Whilst Israel gaoled a 16 year old Palestinian girl for slapping the
soldier who nearly killed her cousin
soldier who nearly killed her cousin
a Settler walked free for the same ‘crime’
Like South Africa before it, Israel has no sense of its own
absurdity. The suggestion that Israel’s military is in danger from a 16 year old Palestinian girl who dared to slap a heavily armed Israeli soldier who, moments before, had shot her cousin in the head, almost killing
him, is something only a state that is paranoid beyond measure could believe. Even more amazing is that Israel believes everybody else is as stupid as it is. Yet Israel is not alone.
absurdity. The suggestion that Israel’s military is in danger from a 16 year old Palestinian girl who dared to slap a heavily armed Israeli soldier who, moments before, had shot her cousin in the head, almost killing
him, is something only a state that is paranoid beyond measure could believe. Even more amazing is that Israel believes everybody else is as stupid as it is. Yet Israel is not alone.
All settler colonial states demonise their opponents and transform them into superhuman devils. South Africa did exactly the same. A siege mentality is common to all settler communities. Israel really is no exception.
There has been massive reaction
world wide to the gaoling of Ahed and Israel’s threats of rape, sexual abuse
as well as indefinite imprisonment of a young girl. Like South Africa before it and indeed Nazi Germany from which it claims its origins, the Israeli state is incapable of looking in the mirror because it is afraid of what it will see.
world wide to the gaoling of Ahed and Israel’s threats of rape, sexual abuse
as well as indefinite imprisonment of a young girl. Like South Africa before it and indeed Nazi Germany from which it claims its origins, the Israeli state is incapable of looking in the mirror because it is afraid of what it will see.
The racism of what has happened
cries out. A Jewish child would never
see the inside of an Israeli gaol for such a minor misdemeanour. As the Ha’aretz article below shows, an adult settler thug of a woman walked free of all legal consequences after giving an Israeli soldier a slap. Why? Because she is Jewish and Ahed isn’t.
cries out. A Jewish child would never
see the inside of an Israeli gaol for such a minor misdemeanour. As the Ha’aretz article below shows, an adult settler thug of a woman walked free of all legal consequences after giving an Israeli soldier a slap. Why? Because she is Jewish and Ahed isn’t.
Please send a postcard to Ahed to
let her know we are thinking of her as she begins another night in a cold and lonely Zionist cell.
let her know we are thinking of her as she begins another night in a cold and lonely Zionist cell.
Tony Greenstein
Brighton says – Release Ahed Tamimi
What Kind of State is it that
Gaols a 16 year old girl?
Gaols a 16 year old girl?
Both Ahed Tamimi and Yifat Alkobi
were questioned for slapping a soldier in the West Bank, but little else about
their cases are similar — simply because one is Jewish, the other Palestinian
were questioned for slapping a soldier in the West Bank, but little else about
their cases are similar — simply because one is Jewish, the other Palestinian
Noa Osterreicher 05.01.2018
This slap didn’t lead the nightly
news. This slap, which landed on the cheek of a Nahal soldier in Hebron, did
not lead to an indictment. The assailant, who slapped a soldier who was trying
to stop her from throwing stones, was taken in for questioning but released on
bail the same day and allowed to return home.
news. This slap, which landed on the cheek of a Nahal soldier in Hebron, did
not lead to an indictment. The assailant, who slapped a soldier who was trying
to stop her from throwing stones, was taken in for questioning but released on
bail the same day and allowed to return home.
 |
| Yifat Alkobi – a violent settler who slapped a soldier protecting children from rock throwing settlers – nothing happened to her |
Prior to this incident, she had
been convicted five times — for throwing rocks, for assaulting a police officer
and for disorderly conduct, but was not jailed even once.
been convicted five times — for throwing rocks, for assaulting a police officer
and for disorderly conduct, but was not jailed even once.
In one instance, she was
sentenced to probation, and in the rest to a month of community service and
practically a token fine, as compensation to the injured parties. The accused
systematically failed to heed summonses for questioning or for legal
proceedings, but soldiers did not come to drag her out of bed in the middle of
the night, nor were any of her relatives arrested. Aside from a brief report by
Chaim Levinson about the incident, on July 2, 2010, there were hardly any
repercussions to the slap and scratches inflicted by Yifat Alkobi on the face
of a soldier who caught her hurling rocks at Palestinians.
sentenced to probation, and in the rest to a month of community service and
practically a token fine, as compensation to the injured parties. The accused
systematically failed to heed summonses for questioning or for legal
proceedings, but soldiers did not come to drag her out of bed in the middle of
the night, nor were any of her relatives arrested. Aside from a brief report by
Chaim Levinson about the incident, on July 2, 2010, there were hardly any
repercussions to the slap and scratches inflicted by Yifat Alkobi on the face
of a soldier who caught her hurling rocks at Palestinians.
 |
| Mohammed Tamimi (15) – Ahed’s cousin was nearly killed by a rubber bullet fired directly at his head by soldiers shortly before Ahed slapped an Israeli soldier |
The Israel Defense Forces
Spokesperson’s Unit said at the time that the army “takes a grave view of any
incidence of violence toward security forces,” and yet the assailant goes on
living peacefully at home. The education minister didn’t demand that she sit in
prison, social media have not exploded with calls for her to be raped or
murdered, and columnist Ben Caspit didn’t recommend that she punished to the
full extent of the law “in a dark place, without cameras.”
Spokesperson’s Unit said at the time that the army “takes a grave view of any
incidence of violence toward security forces,” and yet the assailant goes on
living peacefully at home. The education minister didn’t demand that she sit in
prison, social media have not exploded with calls for her to be raped or
murdered, and columnist Ben Caspit didn’t recommend that she punished to the
full extent of the law “in a dark place, without cameras.”
Like Ahed Tamimi, Alkobi has been
known for years to the military and police forces that surround her place of
residence, and both are considered a nuisance and even a danger. The main
difference between them is that Tamimi assaulted a soldier who was sent by a
hostile government that does not recognize her existence, steals her land and
kills and wounds her relatives, while Alkobi, a serial criminal, assaulted a
soldier from her own people and her religion, who was sent by her nation to
protect her, a nation in which she is a citizen with special privileges.
known for years to the military and police forces that surround her place of
residence, and both are considered a nuisance and even a danger. The main
difference between them is that Tamimi assaulted a soldier who was sent by a
hostile government that does not recognize her existence, steals her land and
kills and wounds her relatives, while Alkobi, a serial criminal, assaulted a
soldier from her own people and her religion, who was sent by her nation to
protect her, a nation in which she is a citizen with special privileges.
Jewish violence against soldiers
in the territories has been a matter of routine for years. But even when it
seems like there’s no point asking that soldiers in the territories protect
Palestinians from physical harassment and vandalism of their property by
settlers, it’s hard to understand why the authorities continue to turn a blind
eye, to cover up and close cases or not even open them, when the violators are
Jews. There is plenty of evidence, some of it recorded on camera. And yet the
offenders still sleep at home in their beds, emboldened by divine command and
amply funded by organizations that receive state support.
in the territories has been a matter of routine for years. But even when it
seems like there’s no point asking that soldiers in the territories protect
Palestinians from physical harassment and vandalism of their property by
settlers, it’s hard to understand why the authorities continue to turn a blind
eye, to cover up and close cases or not even open them, when the violators are
Jews. There is plenty of evidence, some of it recorded on camera. And yet the
offenders still sleep at home in their beds, emboldened by divine command and
amply funded by organizations that receive state support.
 |
| Sixteen-year-old Ahed Tamimi at Ofer military prison in the West Bank January 1, 2018AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP |
In the winter it’s nice to get
warm and cozy under these double standards, but there’s one question that every
Israeli should be asking himself: Tamimi and Alkobi committed the same offense.
The punishment (or lack thereof) should be the same. If the choice is between
freeing Tamimi or jailing Alkobi, which would you choose? Tamimi is to remain
in custody for the duration of the proceedings — trial in a hostile military
court — and is expected to receive a prison sentence. Alkobi, who was not
prosecuted for this offense, and was tried in a civilian court for much more
serious offenses, lived at home for the duration of the proceedings. She was
represented by a lawyer who did not have to wait at a checkpoint in order to
serve his client and her only punishment was community service.
warm and cozy under these double standards, but there’s one question that every
Israeli should be asking himself: Tamimi and Alkobi committed the same offense.
The punishment (or lack thereof) should be the same. If the choice is between
freeing Tamimi or jailing Alkobi, which would you choose? Tamimi is to remain
in custody for the duration of the proceedings — trial in a hostile military
court — and is expected to receive a prison sentence. Alkobi, who was not
prosecuted for this offense, and was tried in a civilian court for much more
serious offenses, lived at home for the duration of the proceedings. She was
represented by a lawyer who did not have to wait at a checkpoint in order to
serve his client and her only punishment was community service.
The Likud and Habayit Hayehudi
cabinet ministers have no reason to rush to pass a law that would apply Israeli
law in the territories. Even without it, the only thing that matters is if you
were born Jewish. Everything else is irrelevant.
cabinet ministers have no reason to rush to pass a law that would apply Israeli
law in the territories. Even without it, the only thing that matters is if you
were born Jewish. Everything else is irrelevant.
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