suspected of manipulating the share price of IDB Holding Corp. with the help of securities traders Itay Strum and Adi Sheleg, during a February 2012 stock offering by the company.
"This fraudulent activity was carried out with the knowledge of Dankner, at his instruction and with his financing,” the ISA said in its report.
The report claimed that Dankner initiated the fraud, and also found that he had even transferred NIS 8 million into an account controlled by Strum soon after the stock offering.
The report also stated that its conclusions were made only regarding the nature of the evidence found, and that state prosecutors will have to decide whether to indict Dankner.
Following the announcement, Dankner's office released a statement saying they were still awaiting a decision on the case by prosecutors. “We believe it will be determined that Nochi Dankner's behavior was without flaw,” the statement said.
The ISA announced on July 23 that it had concluded its investigation into Dankner and transferred the file to Tel Aviv District prosecutors. At the time, in accordance with Israeli law, the ISA did not make clear whether it had recommended that prosecutors pursue charges against Dankner or drop the case. It did, however, file a request seeking the publication of a summary of the investigation's findings after consultation and approval from Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein.
The investigation focused on a February 2012 share offering that raised NIS 321 million for IDB Holding Corp., which sits at the apex of the IDB group. Dankner allegedly enlisted Strum, who co-owns the ISP Financial Services company together with Sheleg, to use ISP and City Brokers, a financial services firm owned by Sheleg, to pump up the price of IDB Holding shares to ensure the success of the offering.
Dankner allegedly generated the financing for the stock purchases both by transferring funds to Strum and Sheleg himself and directing associates to do so as well during the trading days when the fraudulent activity is said to have occurred.
Strum and Sheleg are suspected of having pumped tens of millions of shekels into IDB Holding’s shares during the offering period.
Related:
Unusual trading volume tipped off authorities in Dankner probe
For Dankner’s IDB group, the hunting season just opened
Israel Securities Authority report claims Israeli tycoon initiated the fraud during a 2012 stock offering by IDB group.
Substantial evidence has been found by the Israel Securities Authority to charge the controlling shareholder of the IDB group, Nochi Dankner, for crimes related to stock manipulation, according to a report cleared for publication by state prosecutors on Monday.
Dankner is suspected of manipulating the share price of IDB Holding Corp. with the help of securities traders Itay Strum and Adi Sheleg, during a February 2012 stock offering by the company.
"This fraudulent activity was carried out with the knowledge of Dankner, at his instruction and with his financing,” the ISA said in its report.
The report claimed that Dankner initiated the fraud, and also found that he had even transferred NIS 8 million into an account controlled by Strum soon after the stock offering.
The report also stated that its conclusions were made only regarding the nature of the evidence found, and that state prosecutors will have to decide whether to indict Dankner.
Following the announcement, Dankner's office released a statement saying they were still awaiting a decision on the case by prosecutors. “We believe it will be determined that Nochi Dankner's behavior was without flaw,” the statement said.
The ISA announced on July 23 that it had concluded its investigation into Dankner and transferred the file to Tel Aviv District prosecutors. At the time, in accordance with Israeli law, the ISA did not make clear whether it had recommended that prosecutors pursue charges against Dankner or drop the case. It did, however, file a request seeking the publication of a summary of the investigation's findings after consultation and approval from Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein.
The investigation focused on a February 2012 share offering that raised NIS 321 million for IDB Holding Corp., which sits at the apex of the IDB group. Dankner allegedly enlisted Strum, who co-owns the ISP Financial Services company together with Sheleg, to use ISP and City Brokers, a financial services firm owned by Sheleg, to pump up the price of IDB Holding shares to ensure the success of the offering.
Dankner allegedly generated the financing for the stock purchases both by transferring funds to Strum and Sheleg himself and directing associates to do so as well during the trading days when the fraudulent activity is said to have occurred.
Strum and Sheleg are suspected of having pumped tens of millions of shekels into IDB Holding’s shares during the offering period.
Related:
Unusual trading volume tipped off authorities in Dankner probe
For Dankner’s IDB group, the hunting season just opened
8 sept 2013
Bus driver who caused death of 24 tourists convicted
State to compensate family of child whose body was corrupted
Police arrest 3rd suspect in Tel Aviv gang rape
3 policemen involved in Uman brawl to return to Israel
6 sept 2013
5 sept 2013
4 sept 2013
Suspect in tourist's rape in Tel Aviv turns himself in
IDF commander accused of molesting subordinates
IDF commander accused of molesting subordinates
3 sept 2013
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Under agreement with military prosecutors, Lt.-Col Shalom Eisner will receive two months of community service, won't be discharged but will retire early
Lt.-Col Shalom Eisner, the IDF officer who was suspended from duty after he was filmed striking a foreign peace activist from Denmark with his M-16 rifle during a Jordan Valley protest in April 2012, has reached a plea agreement with military prosecutors, Ynet learned on Tuesday. Under the agreement, Eisner will receive two months of community service without pay. He will not be discharged from the IDF, but he will not be promoted to a new position and will retire from the army early. |
In the next few days an indictment will be filed with a military court charging Eisner of conduct unbecoming and overstepping his authority to the point of endangering lives.
Eisner's appointment as head of the Bahad 1 officer's school was cancelled due to the incident. Since then he was appointed to a senior position at the Zeelim army base.
The indictment states that in 2012 Eisner used his hands and rifle to attack five foreign activists and Palestinians who took part in a pro-Palestinian bike ride that was not authorized by the IDF. During his interrogation, the officer said he felt the pro-Palestinian activists were endangering his life and the lives of his soldiers, who were securing a public road at the time of the incident.
The Danish activist who was struck by Eisner's rifle in the face was evacuated to a hospital for treatment. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the time that "this kind of behavior does not characterize the soldiers and commanders of the IDF. It has no place in the army or the State of Israel."
Related stories:
Eisner's appointment as head of the Bahad 1 officer's school was cancelled due to the incident. Since then he was appointed to a senior position at the Zeelim army base.
The indictment states that in 2012 Eisner used his hands and rifle to attack five foreign activists and Palestinians who took part in a pro-Palestinian bike ride that was not authorized by the IDF. During his interrogation, the officer said he felt the pro-Palestinian activists were endangering his life and the lives of his soldiers, who were securing a public road at the time of the incident.
The Danish activist who was struck by Eisner's rifle in the face was evacuated to a hospital for treatment. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the time that "this kind of behavior does not characterize the soldiers and commanders of the IDF. It has no place in the army or the State of Israel."
Related stories:
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Jerusalem man indicted for stabbing Arab taxi driver
Man indicted for making death threats against PM
Jerusalem man indicted for stabbing Arab taxi driver
Man indicted for making death threats against PM
2 sept 2013
3 Killed in Raid on Qalandia Refugee Camp
Israeli troops appear to have used unlawful lethal force during an arrest raid in a Palestinian refugee camp that killed three Palestinians. The raid on August 26, 2013, and the response to subsequent disturbances in the camp also injured 19, including the target of the arrest, Yusuf al-Khatib, who was wanted in relation with unspecified “terrorist activities.” Residents of the Qalandia refugee camp responded to the arrest raid by throwing stones at Israeli soldiers, who initially responded by firing tear gas and rubber bullets. As clashes spread, a larger number of camp residents threw stones, Molotov cocktails and other objects, and Israeli forces used live ammunition as reinforcements arrived, witnesses said. In several cases, soldiers shot Palestinians who were not throwing stones in circumstances indicating that they intentionally used lethal force that was not necessary to protect life, in violation of international standards.
“Israeli forces confronted stone-throwing and mayhem during the raid on Qalandia but that doesn’t justify shooting Palestinians who posed no threat,” said Joe Stork, acting Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. “The results are shattered lives, shattered limbs, and shattered families – and a need for criminal investigations.”
Israeli soldiers who shot people unlawfully should be prosecuted. According to international standards, Israel should also grant victims and their families access to an independent, judicial process to seek compensation.
Israeli forces allegedly beat the target of the arrest severely, breaking his nose and teeth, and assaulted a relative without justification.
Human Rights Watch examined the locations of the three killings and spoke with 16 camp residents who said they witnessed the incidents, including five who had been shot, and compared their accounts with information collected by Israeli and Palestinian human rights groups and international organizations.
According to information provided to Human Rights Watch by staff at the Ramallah hospital, 5 of the 18 people wounded by gunfire during the clashes were under 18 years old, and 12 of the 18 required surgery.
In a statement released on the day of the incursion, the Israeli military said that the results of a “preliminary” inquiry by its Central Command indicated that Israeli forces had acted “according to orders and in a restrained and proportionate manner,” and had used live ammunition in self defense because they felt threatened by the crowds. According to the statement, “there was live fire in the direction of our forces, and we located four bullets in a vehicle that was escorting the force.”
All camp residents whom Human Rights Watch interviewed denied that any Palestinians had used live fire, or said they were unaware of it happening. Israel should make public any evidence of use of live fire by Palestinians and clarify the circumstances warranting the use of lethal force pursuant to the military’s rules of engagement, Human Rights Watch said.
Israeli forces conducting policing operations in occupied territory are subject to the international standards set out in the United Nations Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials. According to these standards, law enforcement officials may make “intentional lethal use of firearms” only when it is “strictly unavoidable in order to protect life.”
Please see below for more information.
The Arrest Raid
Israeli news reports said that according to the military’s initial inquiry, an undercover Border Guard force entered the refugee camp at around 5:30 a.m. on August 26 in order to arrest a wanted suspect, and later called in a backup force from the Artillery Corps after clashes began with camp residents.
Witnesses told Human Rights Watch that by around 5:45 to 6 a.m., undercover forces dressed in civilian clothes had entered the home of Yusif al-Khatib, the target of the arrest operation, and that uniformed soldiers were also present on the street outside his home.
Israeli forces had raided the camp on two prior occasions in July and August in failed attempts to arrest al-Khatib, who had previously been jailed by Israel and released. Israeli spokespersons have not specified why al-Khatib was wanted beyond alleging his implication in “terrorist activities.”
Israeli forces inside al-Khatib’s home ordered all the residents into one room. They blindfolded and “zip-tied” O., a relative of al-Khatib’s, who told Human Rights Watch:
They thought I was Yusif. They drove me to the military base near al-Ram [a nearby Palestinian neighborhood] and pushed me onto the floor of the vehicle with my back on the ground. One of them was hitting me in the stomach all the way there with a heavy object, maybe a fire extinguisher.
At the base, he said, a “captain removed my blindfold and said he was sorry they had arrested me, because now they had found Yusif, and they drove me back home to identify him.” O. said that soldiers took him to a neighbor’s home, where al-Khatib had been apprehended. “I could barely recognize him. They had broken his nose and knocked out his teeth, and his hand was broken,” he told Human Rights Watch.
Israeli forces then took al-Khatib outside, put him in a military vehicle and drove away. O. said this occurred between 7:30 and 8 a.m. Al-Khatib is currently detained at the Ofer detention center and military court complex.
Clashes in Qalandia Camp
Men and youths in the area around al-Khatib’s home had begun throwing rocks at soldiers in the street soon after the soldiers arrived, at around 6 a.m. Soldiers initially responded with teargas and rubber bullets. Clashes escalated from 6 a.m. until around 6:45, when more troops arrived. Witnesses said that by 7 a.m., around eight military vehicles and a large number of soldiers on foot had entered the camp and were stationed on al-Khatib’s street, on the camp’s main east-west road, and on rooftops, and were firing live ammunition.
Youth from the camp dragged two large metal garbage containers into the road behind the soldiers to block their withdrawal back to the main north-south street on the camp’s western side, and threw rocks, Molotov cocktails and other objects at them from side streets and rooftops. Witness statements indicate that Israeli forces fired a large number of live rounds. Human Rights Watch counted 26 bullet holes in one side of one building, which residents said Israeli forces had fired during the August 26 raid.
Use of Live Ammunition
The injuries and killings that Human Rights Watch documented all apparently occurred at around 7 a.m. or shortly afterwards, according to witnesses. Evidence in at least some cases strongly suggests that the use of live ammunition was not justified. All of the incidents detailed below warrant further investigation; cases in which lethal force was used without adequate justification should be criminally prosecuted.
Israeli forces stationed outside al-Khatib’s home, on a small side-street parallel to the camp’s main road, shot and injured Abu Murad, 50, a garbage collector employed by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), witnesses said. Residents of the area told Human Rights Watch that at around 7:15 or 7:30 a.m., before Israeli forces had captured al-Khatib, Abu Murad had left his trash-collecting wagon at the eastern end of the side-street, when he saw soldiers standing in front of al-Khatib’s home, about 50 meters down the street to the west. He retreated around a corner, then returned to retrieve the wagon, and a soldier shot him in the back of his lower leg.
A witness who asked not to be identified said he did not hear the shot but saw Abu Murad fall, ran to help drag him away, and saw a soldier in front of al-Khatib’s home looking at them. Another witness said there was a single shot, which he believed indicated that the soldier had aimed deliberately at Abu Murad. Residents said that young men on rooftops were throwing stones at Israeli forces at the opposite, western end of the street, throughout the clashes. However, both witnesses to Abu Murad’s shooting said they did not see anyone throwing stones at the Israeli forces from Abu Murad’s direction in the street at that time.
Israeli forces remained inside and in front of al-Khatib’s house until they arrested him at a neighbor’s house at some point between 7:30 and 8 a.m., and then drove away with him in custody. At least one military vehicle drove west a short distance down the side street before turning south into another small street leading to the camp’s main road. A group of Palestinians not involved in the clashes slowly walked in the same direction after the Israeli forces withdrew around the corner, believing the clashes were over in the immediate area, residents said.
Two witnesses said that Israeli forces shot Roubin Abd al-Rahman Zayed, 34, in the chest, after the military vehicles had driven away from al-Khatib’s home. Multiple witnesses said that Zayed, who worked as a cleaner at an UNRWA training center in the camp, had not participated in the clashes, and had been waiting in an area to the east of al-Khatib’s home for the clashes to end and Israeli forces to depart in order to go to work.
One of the witnesses told Human Rights Watch:
[Zayed] and I were at the head of a group waiting to get around the corner. Roubin wanted to go to work. The [military vehicles] had left from in front of [al-Khatib’s] house and the last one was around the corner and half-way down to the main road when a soldier who was about to get into the back of the vehicle shot Roubin. There were no other soldiers still on the street. It was the last [vehicle] pulling away, the last soldier and the last shot.
The second witness, interviewed separately, who also asked not to be identified, said:
Roubin thought he was safe, he’d been hiding behind the corner. People were telling him it wasn’t safe. He got out and they shot him in the chest. He was just walking, not running. I was standing on the roof and saw it. Have you seen a video game where the blood spatters? It was like that, at close range. I ran down, we grabbed him and took him down the road to get a car. No way did they hit him by accident.
Both witnesses to Roubin Zayed’s shooting identified the locations where the military vehicle and Zayed were at the time of the shooting, about 25 meters apart. There is a clear line of sight to the location where the witnesses said Zayed was shot.
Youths had thrown rocks at Israeli forces on the same street prior to Zayed’s death; for instance, Human Rights Watch interviewed A.,20, who had a bullet lodged in the bone of his lower leg after being shot at around 7 a.m. while trying to throw a rock. This was just “up the hill from the place where Roubin was killed later,” he said. However, according to two witnesses as well as another resident of the area, at the time the soldier shot Zayed no camp residents were throwing rocks near or behind him. “There were guys throwing rocks from the rooftops at the intersection, but none were in the street between Roubin and the [vehicle] or behind him,” the first witness said.
I.,20, said that he had been shot that morning in the abdomen while throwing stones, and was being driven to hospital in a neighbor’s car when “someone said, ‘take another wounded with you,’ and they put in Roubin. He wasn’t moving. He’d been shot in the chest, with blood coming out of his mouth.”
Fire Against People Throwing Objects
Human Rights Watch documented other cases where Israeli forces shot live ammunition at men and children who were throwing stones and other objects at soldiers and military vehicles. Based on witness accounts, the forces frequently used live ammunition in response to clashes after 7 a.m. One youth, Y., 17, who was using crutches, said that a live bullet fired by Israeli forces had entered and exited his left thigh at around 7:30 a.m. while he was “throwing rocks at the jeeps” on the camp’s main road.
Israeli forces shot Yunis Jamal Jahjouh, 22, twice as he stood on the roof of a one-story building on the south-western side of the intersection of the main camp road and a smaller road leading north to the home of al-Khatib, witnesses said. Two witnesses told Human Rights Watch that Jahjouh was attempting to throw a satellite dish at military vehicles in the street below when he was killed. One witness, T., 18, said, “he was thrown off balance by the satellite dish. He was shot once, and said ‘Allahu Akhbar,’ and then he was shot again. There were two people with Yunis on the roof, but there was no way to get him down and out of there because of the clashes. He bled out until they got him to the ambulance, and it was too late.” According to a statement by the Palestinian hospital in the city of Ramallah, Jahjouh suffered gunshot wounds to the chest and stomach.
Further east along the main camp road, Israeli forces shot and killed Jihad Mansour Aslan, 21, as he was standing on the corner of the roof of a one-story building on the southern side of the road. A relative told Human Rights Watch:
I had been with Jihad on the roof when the [soldiers] started shooting intensively at us and we scattered. There were eight or nine of us. I jumped down and was shouting at Jihad to get back from the front of the building. He was shot the first time in his hand, and then he picked up a rock and they shot him again. We went to get him and brought him down. There was a lot of blood. We put him in a civilian car. He was still alive but he wasn’t speaking. The bullet hit him in the chest and went out his back.
The Israeli authorities should immediately open criminal investigations into the Qalandia shootings, Human Rights Watch said. Under the UN principles on the right to a remedy for human rights violations, states have the duty to investigate and, if there is sufficient evidence, the duty to submit to prosecution the person allegedly responsible for the violations and, if found guilty, the duty to punish her or him.
The Israeli military has a poor record of accountability. Since the beginning of the second Palestinian intifada in 2000, Israeli military courts have convicted only six Israeli soldiers for offenses involving the deaths of Palestinians, and one soldier for the death of a British citizen, according to Yesh Din, an Israeli rights group. Israeli investigations into the raid in the Qalandia camp should be prompt, thorough and impartial.
Israeli troops appear to have used unlawful lethal force during an arrest raid in a Palestinian refugee camp that killed three Palestinians. The raid on August 26, 2013, and the response to subsequent disturbances in the camp also injured 19, including the target of the arrest, Yusuf al-Khatib, who was wanted in relation with unspecified “terrorist activities.” Residents of the Qalandia refugee camp responded to the arrest raid by throwing stones at Israeli soldiers, who initially responded by firing tear gas and rubber bullets. As clashes spread, a larger number of camp residents threw stones, Molotov cocktails and other objects, and Israeli forces used live ammunition as reinforcements arrived, witnesses said. In several cases, soldiers shot Palestinians who were not throwing stones in circumstances indicating that they intentionally used lethal force that was not necessary to protect life, in violation of international standards.
“Israeli forces confronted stone-throwing and mayhem during the raid on Qalandia but that doesn’t justify shooting Palestinians who posed no threat,” said Joe Stork, acting Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. “The results are shattered lives, shattered limbs, and shattered families – and a need for criminal investigations.”
Israeli soldiers who shot people unlawfully should be prosecuted. According to international standards, Israel should also grant victims and their families access to an independent, judicial process to seek compensation.
Israeli forces allegedly beat the target of the arrest severely, breaking his nose and teeth, and assaulted a relative without justification.
Human Rights Watch examined the locations of the three killings and spoke with 16 camp residents who said they witnessed the incidents, including five who had been shot, and compared their accounts with information collected by Israeli and Palestinian human rights groups and international organizations.
According to information provided to Human Rights Watch by staff at the Ramallah hospital, 5 of the 18 people wounded by gunfire during the clashes were under 18 years old, and 12 of the 18 required surgery.
In a statement released on the day of the incursion, the Israeli military said that the results of a “preliminary” inquiry by its Central Command indicated that Israeli forces had acted “according to orders and in a restrained and proportionate manner,” and had used live ammunition in self defense because they felt threatened by the crowds. According to the statement, “there was live fire in the direction of our forces, and we located four bullets in a vehicle that was escorting the force.”
All camp residents whom Human Rights Watch interviewed denied that any Palestinians had used live fire, or said they were unaware of it happening. Israel should make public any evidence of use of live fire by Palestinians and clarify the circumstances warranting the use of lethal force pursuant to the military’s rules of engagement, Human Rights Watch said.
Israeli forces conducting policing operations in occupied territory are subject to the international standards set out in the United Nations Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials. According to these standards, law enforcement officials may make “intentional lethal use of firearms” only when it is “strictly unavoidable in order to protect life.”
Please see below for more information.
The Arrest Raid
Israeli news reports said that according to the military’s initial inquiry, an undercover Border Guard force entered the refugee camp at around 5:30 a.m. on August 26 in order to arrest a wanted suspect, and later called in a backup force from the Artillery Corps after clashes began with camp residents.
Witnesses told Human Rights Watch that by around 5:45 to 6 a.m., undercover forces dressed in civilian clothes had entered the home of Yusif al-Khatib, the target of the arrest operation, and that uniformed soldiers were also present on the street outside his home.
Israeli forces had raided the camp on two prior occasions in July and August in failed attempts to arrest al-Khatib, who had previously been jailed by Israel and released. Israeli spokespersons have not specified why al-Khatib was wanted beyond alleging his implication in “terrorist activities.”
Israeli forces inside al-Khatib’s home ordered all the residents into one room. They blindfolded and “zip-tied” O., a relative of al-Khatib’s, who told Human Rights Watch:
They thought I was Yusif. They drove me to the military base near al-Ram [a nearby Palestinian neighborhood] and pushed me onto the floor of the vehicle with my back on the ground. One of them was hitting me in the stomach all the way there with a heavy object, maybe a fire extinguisher.
At the base, he said, a “captain removed my blindfold and said he was sorry they had arrested me, because now they had found Yusif, and they drove me back home to identify him.” O. said that soldiers took him to a neighbor’s home, where al-Khatib had been apprehended. “I could barely recognize him. They had broken his nose and knocked out his teeth, and his hand was broken,” he told Human Rights Watch.
Israeli forces then took al-Khatib outside, put him in a military vehicle and drove away. O. said this occurred between 7:30 and 8 a.m. Al-Khatib is currently detained at the Ofer detention center and military court complex.
Clashes in Qalandia Camp
Men and youths in the area around al-Khatib’s home had begun throwing rocks at soldiers in the street soon after the soldiers arrived, at around 6 a.m. Soldiers initially responded with teargas and rubber bullets. Clashes escalated from 6 a.m. until around 6:45, when more troops arrived. Witnesses said that by 7 a.m., around eight military vehicles and a large number of soldiers on foot had entered the camp and were stationed on al-Khatib’s street, on the camp’s main east-west road, and on rooftops, and were firing live ammunition.
Youth from the camp dragged two large metal garbage containers into the road behind the soldiers to block their withdrawal back to the main north-south street on the camp’s western side, and threw rocks, Molotov cocktails and other objects at them from side streets and rooftops. Witness statements indicate that Israeli forces fired a large number of live rounds. Human Rights Watch counted 26 bullet holes in one side of one building, which residents said Israeli forces had fired during the August 26 raid.
Use of Live Ammunition
The injuries and killings that Human Rights Watch documented all apparently occurred at around 7 a.m. or shortly afterwards, according to witnesses. Evidence in at least some cases strongly suggests that the use of live ammunition was not justified. All of the incidents detailed below warrant further investigation; cases in which lethal force was used without adequate justification should be criminally prosecuted.
Israeli forces stationed outside al-Khatib’s home, on a small side-street parallel to the camp’s main road, shot and injured Abu Murad, 50, a garbage collector employed by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), witnesses said. Residents of the area told Human Rights Watch that at around 7:15 or 7:30 a.m., before Israeli forces had captured al-Khatib, Abu Murad had left his trash-collecting wagon at the eastern end of the side-street, when he saw soldiers standing in front of al-Khatib’s home, about 50 meters down the street to the west. He retreated around a corner, then returned to retrieve the wagon, and a soldier shot him in the back of his lower leg.
A witness who asked not to be identified said he did not hear the shot but saw Abu Murad fall, ran to help drag him away, and saw a soldier in front of al-Khatib’s home looking at them. Another witness said there was a single shot, which he believed indicated that the soldier had aimed deliberately at Abu Murad. Residents said that young men on rooftops were throwing stones at Israeli forces at the opposite, western end of the street, throughout the clashes. However, both witnesses to Abu Murad’s shooting said they did not see anyone throwing stones at the Israeli forces from Abu Murad’s direction in the street at that time.
Israeli forces remained inside and in front of al-Khatib’s house until they arrested him at a neighbor’s house at some point between 7:30 and 8 a.m., and then drove away with him in custody. At least one military vehicle drove west a short distance down the side street before turning south into another small street leading to the camp’s main road. A group of Palestinians not involved in the clashes slowly walked in the same direction after the Israeli forces withdrew around the corner, believing the clashes were over in the immediate area, residents said.
Two witnesses said that Israeli forces shot Roubin Abd al-Rahman Zayed, 34, in the chest, after the military vehicles had driven away from al-Khatib’s home. Multiple witnesses said that Zayed, who worked as a cleaner at an UNRWA training center in the camp, had not participated in the clashes, and had been waiting in an area to the east of al-Khatib’s home for the clashes to end and Israeli forces to depart in order to go to work.
One of the witnesses told Human Rights Watch:
[Zayed] and I were at the head of a group waiting to get around the corner. Roubin wanted to go to work. The [military vehicles] had left from in front of [al-Khatib’s] house and the last one was around the corner and half-way down to the main road when a soldier who was about to get into the back of the vehicle shot Roubin. There were no other soldiers still on the street. It was the last [vehicle] pulling away, the last soldier and the last shot.
The second witness, interviewed separately, who also asked not to be identified, said:
Roubin thought he was safe, he’d been hiding behind the corner. People were telling him it wasn’t safe. He got out and they shot him in the chest. He was just walking, not running. I was standing on the roof and saw it. Have you seen a video game where the blood spatters? It was like that, at close range. I ran down, we grabbed him and took him down the road to get a car. No way did they hit him by accident.
Both witnesses to Roubin Zayed’s shooting identified the locations where the military vehicle and Zayed were at the time of the shooting, about 25 meters apart. There is a clear line of sight to the location where the witnesses said Zayed was shot.
Youths had thrown rocks at Israeli forces on the same street prior to Zayed’s death; for instance, Human Rights Watch interviewed A.,20, who had a bullet lodged in the bone of his lower leg after being shot at around 7 a.m. while trying to throw a rock. This was just “up the hill from the place where Roubin was killed later,” he said. However, according to two witnesses as well as another resident of the area, at the time the soldier shot Zayed no camp residents were throwing rocks near or behind him. “There were guys throwing rocks from the rooftops at the intersection, but none were in the street between Roubin and the [vehicle] or behind him,” the first witness said.
I.,20, said that he had been shot that morning in the abdomen while throwing stones, and was being driven to hospital in a neighbor’s car when “someone said, ‘take another wounded with you,’ and they put in Roubin. He wasn’t moving. He’d been shot in the chest, with blood coming out of his mouth.”
Fire Against People Throwing Objects
Human Rights Watch documented other cases where Israeli forces shot live ammunition at men and children who were throwing stones and other objects at soldiers and military vehicles. Based on witness accounts, the forces frequently used live ammunition in response to clashes after 7 a.m. One youth, Y., 17, who was using crutches, said that a live bullet fired by Israeli forces had entered and exited his left thigh at around 7:30 a.m. while he was “throwing rocks at the jeeps” on the camp’s main road.
Israeli forces shot Yunis Jamal Jahjouh, 22, twice as he stood on the roof of a one-story building on the south-western side of the intersection of the main camp road and a smaller road leading north to the home of al-Khatib, witnesses said. Two witnesses told Human Rights Watch that Jahjouh was attempting to throw a satellite dish at military vehicles in the street below when he was killed. One witness, T., 18, said, “he was thrown off balance by the satellite dish. He was shot once, and said ‘Allahu Akhbar,’ and then he was shot again. There were two people with Yunis on the roof, but there was no way to get him down and out of there because of the clashes. He bled out until they got him to the ambulance, and it was too late.” According to a statement by the Palestinian hospital in the city of Ramallah, Jahjouh suffered gunshot wounds to the chest and stomach.
Further east along the main camp road, Israeli forces shot and killed Jihad Mansour Aslan, 21, as he was standing on the corner of the roof of a one-story building on the southern side of the road. A relative told Human Rights Watch:
I had been with Jihad on the roof when the [soldiers] started shooting intensively at us and we scattered. There were eight or nine of us. I jumped down and was shouting at Jihad to get back from the front of the building. He was shot the first time in his hand, and then he picked up a rock and they shot him again. We went to get him and brought him down. There was a lot of blood. We put him in a civilian car. He was still alive but he wasn’t speaking. The bullet hit him in the chest and went out his back.
The Israeli authorities should immediately open criminal investigations into the Qalandia shootings, Human Rights Watch said. Under the UN principles on the right to a remedy for human rights violations, states have the duty to investigate and, if there is sufficient evidence, the duty to submit to prosecution the person allegedly responsible for the violations and, if found guilty, the duty to punish her or him.
The Israeli military has a poor record of accountability. Since the beginning of the second Palestinian intifada in 2000, Israeli military courts have convicted only six Israeli soldiers for offenses involving the deaths of Palestinians, and one soldier for the death of a British citizen, according to Yesh Din, an Israeli rights group. Israeli investigations into the raid in the Qalandia camp should be prompt, thorough and impartial.
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1 sept 2013
Komi (right) and Salameh (left)
Israel Channel 7 reported Sunday that the investigative bodies of the Israeli military ignore to investigate the targeting of cameramen working for the Gaza-based Al AqsaTV channel during the recent war on Gaza nine months ago. An Israeli army warplane had targeted a vehicle of Al-Aqsa TV with the emblem of "Press" in November 2012, killing the cameramen Mahmoud Komi and Hassan Salameh on board.
The channel said Israeli army investigators deliberately disregard the journalists and human rights bodies who enquire about the findings of the investigation into the incident.
After nine months now, the army still refuses to give a justification for the targeting of Al-Kumi, 29, married with three children, ages two, four, and five, and Salama, 30, married with four children, ages eight months, two, three, and five.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) requested information from the IDF concerning the attacks on the Aqsa cameramen, the Shawa and Housari Building, the Shoruq Building, and the Naama Building. The IDF replied that it was checking the “details of the events” and would be able to respond once this check is complete without saying when that would be.
Israeli officials sought to justify attacks on Palestinian media by saying the military had targeted individuals or facilities that “had relevance to” or were “linked with” Palestinian resistance groups, but these justifications violate the laws of war and place journalists at grave risk, HRW said on December 20th 2012.
Channel 7 indicated that "the army asked the channel manager not to enquire about the targeting of Komi and Salameh in the future,"
At a press conference, the channel reporter asked an army official about the findings of the investigation who answered "why do you care about Palestinians killed million years ago?
The reporter repeated the question once to another army official in a press conference who said in turn "You do not have a press pass, so excuse me I cannot answer,"
Channel wondered in its report about why not to explain the targeting of the Palestinian cameramen although the army spokesmen unit has hundreds of investigators, speakers, and jurists.
According to its estimates, the channel says "work with the media organizations associate of Hamas movement, and working to expose the Israeli army attacks could be enough a charge to justify killing of the two journalists,"
In an earlier interview with one of the IDF spokesmen, Mark Regev, told Channel 7 that "the Israeli army may target civilians deliberately and directly even if that violates the international law,"
The report questioned "the legality of any missile targeting of a civilian working for the Hamas government, or even a supporter of it,"
"The army indifference to the targeting of journalists and neglecting investigation reflect a culture of lack of accountability and disregard for the Israeli public and the international community." it concluded.
Israel Channel 7 reported Sunday that the investigative bodies of the Israeli military ignore to investigate the targeting of cameramen working for the Gaza-based Al AqsaTV channel during the recent war on Gaza nine months ago. An Israeli army warplane had targeted a vehicle of Al-Aqsa TV with the emblem of "Press" in November 2012, killing the cameramen Mahmoud Komi and Hassan Salameh on board.
The channel said Israeli army investigators deliberately disregard the journalists and human rights bodies who enquire about the findings of the investigation into the incident.
After nine months now, the army still refuses to give a justification for the targeting of Al-Kumi, 29, married with three children, ages two, four, and five, and Salama, 30, married with four children, ages eight months, two, three, and five.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) requested information from the IDF concerning the attacks on the Aqsa cameramen, the Shawa and Housari Building, the Shoruq Building, and the Naama Building. The IDF replied that it was checking the “details of the events” and would be able to respond once this check is complete without saying when that would be.
Israeli officials sought to justify attacks on Palestinian media by saying the military had targeted individuals or facilities that “had relevance to” or were “linked with” Palestinian resistance groups, but these justifications violate the laws of war and place journalists at grave risk, HRW said on December 20th 2012.
Channel 7 indicated that "the army asked the channel manager not to enquire about the targeting of Komi and Salameh in the future,"
At a press conference, the channel reporter asked an army official about the findings of the investigation who answered "why do you care about Palestinians killed million years ago?
The reporter repeated the question once to another army official in a press conference who said in turn "You do not have a press pass, so excuse me I cannot answer,"
Channel wondered in its report about why not to explain the targeting of the Palestinian cameramen although the army spokesmen unit has hundreds of investigators, speakers, and jurists.
According to its estimates, the channel says "work with the media organizations associate of Hamas movement, and working to expose the Israeli army attacks could be enough a charge to justify killing of the two journalists,"
In an earlier interview with one of the IDF spokesmen, Mark Regev, told Channel 7 that "the Israeli army may target civilians deliberately and directly even if that violates the international law,"
The report questioned "the legality of any missile targeting of a civilian working for the Hamas government, or even a supporter of it,"
"The army indifference to the targeting of journalists and neglecting investigation reflect a culture of lack of accountability and disregard for the Israeli public and the international community." it concluded.
31 aug 2013
Body of man in his 30s found in alleyway; was stabbed in the back
The body of a 30-year-old man who was apparently murdered was discovered Saturday on Herzl Street in Haifa's Hadar neighborhood.
Police have launched an investigation into the man's death.
The body, which had stab wounds on it, was found shortly after 8:30 in an alley, near the entrance to a home. Passersby alerted Magen David Adom paramedics, who pronounced the man dead. "The body had signs of violence and stab wounds on it," one of the paramedics said. The victim was stabbed a number of times in his back.
Name released of man whose body in Haifa
The man found stabbed this morning in Haifa has been identified as Igor Zandelvich, 43, a resident of the city. The court issued a gag order on the details of the investigation following a police request. The background of the murder is still unknown.
The body of a 30-year-old man who was apparently murdered was discovered Saturday on Herzl Street in Haifa's Hadar neighborhood.
Police have launched an investigation into the man's death.
The body, which had stab wounds on it, was found shortly after 8:30 in an alley, near the entrance to a home. Passersby alerted Magen David Adom paramedics, who pronounced the man dead. "The body had signs of violence and stab wounds on it," one of the paramedics said. The victim was stabbed a number of times in his back.
Name released of man whose body in Haifa
The man found stabbed this morning in Haifa has been identified as Igor Zandelvich, 43, a resident of the city. The court issued a gag order on the details of the investigation following a police request. The background of the murder is still unknown.
30 aug 2013
An Israeli extremist on Friday tried to attack Palestinian worshipers in Al-Aqsa Mosque while heading to perform dawn prayers, but the worshipers noticed him and prevented the attack . The Israeli was holding a knife when he tried to stab the Palestinian man who was waiting with other worshipers to enter into the mosque from Silsila Gate.
Fortunately one of the worshipers noticed the knife and prevented the crime. The Israeli Police arrived at the scene, and arrested the attacker.
Fortunately one of the worshipers noticed the knife and prevented the crime. The Israeli Police arrived at the scene, and arrested the attacker.
29 aug 2013
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Two helmeted soldiers filmed dancing with Palestinian young men clad in jeans to a popular rock tune in Hebron nightclub
Israel has disciplined a group of soldiers for partying with Palestinians while armed and in uniform at a nightclub in the West Bank city of Hebron, a military spokesman said on Wednesday. Israel's Channel 2 television broadcast a film in which two helmeted soldiers, at least one armed with a rifle, were shown dancing with Palestinian young men clad in jeans and T-shirts, to a popular rock tune. A Palestinian man could be seen twirling around with a soldier in uniform hoisted onto |
his shoulders, weapon in hand, as other men danced around them.
The report said the troops had ducked into the club while on foot patrol in the predominantly Palestinian city, a frequent flashpoint of tensions between Palestinians and Jewish settlers.
A military spokesman said in a statement that the army "views this as a serious incident."
"The soldiers exposed themselves to unnecessary danger and were disciplined," it said.
The television said the soldiers had been suspended from duty pending an investigation. There was no immediate comment from the army on that.
Military rules prohibit troops from letting down their guard and socializing with enemy civilians while on duty.
Several years ago soldiers were disciplined for filming a flash-mob style dance while on foot patrol in the same city, but that dance involved only the troops.
Israel captured the West Bank in a 1967 war, land where Palestinians seek a state, which is the goal of US-backed peace talks resumed last month after a three-year stalemate.
The report said the troops had ducked into the club while on foot patrol in the predominantly Palestinian city, a frequent flashpoint of tensions between Palestinians and Jewish settlers.
A military spokesman said in a statement that the army "views this as a serious incident."
"The soldiers exposed themselves to unnecessary danger and were disciplined," it said.
The television said the soldiers had been suspended from duty pending an investigation. There was no immediate comment from the army on that.
Military rules prohibit troops from letting down their guard and socializing with enemy civilians while on duty.
Several years ago soldiers were disciplined for filming a flash-mob style dance while on foot patrol in the same city, but that dance involved only the troops.
Israel captured the West Bank in a 1967 war, land where Palestinians seek a state, which is the goal of US-backed peace talks resumed last month after a three-year stalemate.
