Scores of pro-IDF activists packed a military courtroom yesterday (Wednesday) to show their support for a Bedouin Arab IDF soldier who is on trial for shooting a member of the militant International Solidarity Movement.
Wednesday was the first day since the start of proceedings that protesters showed up to the trial – which is taking place in a small courtroom on the Kastina IDF base near the coastal city of Ashkelon. At least two busloads of supporters arrived in time for the start of the proceedings at 9 AM, filling the courtroom to capacity, as well as the entire floor of the court-building.
The supporters had responded to calls from Shurat HaDin – the Israel Law Center to assist efforts to fairly represent the soldier and his family. They claim the soldier is only being brought to trial due to intense diplomatic pressure from Britain.
The third day of what promises to be a lengthy trial saw the examination of Military Police interrogators who extracted a confession from the IDF soldier. The soldier’s name was published in several British newspapers despite a court order forbidding the release of this information. The soldier’s attorneys claim the statements being presented by the prosecution were obtained under duress, accusing investigators of interviewing their client late at night, giving him nothing to eat, failing to establish his Hebrew literacy, and neglecting to read him his rights – grounds for dismissal of the case in the US, but not necessarily in Israel.
A British Embassy official sat amidst the supporters in the courtroom - reading a copy of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s ‘Revised Disengagement Plan’ as proceedings took place.
The Bedouin tracker was found blameless in an initial IDF investigation of the incident, but nine months later, when ISM militant Tom Hurndall died in a British hospital, pressure was applied by the Hurndall family, spurring the British Embassy to place pressure on the Defense Ministry to re-open the case. "Hurndall's family reached out to British officials and human rights organizations to apply pressure on the Ministry of Defense to in turn put pressure on the IDF to find a soldier to blame and they chose this soldier," according to Shurat HaDin Director Nitsana Darshan-Leitner.
Protesters, with Israeli flags and placards reading ‘Save Our Soldiers’ and ‘No Human Shields in War-Zones’ filled the court-house. The accused soldier, in handcuffs and looking morose, received a standing ovation when he entered the courtroom. The message of the protesters, many involved with Shurat HaDin – the Israel Law Center, which is assisting the soldier’s family, is to publicize that the entire trial is a ‘farce’ and only taking place due to diplomatic pressure. They have stated that the trial has nothing to do with justice or truth behind the charges.
"The young officer is being scapegoated by the prosecution to appease the British Foreign Office,” Darshan-Leitner said, “Hurndall and the ISM had no right to infiltrate into the Gaza camp and interfere with IDF operations. The security services have identified close links between the ISM and terrorist organizations in the Palestinian Authority. We intend to conduct our own investigation into the circumstances of the alleged shooting and ensure that the officer receives a fair trial."
Hurndall came to Israel after a stint in Iraq, where he went to act as a ‘human-shield’ at the start of the British and American war in Iraq. He was not the first British national to affiliate with the ISM. On April 30, 2003, a British citizen blew himself up at the entrance to Mike's Place, a pub/cafe on the Tel Aviv promenade, murdering three and wounding 50. The bomber, Asif Muhammad Hanif, 22, participated in ISM activities in the days preceding the attack and ISM officials even assisted him entering and leaving Gaza.
In another widely publicized incident that made many doubt the ISM's claims that it is not involved in terror activity, Susan Barclay, an ISM organizer later deported by Israel, attempted to hide senior Islamic Jihad terrorist Shadi Sukiya in the ISM office in Jenin while the IDF searched the building for him – refusing to allow the IDF to search the office.
"The ISM is supported by Palestinians who take advantage of naive students from around the world by putting them into very dangerous circumstances under the pretense of protecting Palestinian life," said Darshan Leitner. "The question should be presented to the Hurndall family and its advocates: why did Tom Hurndall come to Israel under false pretenses, cross the border illegally, and interfere with the IDF in [its] operation?"
The hearing will commence on June 16. For more information and to offer assistance, contact Shurat HaDin.
Wednesday was the first day since the start of proceedings that protesters showed up to the trial – which is taking place in a small courtroom on the Kastina IDF base near the coastal city of Ashkelon. At least two busloads of supporters arrived in time for the start of the proceedings at 9 AM, filling the courtroom to capacity, as well as the entire floor of the court-building.
The supporters had responded to calls from Shurat HaDin – the Israel Law Center to assist efforts to fairly represent the soldier and his family. They claim the soldier is only being brought to trial due to intense diplomatic pressure from Britain.
The third day of what promises to be a lengthy trial saw the examination of Military Police interrogators who extracted a confession from the IDF soldier. The soldier’s name was published in several British newspapers despite a court order forbidding the release of this information. The soldier’s attorneys claim the statements being presented by the prosecution were obtained under duress, accusing investigators of interviewing their client late at night, giving him nothing to eat, failing to establish his Hebrew literacy, and neglecting to read him his rights – grounds for dismissal of the case in the US, but not necessarily in Israel.
A British Embassy official sat amidst the supporters in the courtroom - reading a copy of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s ‘Revised Disengagement Plan’ as proceedings took place.
The Bedouin tracker was found blameless in an initial IDF investigation of the incident, but nine months later, when ISM militant Tom Hurndall died in a British hospital, pressure was applied by the Hurndall family, spurring the British Embassy to place pressure on the Defense Ministry to re-open the case. "Hurndall's family reached out to British officials and human rights organizations to apply pressure on the Ministry of Defense to in turn put pressure on the IDF to find a soldier to blame and they chose this soldier," according to Shurat HaDin Director Nitsana Darshan-Leitner.
Protesters, with Israeli flags and placards reading ‘Save Our Soldiers’ and ‘No Human Shields in War-Zones’ filled the court-house. The accused soldier, in handcuffs and looking morose, received a standing ovation when he entered the courtroom. The message of the protesters, many involved with Shurat HaDin – the Israel Law Center, which is assisting the soldier’s family, is to publicize that the entire trial is a ‘farce’ and only taking place due to diplomatic pressure. They have stated that the trial has nothing to do with justice or truth behind the charges.
"The young officer is being scapegoated by the prosecution to appease the British Foreign Office,” Darshan-Leitner said, “Hurndall and the ISM had no right to infiltrate into the Gaza camp and interfere with IDF operations. The security services have identified close links between the ISM and terrorist organizations in the Palestinian Authority. We intend to conduct our own investigation into the circumstances of the alleged shooting and ensure that the officer receives a fair trial."
Hurndall came to Israel after a stint in Iraq, where he went to act as a ‘human-shield’ at the start of the British and American war in Iraq. He was not the first British national to affiliate with the ISM. On April 30, 2003, a British citizen blew himself up at the entrance to Mike's Place, a pub/cafe on the Tel Aviv promenade, murdering three and wounding 50. The bomber, Asif Muhammad Hanif, 22, participated in ISM activities in the days preceding the attack and ISM officials even assisted him entering and leaving Gaza.
In another widely publicized incident that made many doubt the ISM's claims that it is not involved in terror activity, Susan Barclay, an ISM organizer later deported by Israel, attempted to hide senior Islamic Jihad terrorist Shadi Sukiya in the ISM office in Jenin while the IDF searched the building for him – refusing to allow the IDF to search the office.
"The ISM is supported by Palestinians who take advantage of naive students from around the world by putting them into very dangerous circumstances under the pretense of protecting Palestinian life," said Darshan Leitner. "The question should be presented to the Hurndall family and its advocates: why did Tom Hurndall come to Israel under false pretenses, cross the border illegally, and interfere with the IDF in [its] operation?"
The hearing will commence on June 16. For more information and to offer assistance, contact Shurat HaDin.