The following story is a perfect parable of the cluelessness of the IDF in enforcing the Occupation regime. Military forces routinely kill or maim protesters (Palestinian, Israeli and foreign activists) at the weekly protest in Bilin against the Separation Wall. One of the worst series of tragedies befell the Abu Rachmeh family, whose son and daughter were killed by the IDF. Bassem was murdered four years ago by an IDF soldier who fired a tear gas canister directly at his body from a close distance contravening IDF regulations in the use of such weapons.
His sister, Jawaher, was fatally poisoned by the intense fumes of a tear gas canister, which asphyxiated her. After no less than an IDF general blamed her death first on a supposed head injury and then on incompetent Palestinian medical treatment, finally in 2011 the IDF released a highly redacted report about her death which made no mention whatsoever of Palestinian medical treatment. In fact, it complained that the Palestinians had provided the IDF with no medical records (so how could the general have declared the treatment incompetent after she died?). The IDF declared in the document that it had no idea how she died. So much for the thoroughness of IDF investigations.
Since Bassem’s murder was captured on videotape, the IDF was forced at least to admit that it would investigate the incident. As is usual in such circumstances, the investigation went nowhere. No progress has been made. No results have been announced.
As a result, their mother has appealed (Hebrew and English) to the Supreme Court to force the military prosecutor to bring charges against those responsible. She was joined in this suit by B’Tselem and Yesh Din. Their brief points out that international law demands a prompt, thorough and independent investigation of all such charges. The implication of this statement is that if the IDF refuses to do so it will open itself to international war crimes charges as it has in the case of the assassination of Salah Shehadeh and Operation Cast Lead, among other Israeli-induced massacres.
At least three different videos of the incident confirm that Abu Rachmeh had engaged in no violent act during this protest, though he had been vocal in his protests against the military presence.
Members of the unit which killed him have told Breaking the Silence that the killer actually bragged to them about his “hit.” Unfortunately, we don’t know who the killer was, though this image was circulated around the internet at the time. If anyone reading this knows more about his identity and has supporting evidence to prove it I’d be grateful to receive it.
Other members of this unit have joined with a right-wing group called Consensus, threatening a lawsuit against Emad Burnat, director of the film 5 Broken Cameras, a recent Oscar contender. They claim that his film, which documented Israeli military violence against protesters (hence the five broken cameras), libeled and defamed them. Two IDF soldiers cooperating in this lawsuit were interviewed on Israeli TV. One disguised himself (as well he might given how seamy this enterprise is) and the other didn’t. He is Pavel Guliak and a delightful specimen of humanity.
Among the things Pavel has to recommend himself to us is that in an Israeli internet forum he called himself “Stoner” Pavel. His New Year resolution went like this (in Hebrew): “Happy New Year to all: may all Arabs die; be happy in your classes, succeed in your studies, lots of fucks. Love to all.”
Pavel should make a great witness for the plaintiff. I can just see the defense’s first question on the stand: “Pavel, were you only stoned when you wrote that post to the Hyde Park forum or were you stoned too when you fired tear gas canisters in Bilin?”
On a related matter, another Palestinian who was murdered by an IDF-fired tear gas canister was Mustafa Tamimi. Unlike the situation with Bassem, thanks to other Israeli activists, we know the commander of the unit which murdered Mustafa. In fact, there is a website created by brave activists who outed the entire chain of command involved in this crime (except the actual shooter).
The investigation into Mustafa’s killing ended long ago with no charges being brought. That’s why the website was created. Now, the chief military prosecutor, Dan Efroni, has asked the State prosecutor to open an investigation (Hebrew) into a “grave” case of incitement against IDF personnel involved in this incident. Apparently, the lives of those named by the website are in danger and they must be protected from any form of accountability for their crimes.
What’s ironic about all of this is that if the damn military prosecutor did his job, he would investigate Tamimi’s death and the activists wouldn’t have been forced to name the perpetrators of this horrid crime. Now the IDF blames those who are acting on behalf of the real victim, the murdered man.
None of this comes as a surprise, of course. The only recourse the ever-classy IDF has against justice is to whine about being victimized and portrayed as innocents being defamed by those evil Palestinians.
The Abu Rahmeh family (I’ve seen the name spelled numerous ways, but the spelling in this piece is completely new to me) has suffered so much and has gotten no justice. But they keep on fighting for their rights. I’m sure the IDF knows there are some very fine photographers in the family and that they are all on the job each Friday documenting the events at the Bi’lin protests as well as others in the West Bank.
The Israelis have done such a fine job of demonizing the Gazans that the struggle in the West Bank has been overshadowed. People such as the Abu Rahmeh family help to keep the occupation exposed to the light of day.
No matter how many lawsuits the Israelis file, the world still sees what they do and knows the truth.
but mary, where is the palestinian gandhi?
Palestinian Gandhi’s face caved in when hit by a directly-shot gas canister.
Palestinian Mandela is still rotting in jail. When he’s done with it’s Palestinian Ho Chi Min you’ll be facing.
I think that Pavel’s actions in Bilin were deplorable, and that his libel lawsuit is silly. I truly hope it would be thrown out of court; as far as I can understand libel law, publishing something which is true and of interest to the public is legal (even if it is technically libel).
But why did you drag comments he made 11 years ago, apparently while he was still in high school, into it? He might present himself as a douchebag, but I think there are some more serious things we can criticize him for. For example, his actions in Bilin.
Thank you for bringing attention to this awful story. There are people who still believe that the IDF is “the most moral army in the world”.
I love marc b.‘s question, presumably ironic but not everyone who asks it asks it ironically, “where’s the Palestinian Gandhi?”. A lot of people think that they see Gandhi when they see the people peacefully — if noisily and self-endangeringly — protesting the wall in Bilin and elsewhere. Just because Israel (as Dracon) outlaws meetings of more than 10 people (my sense is that this is a rule either for non-Jews only or in occupied territories only, or for non-Jews in occupied territories only — not sure which), it doesn’t mean that such protesters are violent in an anti-Gandhi manner.
it’s dangerous being Gandhi-esque: marching peacefully against well-armed racist murderers is close to suicide.
“Rachmeh” looks to be one of those Israeli spellings, reasonable on this blog whose audience includes Israelis, because Israeli Jews cannot pronounce all the Arabic “h”s (nor can I BTW), and Hebrew seems to use some sort of “CH” or “KH” sound for “H”. Witnesss the Israelis (and their brainless American supporters), who CAN say “H”, saying “CHamas” for “Hamas”.
Who are the “well-armed racist murderers” that you are referencing in this post?
The fully correct transcription is the one that Mary wrote: Rahmeh. Rachmeh is an Israeli distorsion which is pronounced completely differently. It’s a hâ’ and not a khä’. Some also write Abu Rahma or Abu Rahmah which is also correct. There’s a ta marbûta in the end and therefore the fully correct transcription is Rahmeh just like Haniyyeh, Hawatmeh, etc.
Benny Ziffer, the father of Bassem Abu Rahmeh’s Israeli fiancée Talila had a beautiful article in Haaretz a couple of days ago. I can’t help thinking that he was killed on purpose for being such a charismatic and vocal spokeperson for the people of Bil’in. Seing him in “Five Broken Cameras”, one realize what a personality and aura he had:
http://www.haaretz.com/weekend/week-s-end/palestinian-film-maker-doesn-t-win-oscar-but-he-s-still-dancing-on-rooftops.premium-1.506630
I forgot to link to the photo that Benny Ziffer is mentioning: Emad Burnat with his wife Soraya and his youngest son Jibreel on the red carpet in Hollywood. There’s another one with the kid doing the V-sign: they didn’t win the Oscar so it must be victory for Palestine.
http://www.cinema.com.my/images/news/2013/7n_uscustomsdetains00.jpg
Thanks for the correction/s.
i would be nice, pabelmont. but, please, answer bob. he’s completely at a loss over who you could be referring to as ‘well-armed racists’. not a clue. maybe if you could draw him a picture as the context of the report isn’t sufficiently clear.
Bob wants you to spell it out for him. Obviously, it can’t be the Palestinians; neither Bassem nor his sister Jawahar were armed with anything more than a Palestinian flag when they were murdered. And I don’t recall the Palestinians building “separation fences” against the Jews, or “Arab-only” roads. So do you think it could possibly be the Israelis who have the American-made weapons and the American-made teargas, those same Israelis whose boosters are presently lobbying in the US to exempt the “economic aid” to Israel from sequestration cuts? They want little, poor American kids to go without their pre-school programs and elderly housebound American citizens to lose their daily Meals on Wheels service so that they can continue to finance their aggression against the Palestinians with US money and weapons. Are those the “well armed racists” Bob is asking about?
“What’s ironic about all of this is that if the damn military prosecutor did his job, he would investigate Tamimi’s death and the activists wouldn’t have been forced to name the perpetrators of this horrid crime.”
It’s hard to read this without thinking of a true American hero hopelessly combating a a treason charge in an American court martial these very days.
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i read the haaretz piece, eden: 1. the synagogue was not destroyed, and in fact appears to have suffered superficial damage; 2. there is no evidence from a credible source that the damage was the result of an act intentionally targeting the synagogue; 3.this has f*ck all to do with the murder of palestinians by israelis.
[comment deleted for comment rule violation–off topic]
Off topic! Your next comment rule violation earns banning.
If the identity of the shooter in unknown, than why did you post the same picture that was circulated around the internet at the time, with the writing “רוצח” (murderer) above it?
I didn’t say the ID of the shooter is unknown. Identity is composed of an image and a name. I believe the photo is very likely that of the murderer. I don’t yet know his name. But I hope to do so. And you’ll be the first to know.
I didnt understand if the man in the picture was the man in the picture the one who fired the tear gas canister that hit and killed Mr. Abu Rachmeh or not.
Why was he very likely to be “the murderer” and not any of the other soldiers who fired tear gas canisters on that demonstration?
Because I trust the photographer & individuals who were there & saw the murderer shoot him. They were the one who first distributed this image.