For Beating Up a 15
year old boy – Police Receive 45 Days Community Punishment
year old boy – Police Receive 45 Days Community Punishment
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| Tariq Abu Khdeir after being released |
Lest anyone be in any doubt about the ingrained
nature of Israeli and Zionist racism, then the case of Tariq Abu Khdeir is a
textbook example.
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| 2 of the culprits behind the murder of Mohammed abu Khdeir |
His brother Abu Khdeir was murdered by up to 6 Israelis
who took him into a forest, poured gasoline down his throat and then set him
alight. The response of the Israeli Police? To beat to a pulp his 15 year old cousin,
Tariq Abu Khdeir. The cowardly animals
who carried out the beating had first tied the child’s hands together and then
kicked and beat him mercilessly. Their
actions were captured on video and have been given wide publicity, even in the
United States, where certain Congressional staffers have spoken out.
who took him into a forest, poured gasoline down his throat and then set him
alight. The response of the Israeli Police? To beat to a pulp his 15 year old cousin,
Tariq Abu Khdeir. The cowardly animals
who carried out the beating had first tied the child’s hands together and then
kicked and beat him mercilessly. Their
actions were captured on video and have been given wide publicity, even in the
United States, where certain Congressional staffers have spoken out.
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| Tariq abu Khdeir after being spending 2 weeks in prison
What has been the reaction of the authorities in Israel? Well the culprits have been convicted and
sentenced. If they were Palestinians, bearing in mind that throwing a stone can get you 20 years, you would imagine that the culprits did at least 5-10 years in prison. If they were Palestinians that would be a dead cert. But they weren’t Palestinians, they were Jewish and they were Policeman. They have therefore been sentenced to 25 days community service. A complete joke and an invitation to the Police concerned to take two lessons to heart: |
The racist nature of the Israeli courts is also
exposed because these animals wearing Police uniforms went to court and were
sentenced by the court. There can be no
doubt, although there is no law to this
effect, that in the eyes of the courts, beating Palestinians is not a
crime.
exposed because these animals wearing Police uniforms went to court and were
sentenced by the court. There can be no
doubt, although there is no law to this
effect, that in the eyes of the courts, beating Palestinians is not a
crime.
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| Mohammed abu Khdeir – burnt alive by settler trash |
And then they say they don’t understand why Palestinian
kids go out and stab Israelis!
kids go out and stab Israelis!
i.
Police don’t go to
prison for beating up Arabs.
Police don’t go to
prison for beating up Arabs.
ii.
Don’t let them video
you again.
Don’t let them video
you again.
Tony Greenstein
No justice for Tariq Abu Khdeir — even US State Dept faults Israeli ‘accountability’
Update: The State Department has sharply criticized the
Israeli handling of the Tariq Abu Khdeir case. Spokesperson John
Kirby:
Israeli handling of the Tariq Abu Khdeir case. Spokesperson John
Kirby:
‘We
were disappointed to learn that the Israeli police officer who severely beat
American teenager Tariq Abu Khdeir in July of 2014 was spared prison time by an
Israeli court yesterday. Given the clear evidence captured on videotape of the
excessive use of force, it is difficult to see how this sentence would promote
full accountability for the actions of the police officer in this case. We
understand there is a possibility for the Israeli state prosecutor to appeal
the decision, and we’re going to continue to follow that closely, as you might
expect.
I’ll
just state again, the safety, security, and protection of American citizens
overseas is of paramount importance for this Administration, and we have
demonstrated repeatedly – we’ve demonstrated that repeatedly in cases all over
the globe.’
Original
post:
post:
In
a mockery of justice, an Israeli border
police officer who assaulted 15-year-old Palestinian-American Tariq Abu
Khdeir following the kidnapping and torching-murder of his cousin, Mohammed Abu
Khdeir, 16, in Occupied East Jerusalem in July 2014, has been sentenced to a
mere 45 days
of community service. Zip, that’s it.
a mockery of justice, an Israeli border
police officer who assaulted 15-year-old Palestinian-American Tariq Abu
Khdeir following the kidnapping and torching-murder of his cousin, Mohammed Abu
Khdeir, 16, in Occupied East Jerusalem in July 2014, has been sentenced to a
mere 45 days
of community service. Zip, that’s it.
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| Abu Khdeir house after Police had ransacked it |
The
anonymous officer, whose identity has been protected by the state, stomped
on Abu Khdeir’s back and beat him so relentlessly he lost
consciousness. The officer was convicted of assault and battery in Jerusalem
Magistrates’ Court and granted a “suspended
term of four months in prison“. The judge wrote in the verdict that
the state prosecution has not presented a case with similar circumstances that
resulted in the defendant “behind bars“.
anonymous officer, whose identity has been protected by the state, stomped
on Abu Khdeir’s back and beat him so relentlessly he lost
consciousness. The officer was convicted of assault and battery in Jerusalem
Magistrates’ Court and granted a “suspended
term of four months in prison“. The judge wrote in the verdict that
the state prosecution has not presented a case with similar circumstances that
resulted in the defendant “behind bars“.
Here
is a statement from the family of Tariq Abu Khdeir:
is a statement from the family of Tariq Abu Khdeir:
“To
hear that the officer responsible for the inhumane beating of our young son,
Tariq, was only sentenced to one-and-a-half months of community service is a
shameful slap on the wrist and sends the wrong message that Israel tolerates
the violent, extrajudicial beating of children. We continue to demand that
justice be served, for the officers that participated in his cruel beating to
be held accountable in a transparent manner, and for assurances that such
treatment of Palestinian minors by Israeli forces will end.”
hear that the officer responsible for the inhumane beating of our young son,
Tariq, was only sentenced to one-and-a-half months of community service is a
shameful slap on the wrist and sends the wrong message that Israel tolerates
the violent, extrajudicial beating of children. We continue to demand that
justice be served, for the officers that participated in his cruel beating to
be held accountable in a transparent manner, and for assurances that such
treatment of Palestinian minors by Israeli forces will end.”
Statement
from Ahmad Tibi, a member of the Israeli Knesset:
from Ahmad Tibi, a member of the Israeli Knesset:
There
can be no doubt that if PA police had beaten bloody a Jewish child that Israel
would have prosecuted them to the full extent of the law — if they weren’t
killed on the spot. The fact that the officers who beat Tariq Abu Khdeir so
brutally aren’t serving serious prison time highlights the two-tier nature of
Israel’s justice system. This miscarriage of justice is precisely why
Palestinians are taking to the streets in yet another wave of anger for freedom
and equal human rights. We are fed up with what was recognized as apartheid
in South Africa and Jim Crow in the American South but is business as usual for
Israel’s many trade partners. We have had enough deaths and injuries in the Abu
Khdeir family, the Nawara family, and the Dawabsheh family. We insist on
immediate change to protect the lives of Palestinian children. This
flagrant racism must end.
can be no doubt that if PA police had beaten bloody a Jewish child that Israel
would have prosecuted them to the full extent of the law — if they weren’t
killed on the spot. The fact that the officers who beat Tariq Abu Khdeir so
brutally aren’t serving serious prison time highlights the two-tier nature of
Israel’s justice system. This miscarriage of justice is precisely why
Palestinians are taking to the streets in yet another wave of anger for freedom
and equal human rights. We are fed up with what was recognized as apartheid
in South Africa and Jim Crow in the American South but is business as usual for
Israel’s many trade partners. We have had enough deaths and injuries in the Abu
Khdeir family, the Nawara family, and the Dawabsheh family. We insist on
immediate change to protect the lives of Palestinian children. This
flagrant racism must end.
Naturally,
after Abu Khdeir’s assault the U.S. State Department expressed “deep concern”
on behalf of an American citizen. It strongly condemned the use of excessive
force and said it was “profoundly
troubled” by the case. And that the U.S. government was “shocked” to
learn that 15 year old Abu Khdeir was severely beaten while in police custody.
The State Department called for an investigation. At that time, Abu Khdeir’s
mother, Suha Abu Khdeir, said if her son wasn’t a US citizen he’d be “just
pushed to the side like a dog. .. left to rot in jail.”
after Abu Khdeir’s assault the U.S. State Department expressed “deep concern”
on behalf of an American citizen. It strongly condemned the use of excessive
force and said it was “profoundly
troubled” by the case. And that the U.S. government was “shocked” to
learn that 15 year old Abu Khdeir was severely beaten while in police custody.
The State Department called for an investigation. At that time, Abu Khdeir’s
mother, Suha Abu Khdeir, said if her son wasn’t a US citizen he’d be “just
pushed to the side like a dog. .. left to rot in jail.”
It
is startling to think that the U.S. government was shocked by the treatment.
According to the human rights group Yesh Din in a report, “Criminal Accountability of
Israeli Security forces”:
is startling to think that the U.S. government was shocked by the treatment.
According to the human rights group Yesh Din in a report, “Criminal Accountability of
Israeli Security forces”:
Most
cases of violent crimes against Palestinians not only go unpunished – but often
are completely ignored by the authorities. This is a blatant violation of the
human rights of Palestinian civilians living in the West Bank and of Israel’s
duties under International Humanitarian Law.
cases of violent crimes against Palestinians not only go unpunished – but often
are completely ignored by the authorities. This is a blatant violation of the
human rights of Palestinian civilians living in the West Bank and of Israel’s
duties under International Humanitarian Law.
Even
when criminal investigations against soldiers accused of such offences are
opened, they almost always fail…..approximately 94 percent of criminal
investigations launched by the IDF against soldiers suspected of criminal
violent activity against Palestinians and their property are closed without any
indictments. In the rare cases that indictments are served, conviction leads to
very light sentencing.
when criminal investigations against soldiers accused of such offences are
opened, they almost always fail…..approximately 94 percent of criminal
investigations launched by the IDF against soldiers suspected of criminal
violent activity against Palestinians and their property are closed without any
indictments. In the rare cases that indictments are served, conviction leads to
very light sentencing.
Tariq
Abu Khdeir’s beating took place at a time when anger spilled out into
streets all over Palestine following his cousin Mohammed’s lynching.
Israeli forces responded with tear gas and rubber bullets, and some live
ammunition. Israeli forces surrounded the
neighborhood of Shufat in occupied East Jerusalem from which Mohammed had
been abducted. And just hours before the earliest tweets
of Tariq Abu Khdeir abduction surfaced, our Ramallah correspondent
Allison Deger quoted Mohammed Abu Khdeir’s uncle, Walid Abu Khdeir, as saying
the Israel police had virtually accused family members of the killing, when
police asked the family to “get the boys for questioning.” The uncle responded:
“We refused this. If you want them
come and capture them.”
Abu Khdeir’s beating took place at a time when anger spilled out into
streets all over Palestine following his cousin Mohammed’s lynching.
Israeli forces responded with tear gas and rubber bullets, and some live
ammunition. Israeli forces surrounded the
neighborhood of Shufat in occupied East Jerusalem from which Mohammed had
been abducted. And just hours before the earliest tweets
of Tariq Abu Khdeir abduction surfaced, our Ramallah correspondent
Allison Deger quoted Mohammed Abu Khdeir’s uncle, Walid Abu Khdeir, as saying
the Israel police had virtually accused family members of the killing, when
police asked the family to “get the boys for questioning.” The uncle responded:
“We refused this. If you want them
come and capture them.”
Tariq,
one of the last people to see his cousin alive, was abducted shortly
thereafter.
one of the last people to see his cousin alive, was abducted shortly
thereafter.
Tariq
Abu Khdeir said he was just standing there watching
the protests of his cousin’s murder when police ambushed and
attacked him, beating him unconscious. He was then held in custody for three
days, part of that time chained to a
hospital bed, part at the Russian Compound being interrogated. And finally
after a hearing, at which he was barred from returning to his home in the U.S.,
his family had to pay an 800 dollar fine for his release. Tariq remained in
occupied East Jerusalem sentenced to 9 days of house arrest.
Abu Khdeir said he was just standing there watching
the protests of his cousin’s murder when police ambushed and
attacked him, beating him unconscious. He was then held in custody for three
days, part of that time chained to a
hospital bed, part at the Russian Compound being interrogated. And finally
after a hearing, at which he was barred from returning to his home in the U.S.,
his family had to pay an 800 dollar fine for his release. Tariq remained in
occupied East Jerusalem sentenced to 9 days of house arrest.
The
Abu Khdeir home following vandalism by the Israeli police. (Photo provided by
Hassan Shibly)
Abu Khdeir home following vandalism by the Israeli police. (Photo provided by
Hassan Shibly)
When
Tariq was finally able to return to his home in Florida, the Israeli
police exacted
a price from his relatives by raiding the family home in Occupied East
Jerusalem, arresting Abu Khdeir’s uncle and cousins without charges, and
ransacking their property.
Tariq was finally able to return to his home in Florida, the Israeli
police exacted
a price from his relatives by raiding the family home in Occupied East
Jerusalem, arresting Abu Khdeir’s uncle and cousins without charges, and
ransacking their property.
Had
a video of
the assault not emerged and gone viral on social media, his trauma, no
different from countless other assaults/tortures/crimes carried out routinely
by Israeli forces against Palestinian children, would have gone unnoticed.
a video of
the assault not emerged and gone viral on social media, his trauma, no
different from countless other assaults/tortures/crimes carried out routinely
by Israeli forces against Palestinian children, would have gone unnoticed.
Nine
months later, all charges against Tariq
were dropped; as he said, it was a “make-believe case.” And here we are 16
months later and the assaulting officer can just walk away from this. Brad Parker, Attorney and
International Advocacy officer for Defense
for Children International – Palestine, said the conviction
“must be understood within the context of an Israeli judicial system where
impunity reigns … impunity is the norm for Israeli forces.” Parker
said, via Institute for Middle East Understanding (IMEU):
months later, all charges against Tariq
were dropped; as he said, it was a “make-believe case.” And here we are 16
months later and the assaulting officer can just walk away from this. Brad Parker, Attorney and
International Advocacy officer for Defense
for Children International – Palestine, said the conviction
“must be understood within the context of an Israeli judicial system where
impunity reigns … impunity is the norm for Israeli forces.” Parker
said, via Institute for Middle East Understanding (IMEU):
Israel
claims to open investigations into incidents involving injury and violence
against Palestinian children, but indictments are incredibly rare and impunity
is the norm for Israeli forces. When compared to the brutal use of excessive
force employed against an incapacitated fifteen-year-old boy, most should agree
that this is an incredibly light sentence. It is troubling that Tariq Abu
Khdeir, who was cleared of any wrongdoing, possibly spent more time in
detention than the unnamed officer convicted of brutally assaulting him.”
claims to open investigations into incidents involving injury and violence
against Palestinian children, but indictments are incredibly rare and impunity
is the norm for Israeli forces. When compared to the brutal use of excessive
force employed against an incapacitated fifteen-year-old boy, most should agree
that this is an incredibly light sentence. It is troubling that Tariq Abu
Khdeir, who was cleared of any wrongdoing, possibly spent more time in
detention than the unnamed officer convicted of brutally assaulting him.”
To
add insult to the injury and injustice, the New
York Times today concluded its account of the case, saying, “The Israeli
authorities said that Tariq was masked and holding a wooden slingshot when the
officer chased him.” Really? But all charges
against him were dropped. There was no case.
add insult to the injury and injustice, the New
York Times today concluded its account of the case, saying, “The Israeli
authorities said that Tariq was masked and holding a wooden slingshot when the
officer chased him.” Really? But all charges
against him were dropped. There was no case.
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