5 june 2016
Officer who threw a tear gas grenade into a tent full of soldiers on trial; eyewitnesses claim commander was often violent: 'We were choking, vomiting;' Officer says he did it out of 'love.'
The trial of a platoon leader in the Paratroopers is currently underway in a military court in Jaffa. He was indicted at the beginning of 2016 for hurling a tear gas grenade, which is commonly used to disperse Palestinian demonstrations and riots, into a tent full of soldiers because they failed to wake up on time.
In recent months, the platoon leader was returned to his command position in spite of his actions. The investigation of the incident, which was conducted by Brigade Commander Col. Nimrod Aloni, along with testimony from soldiers and the commander himself which was obtained by Ynet, paints a worrying picture and raises the question: Why was he returned to his military post?
According to the investigation, the platoon leader in question asked one of his soldiers to awaken the platoon at 7am. The soldier failed to do so because, he claimed, his telephone turned off. The commander, who two days earlier had warned his soldiers that he would throw a tear gas grenade into the tent if they failed to wake up on time, fulfilled his threat.
The soldiers inside the tent woke up in shock and ran outside while coughing, choking and suffering a whole series of other side effects.
One soldier who was in the tent at the time explained, “The commander came into the tent at 7:15am while we were sleeping. He threw a grenade, and the whole tent went white. After a minute everyone got out, but there was one injured soldier with crutches inside a sleeping bag and it took him a few minutes to get out with the help of his friends. The soldiers were tearing up, and they started choking from all the smoke. Another soldier was vomiting, and another one hit himself on a metal peg of the tent. I broke my toe, myself” he said.
“The platoon leader was a violent person, and we had told him this. He once ran after me with a stick and hit me hard on the leg with it.”
Another witness described the commander as “intolerant” and as someone who “was in the custom of using violence. He would tip over soldiers’ beds while they were sleeping to wake them up or pour water on them.”
“After he threw the grenade, he went and hid behind the bathroom for twenty minutes. He gathered us all together and said he was sorry and said that the platoon could now either be broken or it could overcome the incident and move on,” he recalled.
Another soldier said, “I was choking. My eyes swelled up. There were burns on my face. I vomited. He would always wake us up violently.”
According to the company commander involved in the investigation, disciplinary transgressions were a common phenomenon within this particular platoon: “The platoon was punished in the past for similar instances,” he wrote. “During the period of the current leader's predecessor, the platoon was known for it lack of discipline and for unusual norms—something which left behind many negative standards. Discipline and norms are a central component of the job of a platoon commander,” he declared.
The investigation exposed that for two and a half months in which the platoon leader served in his role, three soldiers were dismissed following misconduct upon returning from an exercise. Additionally, two soldiers were kept on base after they were found in the field with magazines inside their guns (only permitted on the instructions of commanders —ed.) while other soldiers were punished for safety, order and discipline violations.
The commander of the brigade claimed that the suspect did not consult with anyone before throwing the grenade and did not inform anyone of his responsibility for it.
Reflecting on the consequences of the incident, he added that it constituted a “blow to the trust between a platoon leader and a soldier. There are red lines. It is forbidden to violate the honor of a soldier, of a Palestinian etc. The most basic contract is the one between a commander and a soldier.”
Nevertheless, while acknowledging that the commander under investigation needed to be punished in accordance with the severity of his transgression, he insisted, “In light of the fact that it was carried out in an environment in which unconventional acts such as these prevailed, he should not be dismissed...The main message is that the correct path is to fight againsts incidents such as these.”
The platoon leader himself sought to justify his actions on the grounds of love for his soldiers. “I am a commander who gets his hands deep in dirt and as a result I argue sometimes with soldiers who think that they deserve too much,” he continued. “I did it out of love and an attempt not to deprive them of going home, which is the most important thing to them.” (Preventing soldiers from going home during weekends off is a punishment frequently employed in the IDF —ed.)
“I made a mistake but, this notwithstanding, no one can be harmed by a gas grenade. I know the dangers, and that is why I made sure two or three times that no one was left in the tent. I moved sleeping bags and I, myself, absorbed the gas,” he continued.
Citing his credentials, his lawyers also offered a similar line of defense after stating that the “outstanding officer” simply made a mistake. “Until this mistake he never committed the smallest disciplinary offense during his military service or anywhere else...He understands that he made a mistake, he regrets it and he apologized for it to all his soldiers and commanders. It is important to emphasize that he also stayed in the tent to make sure that all the soldiers had left and only then left the tent.”
Addressing the incident, the IDF spokesperson’s unit described it as “very serious and exceptional which does not correspond with the values of of the IDF or the expectations of his commanders.”
The trial of a platoon leader in the Paratroopers is currently underway in a military court in Jaffa. He was indicted at the beginning of 2016 for hurling a tear gas grenade, which is commonly used to disperse Palestinian demonstrations and riots, into a tent full of soldiers because they failed to wake up on time.
In recent months, the platoon leader was returned to his command position in spite of his actions. The investigation of the incident, which was conducted by Brigade Commander Col. Nimrod Aloni, along with testimony from soldiers and the commander himself which was obtained by Ynet, paints a worrying picture and raises the question: Why was he returned to his military post?
According to the investigation, the platoon leader in question asked one of his soldiers to awaken the platoon at 7am. The soldier failed to do so because, he claimed, his telephone turned off. The commander, who two days earlier had warned his soldiers that he would throw a tear gas grenade into the tent if they failed to wake up on time, fulfilled his threat.
The soldiers inside the tent woke up in shock and ran outside while coughing, choking and suffering a whole series of other side effects.
One soldier who was in the tent at the time explained, “The commander came into the tent at 7:15am while we were sleeping. He threw a grenade, and the whole tent went white. After a minute everyone got out, but there was one injured soldier with crutches inside a sleeping bag and it took him a few minutes to get out with the help of his friends. The soldiers were tearing up, and they started choking from all the smoke. Another soldier was vomiting, and another one hit himself on a metal peg of the tent. I broke my toe, myself” he said.
“The platoon leader was a violent person, and we had told him this. He once ran after me with a stick and hit me hard on the leg with it.”
Another witness described the commander as “intolerant” and as someone who “was in the custom of using violence. He would tip over soldiers’ beds while they were sleeping to wake them up or pour water on them.”
“After he threw the grenade, he went and hid behind the bathroom for twenty minutes. He gathered us all together and said he was sorry and said that the platoon could now either be broken or it could overcome the incident and move on,” he recalled.
Another soldier said, “I was choking. My eyes swelled up. There were burns on my face. I vomited. He would always wake us up violently.”
According to the company commander involved in the investigation, disciplinary transgressions were a common phenomenon within this particular platoon: “The platoon was punished in the past for similar instances,” he wrote. “During the period of the current leader's predecessor, the platoon was known for it lack of discipline and for unusual norms—something which left behind many negative standards. Discipline and norms are a central component of the job of a platoon commander,” he declared.
The investigation exposed that for two and a half months in which the platoon leader served in his role, three soldiers were dismissed following misconduct upon returning from an exercise. Additionally, two soldiers were kept on base after they were found in the field with magazines inside their guns (only permitted on the instructions of commanders —ed.) while other soldiers were punished for safety, order and discipline violations.
The commander of the brigade claimed that the suspect did not consult with anyone before throwing the grenade and did not inform anyone of his responsibility for it.
Reflecting on the consequences of the incident, he added that it constituted a “blow to the trust between a platoon leader and a soldier. There are red lines. It is forbidden to violate the honor of a soldier, of a Palestinian etc. The most basic contract is the one between a commander and a soldier.”
Nevertheless, while acknowledging that the commander under investigation needed to be punished in accordance with the severity of his transgression, he insisted, “In light of the fact that it was carried out in an environment in which unconventional acts such as these prevailed, he should not be dismissed...The main message is that the correct path is to fight againsts incidents such as these.”
The platoon leader himself sought to justify his actions on the grounds of love for his soldiers. “I am a commander who gets his hands deep in dirt and as a result I argue sometimes with soldiers who think that they deserve too much,” he continued. “I did it out of love and an attempt not to deprive them of going home, which is the most important thing to them.” (Preventing soldiers from going home during weekends off is a punishment frequently employed in the IDF —ed.)
“I made a mistake but, this notwithstanding, no one can be harmed by a gas grenade. I know the dangers, and that is why I made sure two or three times that no one was left in the tent. I moved sleeping bags and I, myself, absorbed the gas,” he continued.
Citing his credentials, his lawyers also offered a similar line of defense after stating that the “outstanding officer” simply made a mistake. “Until this mistake he never committed the smallest disciplinary offense during his military service or anywhere else...He understands that he made a mistake, he regrets it and he apologized for it to all his soldiers and commanders. It is important to emphasize that he also stayed in the tent to make sure that all the soldiers had left and only then left the tent.”
Addressing the incident, the IDF spokesperson’s unit described it as “very serious and exceptional which does not correspond with the values of of the IDF or the expectations of his commanders.”
2 june 2016
After 15 days of investigation, mentally challenged woman who claimed that 2 Palestinians raped her in racist attack changes her account and claims her aunt told her to make it up. Arab MK demands police investigate woman's family.
Two Palestinian suspects who were arrested two weeks ago on suspicion of committing a nationalistically-motivated rape against a mentally disabled Jewish young woman were released on Wednesday after the alleged victim backtracked on her version of events and admitted that, in fact, “the sex was consensual.”
The case began a little over two weeks ago when the woman filed a complaint with the Tel Aviv police in which she claimed to have been the victim of a violent rape and humiliation based on the fact that she was Jewish. As a result of the woman’s complaint, two Palestinian suspects, Omar Aldin Draghmah (42) from Nablus, and a 17-year-old boy from the territories, were arrested.
During the investigation, the police discovered on the woman’s cell phone that she and the Palestinians had had sexual relationships prior to the complaint.
On Wednesday however, 15 days after the commencement of the investigation, during which the police did not succeed in finding evidence supporting the young woman’s version of events, she confessed that “my auntie told me to say it.”
“According to the rape complaint, the suspects also humiliated the girl while making racist and nationalistic remarks,” said the Tel Aviv local police on Wednesday. “The police opened up an investigation immediately and one day after the complaint had been filed two suspects were arrested. They denied the charges leveled against them. Already by the first stage of the investigation it became clear that the investigation was sensitive and complicated and required a...special investigator from the Ministry of Social Affairs to collect evidence.”
“After 15 days,” the statement continued, “of an intense investigation, the police drew the conclusion that, at this stage, an insufficient quantity of evidence had been gathered to prove the charges. In light of this fact, it was requested that the arrest of the two individuals not be extended and that they be released under certain conditions.”
Following the woman’s contradictory accounts, the police is currently contemplating how to deal with her and her aunt who, according to the former’s claims, told her to fabricate the story.
Responing to the new developments, MK Issawi Frej (Meretz) called on Wednesday upon the Police Commissioner to instruct that an investigation be launched against the girl’s family. “After Netanyahu and the police slammed Arab nationalism, it turns out that in this case the nationalistic motivations were on the part of the Jews.”
Two Palestinian suspects who were arrested two weeks ago on suspicion of committing a nationalistically-motivated rape against a mentally disabled Jewish young woman were released on Wednesday after the alleged victim backtracked on her version of events and admitted that, in fact, “the sex was consensual.”
The case began a little over two weeks ago when the woman filed a complaint with the Tel Aviv police in which she claimed to have been the victim of a violent rape and humiliation based on the fact that she was Jewish. As a result of the woman’s complaint, two Palestinian suspects, Omar Aldin Draghmah (42) from Nablus, and a 17-year-old boy from the territories, were arrested.
During the investigation, the police discovered on the woman’s cell phone that she and the Palestinians had had sexual relationships prior to the complaint.
On Wednesday however, 15 days after the commencement of the investigation, during which the police did not succeed in finding evidence supporting the young woman’s version of events, she confessed that “my auntie told me to say it.”
“According to the rape complaint, the suspects also humiliated the girl while making racist and nationalistic remarks,” said the Tel Aviv local police on Wednesday. “The police opened up an investigation immediately and one day after the complaint had been filed two suspects were arrested. They denied the charges leveled against them. Already by the first stage of the investigation it became clear that the investigation was sensitive and complicated and required a...special investigator from the Ministry of Social Affairs to collect evidence.”
“After 15 days,” the statement continued, “of an intense investigation, the police drew the conclusion that, at this stage, an insufficient quantity of evidence had been gathered to prove the charges. In light of this fact, it was requested that the arrest of the two individuals not be extended and that they be released under certain conditions.”
Following the woman’s contradictory accounts, the police is currently contemplating how to deal with her and her aunt who, according to the former’s claims, told her to fabricate the story.
Responing to the new developments, MK Issawi Frej (Meretz) called on Wednesday upon the Police Commissioner to instruct that an investigation be launched against the girl’s family. “After Netanyahu and the police slammed Arab nationalism, it turns out that in this case the nationalistic motivations were on the part of the Jews.”
A reservists unit was training at a military base in the south when a bag full of hi-tech equipment was stolen; theft points to a growing trend of southern residents stealing military equipment.
An army bag containing binoculars, night vision goggles, and advanced electronic arms were stolen from a reservists unit at Tzeilim base in the south in the middle of the week. The base commander decided to prosecute the unit officer and soldiers who were training in light of the fact that the weapons stolen are classified as "weapons of crucial importance to the IDF."
Theft of military property is a phenomenon which has been increasing in recent years, and which neither the IDF nor the police have found a solution for. The IDF Military Police opened an investigation into the incident, and according to the evidence, a worrying picture has emerged.
Residents of the western Negev – almost daily – steal military property from the various units who train in the area.
According to the evidence, while the soldiers were unloading their gear from the truck, a man on an ATV approached them, waited until the soldiers had their backs turned to him, drove up, stole a bag, and ran away – all in broad daylight. The soldiers gave chase, but the man on the ATV got away.
Additionally, according to various reserve officers and logistics personnel at the base, this trend has only been increasing over the past year, with 50 caliber heavy machine guns affixed armored personnel carriers (APC) and tanks parked on the edge of the base.
Following this worrying phenomenon which has caused considerable damage to the IDF and endangers the security of Israeli citizens, the investigation further revealed that many of these weapons are smuggled into Egypt. Therefore, a plan to upgrade the defenses on the base costing millions of shekels has been approved.
"Despite the cooperation between the IDF and the police on this issue, the thieves are continuing to steal from the base around the clock. We are beginning to feel helpless," said a reserve officer who is currently training on Tzeilim.
"A majority of the soliders and officers have heard about what's going on and are familiar with the phenomenon, and are really focusing their efforts on making sure that military equipment doesn't get stolen, but on the other hand, soldiers are prohibited from carrying out the rules of engagement procedure on thieves, and the thieves know this."
The IDF Spokesperson's unit said in response "the issue of military equipment being stolen is know and is being dealt with by law enforcement officials. In the IDF in general and bases in the area in particular are carrying out extensive operations to prevent weapons thefts, including advancing overall efforts in security, prevention, and enforcement. This particular case is being investigated by the IDF Investigations Unit."
An army bag containing binoculars, night vision goggles, and advanced electronic arms were stolen from a reservists unit at Tzeilim base in the south in the middle of the week. The base commander decided to prosecute the unit officer and soldiers who were training in light of the fact that the weapons stolen are classified as "weapons of crucial importance to the IDF."
Theft of military property is a phenomenon which has been increasing in recent years, and which neither the IDF nor the police have found a solution for. The IDF Military Police opened an investigation into the incident, and according to the evidence, a worrying picture has emerged.
Residents of the western Negev – almost daily – steal military property from the various units who train in the area.
According to the evidence, while the soldiers were unloading their gear from the truck, a man on an ATV approached them, waited until the soldiers had their backs turned to him, drove up, stole a bag, and ran away – all in broad daylight. The soldiers gave chase, but the man on the ATV got away.
Additionally, according to various reserve officers and logistics personnel at the base, this trend has only been increasing over the past year, with 50 caliber heavy machine guns affixed armored personnel carriers (APC) and tanks parked on the edge of the base.
Following this worrying phenomenon which has caused considerable damage to the IDF and endangers the security of Israeli citizens, the investigation further revealed that many of these weapons are smuggled into Egypt. Therefore, a plan to upgrade the defenses on the base costing millions of shekels has been approved.
"Despite the cooperation between the IDF and the police on this issue, the thieves are continuing to steal from the base around the clock. We are beginning to feel helpless," said a reserve officer who is currently training on Tzeilim.
"A majority of the soliders and officers have heard about what's going on and are familiar with the phenomenon, and are really focusing their efforts on making sure that military equipment doesn't get stolen, but on the other hand, soldiers are prohibited from carrying out the rules of engagement procedure on thieves, and the thieves know this."
The IDF Spokesperson's unit said in response "the issue of military equipment being stolen is know and is being dealt with by law enforcement officials. In the IDF in general and bases in the area in particular are carrying out extensive operations to prevent weapons thefts, including advancing overall efforts in security, prevention, and enforcement. This particular case is being investigated by the IDF Investigations Unit."
1 june 2016
Despite police support for the five suspects, the Police Investigations Unit will continue to investigate five border policemen who stand accused of using unlawful force against an Arab worker
The investigation of five Israel Border Policemen continued on Tuesday for a number of hours following an incident which was captured on CCTV showing the group beating an Arab worker. Yedioth Ahronoth was informed that the Police Investigations Unit is sufficiently convinced that some of the policemen involved in the affair carried out a criminal act. The main charge leveled against the suspects included the use of unlawful force. They are soon expected to be investigated once again.
The investigators have at their disposal a mass of evidence corroborating the charges including testimony from three policemen nearby who were uninvolved in the incident. Moreover, they have the video which captured the entire skirmish, eye-witness testimony and posts which were written on social media by other eye-witnesses.
The incident took place last week when a worker from a supermarket, Maysam Abu Alqian, a 19-year-old bedouin from the southern village of Hura, was beaten by the policemen after he refused to produce his ID upon request of a policeman in civilian clothing. However, the police reject the charge, claiming that they were retaliating against Alqian who attacked them first.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Police Investigations Unit, they said that “After checking the circumstances of the incident it was decided that a criminal investigation would be opened...Only at the end of the investigation will it be possible to arrive at a clear conclusion regarding the event.”
The attorney defending some of the police under investigation said: “They explained that the suspect refused to identify himself, resisted in an aggressive manner, attacked the policemen and resisted arrest.”
A protest took place on Tuesday night opposite the supermarket against police violence. Dozens of participants waved signs while shouting, “police violence begins in the government,” “a violent policeman needs to be locked up,” and “against every bully with a license we will fight for equality.”
Alqian’s father said on Tuesday: “My son is at home. He is still not allowed to come to Tel Aviv. They questioned him once and since then they haven’t spoken to him. He needs to physically and mentally recover. He is suffering from trauma but if he wants to come back to Tel Aviv no one will oppose that.”
The investigation of five Israel Border Policemen continued on Tuesday for a number of hours following an incident which was captured on CCTV showing the group beating an Arab worker. Yedioth Ahronoth was informed that the Police Investigations Unit is sufficiently convinced that some of the policemen involved in the affair carried out a criminal act. The main charge leveled against the suspects included the use of unlawful force. They are soon expected to be investigated once again.
The investigators have at their disposal a mass of evidence corroborating the charges including testimony from three policemen nearby who were uninvolved in the incident. Moreover, they have the video which captured the entire skirmish, eye-witness testimony and posts which were written on social media by other eye-witnesses.
The incident took place last week when a worker from a supermarket, Maysam Abu Alqian, a 19-year-old bedouin from the southern village of Hura, was beaten by the policemen after he refused to produce his ID upon request of a policeman in civilian clothing. However, the police reject the charge, claiming that they were retaliating against Alqian who attacked them first.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Police Investigations Unit, they said that “After checking the circumstances of the incident it was decided that a criminal investigation would be opened...Only at the end of the investigation will it be possible to arrive at a clear conclusion regarding the event.”
The attorney defending some of the police under investigation said: “They explained that the suspect refused to identify himself, resisted in an aggressive manner, attacked the policemen and resisted arrest.”
A protest took place on Tuesday night opposite the supermarket against police violence. Dozens of participants waved signs while shouting, “police violence begins in the government,” “a violent policeman needs to be locked up,” and “against every bully with a license we will fight for equality.”
Alqian’s father said on Tuesday: “My son is at home. He is still not allowed to come to Tel Aviv. They questioned him once and since then they haven’t spoken to him. He needs to physically and mentally recover. He is suffering from trauma but if he wants to come back to Tel Aviv no one will oppose that.”
After being in administrative detention for 10 months on suspicion of incitement to violence against Arabs, Meri Ettinger was released from custody.
Meir Ettinger, a right-wing activist held in administrative detention since August, 2015, was released from custody under heavy restrictions on Wednesday morning.
Under administrative orders, Ettinger will not be allowed to enter the regions of Judea and Samaria for a whole year and will also be forbidden from entering Jerusalem for six months. He will be under house arrest every night for the next three months and has been given a list of 92 people with whom he is not allowed to have contact.
Ettinger, grandson of the American-born Rabbi Meir Kahane who was murdered by a Palestinian assassin in New York in 1990, was taken into administrative detention for suspected involvement in the 2015 arson attack that killed three members of the Dawabsheh family in the Palestinian village of Duma, including the infant Ali Dawabsheh.
While he has yet to be charged with a crime, Ettinger has been held in detention by order of Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon for allegedly posing an active threat to public security.
Ettinger at age 24 is at the top of the Shin-Bet’s (Israel Security Agency) list of most dangerous right-wing Jewish extremists. According to the Shin Bet, Ettinger is the leader of “The Revolt” – a fringe religious group bent on creating war between Arabs and Jews and on leading the way to the ultimate destruction of the secular State of Israel.
Ettinger’s administrative detention had been extended by four months in February, which sparked community protests and an uproar by his family. Ettinger was denied a temporary release to attend his son’s circumcision on April 3..
“I am very happy that this lengthy period of Ettinger’s detention has come to an end,” said Ettinger’s lawyer, Yuval Zemer, after the announcement that Ettinger would be released.
“Yet it is sad to find that the State of Israel in 2016 can detain a person for 10 months solely on the basis of his political views. While I welcome the correct decision to end his sentence, it has been made too late.”
Meir Ettinger, a right-wing activist held in administrative detention since August, 2015, was released from custody under heavy restrictions on Wednesday morning.
Under administrative orders, Ettinger will not be allowed to enter the regions of Judea and Samaria for a whole year and will also be forbidden from entering Jerusalem for six months. He will be under house arrest every night for the next three months and has been given a list of 92 people with whom he is not allowed to have contact.
Ettinger, grandson of the American-born Rabbi Meir Kahane who was murdered by a Palestinian assassin in New York in 1990, was taken into administrative detention for suspected involvement in the 2015 arson attack that killed three members of the Dawabsheh family in the Palestinian village of Duma, including the infant Ali Dawabsheh.
While he has yet to be charged with a crime, Ettinger has been held in detention by order of Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon for allegedly posing an active threat to public security.
Ettinger at age 24 is at the top of the Shin-Bet’s (Israel Security Agency) list of most dangerous right-wing Jewish extremists. According to the Shin Bet, Ettinger is the leader of “The Revolt” – a fringe religious group bent on creating war between Arabs and Jews and on leading the way to the ultimate destruction of the secular State of Israel.
Ettinger’s administrative detention had been extended by four months in February, which sparked community protests and an uproar by his family. Ettinger was denied a temporary release to attend his son’s circumcision on April 3..
“I am very happy that this lengthy period of Ettinger’s detention has come to an end,” said Ettinger’s lawyer, Yuval Zemer, after the announcement that Ettinger would be released.
“Yet it is sad to find that the State of Israel in 2016 can detain a person for 10 months solely on the basis of his political views. While I welcome the correct decision to end his sentence, it has been made too late.”
25 may 2016
An Israeli settler deliberately ran over a Palestinian child near Hussan village west of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank last night.
Family sources affirmed that the Israeli settler ran over the 5-year-old Palestinian child Adam Hamamrah, from Husan village west of Bethlehem.
The child was immediately taken to hospital for treatment as he suffered neck injury, while the settler managed to flee the scene and then turned himself to the Israeli police.
Hit-and-run attacks and other hate crimes by Israeli settlers against Palestinians, referred to as “price tag” attacks, are common in the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem, and are rarely investigated or prosecuted by the Israel authorities.
Family sources affirmed that the Israeli settler ran over the 5-year-old Palestinian child Adam Hamamrah, from Husan village west of Bethlehem.
The child was immediately taken to hospital for treatment as he suffered neck injury, while the settler managed to flee the scene and then turned himself to the Israeli police.
Hit-and-run attacks and other hate crimes by Israeli settlers against Palestinians, referred to as “price tag” attacks, are common in the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem, and are rarely investigated or prosecuted by the Israel authorities.
22 may 2016
Graffiti reads: "Revenge from the prisoners of Zion"
Lawyers were asked to immediately return 40 secret documents surrounding 7 terror suspects; attorney: 'They simply told me it wasn't intended for me.'
Classified documents were accidentally passed into the hands of the attorneys of seven Jewish individuals indicted for terror activities last month.
Following the incident, the Attorney General’s Office contacted the lawyers and requested that the documents, which likely included investigation details of the methods employed by the security forces to solicit information, be returned immediately.
The material, which included 40 documents, was passed on to the lawyers at the beginning of last week. Shortly thereafter, the lawyers of the accused individuals received a phone call in which they were requested to return the documents.
“They simply told me that I had received secret information that was not intended for me and they asked me to return it,” said Nehami Feinblatt, one of the defense attorneys representing four of the indicted.
The case involves seven suspects who allegedly carried out a number of crimes against Palestinians including price tag attacks, vandalism, and throwing tear gas grenades at Palestinian homes. The majority of the attacks were carried out in the Palestinian village of Beitillu.
Last Tuesday, Ynet published excerpts of investigation of the suspects in which the seven confessed to a number of attacks against Palestinians.
The charges against the defendants included violence against Palestinians and their property in the Samaria region of the West Bank. Furthermore, the detainees are being investigated on suspicion of similar offenses carried out between 2009 and 2013. Among those implicated in the crimes are two minors and a soldier whose names are presently under a gag order. However, the remaining four suspects have been identified as Pinchas Sandorfi, 22, Itamar Ben Aharon, 20, Michael Kaplan, 20 and Dana Shneur, 28, from Ma'ale Efraim.
Despite the confessions, important questions have remained unanswered, the main one being that neither the grenades nor the safety pins were found in the area where they allegedly carried out the attack. Consequently, the defendants’ fingerprints have not been found at the scene. Moreover, the graffiti that was sprayed on the wall in one of the alleged offenses was reported in the media a day after it took place, a fact which potentially undermines the veracity of their confession.
The Central District Attorney’s Office commented on the case: “Shortly after the passing of the investigative material to the lawyers we learned that due to an error, documents were included in the material that were not meant for the defense. Therefore, the attorneys were asked to return these documents. A report was passed on about the incident to security officials who will deal with the matter as they see fit.”
Lawyers were asked to immediately return 40 secret documents surrounding 7 terror suspects; attorney: 'They simply told me it wasn't intended for me.'
Classified documents were accidentally passed into the hands of the attorneys of seven Jewish individuals indicted for terror activities last month.
Following the incident, the Attorney General’s Office contacted the lawyers and requested that the documents, which likely included investigation details of the methods employed by the security forces to solicit information, be returned immediately.
The material, which included 40 documents, was passed on to the lawyers at the beginning of last week. Shortly thereafter, the lawyers of the accused individuals received a phone call in which they were requested to return the documents.
“They simply told me that I had received secret information that was not intended for me and they asked me to return it,” said Nehami Feinblatt, one of the defense attorneys representing four of the indicted.
The case involves seven suspects who allegedly carried out a number of crimes against Palestinians including price tag attacks, vandalism, and throwing tear gas grenades at Palestinian homes. The majority of the attacks were carried out in the Palestinian village of Beitillu.
Last Tuesday, Ynet published excerpts of investigation of the suspects in which the seven confessed to a number of attacks against Palestinians.
The charges against the defendants included violence against Palestinians and their property in the Samaria region of the West Bank. Furthermore, the detainees are being investigated on suspicion of similar offenses carried out between 2009 and 2013. Among those implicated in the crimes are two minors and a soldier whose names are presently under a gag order. However, the remaining four suspects have been identified as Pinchas Sandorfi, 22, Itamar Ben Aharon, 20, Michael Kaplan, 20 and Dana Shneur, 28, from Ma'ale Efraim.
Despite the confessions, important questions have remained unanswered, the main one being that neither the grenades nor the safety pins were found in the area where they allegedly carried out the attack. Consequently, the defendants’ fingerprints have not been found at the scene. Moreover, the graffiti that was sprayed on the wall in one of the alleged offenses was reported in the media a day after it took place, a fact which potentially undermines the veracity of their confession.
The Central District Attorney’s Office commented on the case: “Shortly after the passing of the investigative material to the lawyers we learned that due to an error, documents were included in the material that were not meant for the defense. Therefore, the attorneys were asked to return these documents. A report was passed on about the incident to security officials who will deal with the matter as they see fit.”
20 may 2016
Palestinian members of local neighborhood watch committee, in Talfit village, south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, managed to capture two armed fanatic Israeli colonists, who invaded the village and attacked farmers.
Ghassan Daghlas, a Palestinian official in charge of Israeli settlements file in the northern parts of the West Bank, said that the committee members managed to subdue the armed settlers, and handed them to the Palestinian Authority.
Daghlas added that the Palestinian Security Forces will later hand the infiltrating fanatics to the Israeli army.
He also stated that the two colonists were moved to the Palestinian police station in Qabalan village, and that the police confiscated their guns.
The Israeli army declared a state of high alert, and installed many roadblocks in the area.
Ghassan Daghlas, a Palestinian official in charge of Israeli settlements file in the northern parts of the West Bank, said that the committee members managed to subdue the armed settlers, and handed them to the Palestinian Authority.
Daghlas added that the Palestinian Security Forces will later hand the infiltrating fanatics to the Israeli army.
He also stated that the two colonists were moved to the Palestinian police station in Qabalan village, and that the police confiscated their guns.
The Israeli army declared a state of high alert, and installed many roadblocks in the area.
