RJI: (VIDEO) Israeli soldiers force Palestinians to be human shields in Nablus (en Espanol)

Israeli army forces Palestinians to be human shields
from Research Journalism Initiative 11 April 2007

Cooperation between Research Journalism Initiative and the International Solidarity Movement in publicizing video footage of Israeli soldiers forcing Palestinians to be human shields leads to a rare case of action against IDF officer

YNet: IDF soldiers use Nablus youths as ‘human shield’
by Ali Waked 12 April 2007
Spanish follows English

VIDEO – Despite repeated promises by the Israel Defense Forces not to make use of Palestinian civilians as ‘human shields’ during its activity in the territories, troops operating in Nablus were filmed ordering two Palestinian youths to stand in front of their vehicle to protect it from stones thrown by locals.

The act, which was also in violation of a Supreme Court decision from 2005, was filmed by a foreign activist on Wednesday in Nablus’ Sheikh Munis neighborhood, where the soldiers encircled the home of al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades member Abed el-Qadr.

During the operation the IDF forces demolished the house, but it later turned out that el-Qadr was not on the premises.

Meanwhile, a number of Palestinian youths threw stones at an IDF Hummer that was securing the soldiers encircling the house. According to foreign peace activists at the scene, the soldiers then ordered two youths who happened to pass by to stand in front of the vehicle in order to stop the stone-throwing.

The peace activist who filmed the act told Ynet, “The soldier closest to me said they were only asking the youths to tell their friends to stop throwing stones.”

He said he eventually stopped filming so as not top upset the soldiers, but added that the incident continued for “several more minutes.”

The activist said this is the first time he had seen soldiers ordering Palestinians to serve as human shields for army vehicles, but added that in the past few months he had witnessed a number of incidents in which soldiers used Palestinian civilians during their activity.

Research Journalism Initiative filmed the incident.

YNet’s March 4th article reported on Israel’s use of human shields in Nablus.

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RJI: (VIDEO) Soldados Israelies obligan a los Palestinos a ser escudos humanos en Nablus 12 Abril, 2007

El ejercito Israeli oblige a los Palestinos a ser escudos humanos de Research Journalism Initiative 11 Abril 2007

YNet: Los soldados Israelies utilizan a jovenes de Nablus como “escudos humanos”
por Ali Waked 12 Abril 2007

Los soldados Israelies utilizan a jovenes de Nablus como “escudos humanos”.

VIDEO – A pesar de repetidas promesas de las Fuerzas de Defensa Israelies de no utilizar a civiles Palestinos como “escudos humanos” durante su actividad en los territories ocupados, las tropas que operan en Nablus han sido filmadas ordenando a dos jovenes Palestinos a permanecer delante de su vehiculo para protegerles de las piedras que tiraban los jovenes de la localidad.
El acto, que tambien viola una decision del Tribunal Supremo de 2005, fue filmado por un activista extranjero el Miercoles en el vecindario Sheikh Munis de Nablus, en donde los soldados cercaron la casa del miembro de las Brigadas de los Martires de al-Aqsa, Abed el-Qadr.
Durante la operacion las fuerzas armadas Israelies demolieron la casa, si bien despues pudieron comprobar que El Qadr no se encontraba alli.

Mientras tanto, unos cuantos jovenes Palestinos lanzaban piedras a un Hummer del ejercito Israeli que protegia a los soldados que rodeaban la casa. De acuerdo con los activistas de paz que se hallaban en la escena, los soldados ordenaron entonces a dos jovenes que pasaban por alli, que se mantuvieran en frente del vehiculo, para parar el lanzamiento de piedras.

El activista de paz que filmo la escena declaro a Ynet, “El soldado mas cercano a mi me dijo que solo estaban pidiendo a los jovenes que dijeran a sus amigos que pararan de lanzar piedras.”
Dijo que el entonces paro de filmar para no enfurecer mas a los soldados, pero que el incidente continuo durante “varios minutes mas.”

El activista dijo que es la primera vez que ha visto soldados ordenando a los Palestinos que sirvieran de escudos humanos para los vehiculos militares, pero anadio que en los meses anteriores habia sido testigo de varios incidents en que los soldados usaban civiles Palestinos durante su actividad.

Research Journalism Initiative filmo el incidente.
YNet del 4 de Marazo ya informaba de la utilizacion por parte de Israel de escudos humanos en Nablus.

(Traduccion del ingles por amdelmar, de ISM Catalunya, desde Ramallah)
www.internacionalesporpalestina.org

Si no veis correctamente el video lo podeis encontrar en www.palsolidarity.org o bien en YouTube.

VIDEO- IOF demolishes Palestinian homes in South Hebron

VIDEO- IOF demolishes Palestinian homes in South Hebron

Video taken by Tayyush

On Wednesday 14th February Israeli Occupation Forces demolished a large number of houses and agricultural structures in four different villages in the South Hebron Hills – Qwawis, M’nezel, Um-Elhe’r and the Abu-Kbeita family near Yatir settlement. The villagers in this area struggle to stay on their land despite ongoing home demolitions, violent attacks and constant settler and military harassment.

Read full story HERE

Beit Furik: Palestinians Defy Israeli Apartheid

Hundreds defy apartheid restrictions on movement in Beit Furik
from IWPS, 1 April 2007

Nearly 200 Palestinian and international activists defied Israel’s apartheid policies at the Beit Furik checkpoint in Nablus today. The non-violent demonstrators joined together to resist the closure of the checkpoints by the Israeli military for the Jewish Pesacht holiday. The demonstration was also commemorating the anniversary of the Palestinians’ Land Day when, 31 years ago, the Israeli military killed six Palestinians who were resisting the confiscation of their land during a non-violent demonstration in the Galilee.

The Palestinian and international demonstrators marched toward the checkpoint chanting slogans against the closure and Israel’s apartheid restrictions on freedom of movement. Soldiers were unable to block their path and the demonstrators were able to proceed to the Beit Furik side of the checkpoint. The activists then occupied the checkpoint, sitting down in the center of the crossing.

Since 2002, it has only been possible to enter Nablus through six checkpoints on foot. It is even more difficult to exit. Men between 16 and 45 (it varies from day to day) can only exit their city with a special Israeli-issued permit which can only be obtained outside of Nablus. The city is often sealed off during Jewish holidays. Today, the road to Beda was blocked by soldiers and hundreds of young Palestinians were prevented from leaving Nablus through Huwarra checkpoint.

For more info, contact:
Anna (IWPS), 054-216-7376
ISM Media Office, 0599-943-157

Pesach March to Nablus Checkpoint- “Let my people go”

On Monday, April 2, Palestinians will be joined by international solidarity activists in the West Bank city of Nablus for a non-violent demonstration at the Israeli checkpoint, Beit Furik. Activists will be demonstrating against Israeli Apartheid and Israel’s restriction of freedom of movement in Nablus.

Since 2002 it has only been possible to enter Nablus through six checkpoints on foot. It is even more difficult to exit. Men between 16 and 45 (it varies from day to day) can only exit their city with a special permit that can be obtained only outside Nablus. The city is often sealed off during Jewish holidays. Almost nightly the residents of Nablus are the victims of violent military raids and their lives have not been peaceful or normal for years Demonstrators are planning to meet in Nablus at 10am. From there, the crowd will board buses and head toward the Beit Furik checkpoint.

There will be a demonstration and representatives will give speeches regarding the effects of the Israeli Occupation on Nablus and Palestine as a whole.

For more info, contact:
Sameh, 059-910-6533
Myasser, 059-932-4672
Mohammad Ayesh, 052-222-3374
ISM Media Office: 02-297-1824, 059-994-3157

Ynet: Border Guard policemen filmed beating Palestinian youth

Border Guard policemen filmed beating Palestinian youth
by Ali Waked

(VIDEO) Israeli policemen caught on camera abusing 17-year-old Hawara teen who was on his way home from school. Local residents say life in village has become nightmare due to Border Guard violence. Border Guard chief says incident will be investigated

VIDEO – Border Guard policemen were caught on camera beating a 17-year-old Palestinian youth at the West Bank village of Hawara, near Nablus Wednesday. The incident was documented by one of the local residents.

Border Guard Commander Hassein Fares said in response, “I view such behavior as extremely severe. The matter will be probed by the Police Investigation Unit.

“Border Guard fighters work to protect the citizens of Israel and are responsible for thwarting hostile terrorist acts, while dealing with numerous acts of violence carried out against them,” he added.

The commander also said that there had been a drop of 64 percent in investigations launched against Border Guard officers for excessive use of force in 2006.

Border Guard police beat Palestinian youth

The head of the investigation team, Avi Peretz, said that the investigation would not take long as the evidence was solid and “one picture is worth a thousand words.”

The Police Investigation Unit decided to launch the investigation immediately after watching the film. Peretz estimated that the investigation would last a week or two and its findings would then be handed over to the State Prosecutor’s Office.

“We still have to listen to the suspects’ version. In similar cases in the past, soldiers were tried and even went to jail,” he said.

The youth, Hindawi Qawarik, told Ynet that at about 12:30 pm Wednesday, he and his friends were leaving school when they noticed a Border Guard jeep not far from them.

“I told my friends that if we pass near them, they’ll hit us like they did a few weeks ago,” he said.

The policemen approached the youths and questioned them regarding a stone-throwing incident that took place earlier. They then decided to detain three of the teens for further questioning.

Hindawi was one of those three. “I pretended not to hear them and kept walking, because I could still remember the beating I got last week. But one cop chased me. When I saw that he was after me I halted. He dragged me back to the direction of the jeep, and when we got there he pushed me and pinned me to the wall, so that no one will be able to see what they were doing to me.”

At this point, according to Hindawi, the violence began. “Two of the policemen started hitting me in the legs with a rifle, punching me, slamming my head against the door of a nearby container, pushing me to the floor and hitting me in the head.

“I kept screaming: I haven’t done anything, you can check my ID.” Hindawi said that one of the policemen tried to persuade the others to stop, “but they just ignored him and kept on hitting me.”

According to the teen, one of the policemen also took books out of his school bag and tore some of them apart. Then they released him, not before “a few more slaps and punches.” Hindawi’s account has been verified by an eyewitness.

‘Our lives have become a nightmare’

Hindawi told Ynet that the police violence has already become a daily routine in the village. “We already got used to the beatings, but it makes it very hard for us to study… very often we miss the first two classes of the day because they detain us, humiliate and hit us.

Other Hawara residents told Ynet that soldiers and policemen, mostly Border Guard policemen, have turned their lives into a nightmare. “Once every few days the policemen and the soldiers declare a curfew in the village, claiming that Border Guard jeeps have been stoned,” they said.

One of the residents said that in addition to the violence, the policemen harass the village girls, a thing that causes “severe social problems within the Palestinian families and social and psychological problems for the girls, who are forced to handle curses that are unacceptable in our society.”

Sources at the village council claimed that complaints filed with the Coordination and Liaison Authority have yielded no results.

Meretz MK: This is the cruelty of occupation

Left-wing Knesset members responded angrily to the affair. Meretz faction chairwoman, MK Zahava Gal-On, called on the Police Investigation Unit to launch an immediate investigation against the officers involved in the incident.

“It is unthinkable that Border Guard policemen should use violence against Palestinians because they think that no one is watching and that they won’t be punished. These images show the brutality of occupation in the territories,” she told Ynet.

MK Danny Yatom (Labor) urged the internal security minister, the police commissioner and the Border Guard commander “to launch an immediate investigation and publish its findings. If the Border Guard officers are found guilty, they should be punished severely, and if not – it is important for the Israeli public to know this.

“The investigation is aimed at revealing the truth and punishing the guilty officers, or alternatively, preventing further damage to the State of Israel’s reputation,” he said.

MK Avshalom Vilan (Meretz) said that “it is clear to all that the occupation corrupts the best of soldiers. The incident must be investigated and we must make sure that norms of inappropriate behavior will not be allowed among IDF soldiers and Border Guard police officers.”

Hadash faction chairman, MK Mohammad Barakeh, said that “members of the Border Guard and the security forces draw their cruelty from the prevailing atmosphere in the Israeli street.”

Amnon Meranda contributed to the report