A young IDF soldier who has been imprisoned for five months on suspicion of having killed an International Solidarity Movement protestor will go on trial next week. The soldier's family says he is being held as a scapegoat because of British Government pressures - and calls upon the public to support him by rallying outside the Kastina Military Courtroom near Ashkelon when the trial begins.
British citizen Tom Herndall was shot in April 2003 while taking part in anti-Israeli protest activity near the volatile Rafiach area in southern Gaza. The protestors did not adhere to soldiers' orders to disperse, and gunfire ensued. Herndall never recovered from his wounds, and he died this past January. Yasser Arafat said afterwards that Herndall should be considered a holy martyr "who sacrificed his life in the name of freedom... [He was] a true example for those who fight for the freedom of our oppressed people."
The International Solidarity Movement has long been bringing extreme left-wing and anarchistic activists to Israel to disrupt IDF actions in Judea, Samaria and Gaza. The organization's next "operation" is a 56-day protest tour around Israel - one day for each year of what it calls the Israeli "occupation." It should be noted that the group thus deems the "occupation" to have begun in 1948, upon the establishment of Israel, and not with the "conquest" of Judea, Samaria and Gaza.
When Herndall died, British government officials and relatives of Herndall met with Israeli Defense Ministry figures, and pressured them to upgrade the charges on the Israeli soldier from assault to manslaughter. He has been in prison ever since.
The Israel Law Center, whose director, Attorney Nitzana Darshan-Leitner, is representing the defendant, is arranging next week's rally, which will be held on Wednesday, June 9, at 9 AM. Darshan-Leitner notes that the IDF originally "conducted a thorough investigation, and ruled that the officer acted correctly and lawfully. However, following an outrageous campaign of pressure, intimidation and diplomatic threats by the British government, the officer was arrested and falsely charged with homicide. If convicted, he faces life imprisonment."
The Israel Law Center (email: "info@israellawcenter.org") released a statement announcing, "For decades, Israeli soldiers have risked and given their lives to defend the Jewish homeland. Now, you have the opportunity - and the privilege and duty - of defending an Israeli soldier. Observe an actual IDF military court proceeding. Show the judges and British Embassy that you support the IDF." Free bus transportation will be provided from Jerusalem and other locations.
British citizen Tom Herndall was shot in April 2003 while taking part in anti-Israeli protest activity near the volatile Rafiach area in southern Gaza. The protestors did not adhere to soldiers' orders to disperse, and gunfire ensued. Herndall never recovered from his wounds, and he died this past January. Yasser Arafat said afterwards that Herndall should be considered a holy martyr "who sacrificed his life in the name of freedom... [He was] a true example for those who fight for the freedom of our oppressed people."
The International Solidarity Movement has long been bringing extreme left-wing and anarchistic activists to Israel to disrupt IDF actions in Judea, Samaria and Gaza. The organization's next "operation" is a 56-day protest tour around Israel - one day for each year of what it calls the Israeli "occupation." It should be noted that the group thus deems the "occupation" to have begun in 1948, upon the establishment of Israel, and not with the "conquest" of Judea, Samaria and Gaza.
When Herndall died, British government officials and relatives of Herndall met with Israeli Defense Ministry figures, and pressured them to upgrade the charges on the Israeli soldier from assault to manslaughter. He has been in prison ever since.
The Israel Law Center, whose director, Attorney Nitzana Darshan-Leitner, is representing the defendant, is arranging next week's rally, which will be held on Wednesday, June 9, at 9 AM. Darshan-Leitner notes that the IDF originally "conducted a thorough investigation, and ruled that the officer acted correctly and lawfully. However, following an outrageous campaign of pressure, intimidation and diplomatic threats by the British government, the officer was arrested and falsely charged with homicide. If convicted, he faces life imprisonment."
The Israel Law Center (email: "info@israellawcenter.org") released a statement announcing, "For decades, Israeli soldiers have risked and given their lives to defend the Jewish homeland. Now, you have the opportunity - and the privilege and duty - of defending an Israeli soldier. Observe an actual IDF military court proceeding. Show the judges and British Embassy that you support the IDF." Free bus transportation will be provided from Jerusalem and other locations.