IDF: Protester's death likely due to unauthorized fire

[IndianaGreen]

Last update - 05:35 19/04/2009

IDF: Protester's death likely due to unauthorized fire

By Anshel Pfeffer and Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondents and AP

Israel Defense Forces sources said Saturday a tear gas canister that killed a Palestinian demonstrator Friday at a protest against the West Bank separation fence was likely fired in violation of orders. Bassem Abu Rahmeh, 31, was killed during a protest in the West Bank village of Bil'in, a flash point for confrontations between soldiers and anti-fence protesters.

Meanwhile, a Palestinian man drove his Mercedes into two Israeli policemen checking motorists at a checkpoint outside Jerusalem Saturday, police said. The driver was arrested after he told police he targeted the officers. Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said the attack was politically motivated. One officer was moderately hurt and the other was slightly injured in the incident. Hamas officials on Saturday praised the driver's actions.

The Bil'in shooting occurred during a protest during which around 100 demonstrators hurled stones at soldiers and tried to destroy the fence, army sources said. Abu Rahmeh sustained severe chest injuries and was transferred to a Ramallah hospital, where he died of his injuries.

IDF officials who investigated the incident found the Armored Corps soldier who fired the canister apparently aimed directly at Abu Rahmeh from a distance of a mere few dozen meters. The IDF said Saturday that troops opened fire to disperse a violent, three-hour protest that was taking place in a closed military zone.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1079196.html

Palestinians mourn demonstrator's death

Hundreds of Palestinians have marched through the West bank town of Bilin to mourn the death of a Palestinian man killed by Israeli troops during a peaceful protest.

Al Jazeera's Clayton Swisher reports on what some observers say is an increase in the level of force Israel uses against unarmed activists.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/04/2009418192248461340.html

Related DU thread:

Palestinian man killed by tear-gas canister in Bil'in

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=124x271630

[Douglas Carpenter]

1. Here is the video of the IDF shooting Bassem Ibrahim Abu Rahmah:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_doUOCJI12s&feature=player_embedded

Thanks to Phillip Weiss for posting this on:

http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/04/new-york-times-quotes-israeli-militarys-false-account-of-bilin-killing-even-though-video-evidence-sh.html

"In the video the soldiers are strolling about casually, not ducking rocks. There's no rock throwing visible. The troops are not behaving like they perceive themselves to be under threat."

[Scurrilous]

2. State Attorney’s Office to police: Forbidden to fire tear-gas canisters directly at demonstrators

Full Title: 4 May 2009: State Attorney’s Office to police: Forbidden to fire tear-gas canisters directly at demonstrators

<snip>

"According to media reports, the State Attorney's Office has ordered the Police to review its guidelines for dispersing demonstrators. The order comes in the wake of the death of Bassem Abu Rahma, a Palestinian who was demonstrating in Bi’lin, and of injuries suffered by a number of other demonstrators recently. B'Tselem welcomes the State Attorney’s Office’s directive, which follows requests by B'Tselem to stop firing tear-gas canisters directly at persons. The real test, however, is whether the directive is implemented in the field. B'Tselem calls on the State Attorney's Office to investigate incidents of tear-gas canisters fired at people and to prosecute the police officers and soldiers who were responsible for the prolonged and flagrant breach of regulations, and the commanders who allowed the forbidden practice to continue.

In recent weeks, B'Tselem has warned law-enforcement authorities about the life-threatening danger inherent in directly firing tear-gas canisters, a practice that has already resulted in injury to dozens of persons, some seriously. In its April letter following Abu Rahma's death, B'Tselem demanded that the army enforce its Open-Fire Regulations, investigate incidents in which soldiers have violated the regulations, and prosecute the delinquent soldiers.

On 3 May, B'Tselem received a response from the legal advisor of the Judea and Samaria Division, Col. Sharon Afek, stating that an explicit, comprehensive directive would soon be issued prohibiting the direct firing of tear-gas canisters at people. B'Tselem also called on the Judge Advocate General to ensure that military forces cease firing tear-gas canisters directly at people.

B'Tselem also provided law-enforcement officials with video documentation of soldiers and border policemen firing directly at demonstrators, evidence that the breach of the Open-Fire Regulations was not an isolated incident, but a widespread practice known to senior officers.

B'Tselem wrote to the Judge Advocate General, Brig. Gen. Avichai Mandelblit, demanding to order a Military Police investigation into the circumstances of the death of Abu Rahma, and to make it clear to security forces that it is absolutely forbidden to fire tear-gas canisters directly at a person. B'Tselem had sent a letter in similar spirit a month earlier, following the severe injury to the American Tristan Anderson, who was struck in the forehead by a tear-gas canister. B'Tselem did not receive a reply to its letter.

Attached to the letter was a selection of video clips filmed in the villages of Ni'lin, Bi’lin, and Jayyus. The clips showed repeated firing of tear-gas canisters directly at demonstrators, indicating that, for some time, and contrary to army claims, security forces in the West Bank have used this practice."

http://www.btselem.org/English/Firearms/20090504_State_Attorney_to_Police_direct_firing_of_tear_gaz_canisters_foribdden.asp

(video at link)

[Howardx]

3. why...

is the bit about the palestinian guy in his mercedes in the middle of this article? "oh it turns out we fucked up but look over here a palestinian did something" wtf?