Teen beaten by Israeli police meets at White House as he prepares to return to Jerusalem

[geek tragedy]

The senior administration official said the White House was "concerned also by the arrest and detention of several American citizen minors in recent months, including most recently Abdallah Abdo in Jerusalem who told us he had been severely beaten while in police custody, as was American citizen Tariq Khdeir in July. Our consular team observed injuries on Mr. Abdo that appear consistent with his version of events. If accurate, we strongly condemn such excessive use of force."

The senior administration official added, pointedly, "whenever an American citizen is harmed, we expect full, transparent and credible investigations and -- if necessary - accountability."

Based on numerous conversations with administration officials on background, there is a widespread belief within the Obama administration that the Israeli government does not take these incidents against American citizens with the seriousness U.S. officials believe they merit. Unless there is video evidence that excessive force was used, as in the case of Tariq Khdeir, Israeli government officials inevitably conclude that the action taken was justified and in keeping with national security needs, officials say.

In their West Wing meeting with the Obama administration officials, the Khdeir family also requested that White House officials continue to pressure the Israeli government to bring justice against the Israeli police officers caught on cell phone video brutally assaulting Tariq. In September, the Israeli Justice Ministry found evidence against one police officer, and he was charged with assaulting a minor. The Khdeir family wants charges against all three officers involved.

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/05/11/politics/teen-beaten-israeli-police-white-house/

Sadly, this kid's own Congressional Representative, Kathy Castor, refused to help and instead insulted the family. Because, shockingly, they're a big AIPAC sycophant.

[SoCalMusicLover]

1. Our Two Countries Have So Much In Common

They are learning from us well.

[geek tragedy]

2. There's a reason support for Israel is so strongly correlated with having rightwing

political views in the US.

[oberliner]

3. Kathy Castor is a Democrat

Her campaign received $5,000 from pro-Israel lobbyists. That's about half of what she got from Cox Cable. And about 1 percent of the total PAC contributions.

[geek tragedy]

4. .

http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/lawmaker-news/212186-palestinian-american-gets-short-shrift-from-congress-member

Ultimately, I made the phone calls to embassies, ambassadors, and human rights organizations Rep. Castor should have initiated.

When her office finally responded to me several days later, it was to claim Tariq was not a constituent and to lay blame on one of her counterparts. With her staff stalling, I visited her office in Washington. What happened next shocks American sensibilities: I was kicked out.

Within seconds of sitting down with Castor’s chief of staff, I was verbally assaulted and berated. The newspaper I carried with a picture of Tariq on the cover was ripped out of my hands and thrown to the table. The staffer said aggressively, “Let me tell you how this is going to go.”

Suffice it to say, it didn’t. I asked key questions: What has Rep. Castor done to get Tariq home? How can we get her involved? Why hasn’t she contacted the State Department? The staffer did not answer one question and at one point I picked up my phone to call Tariq’s parents, but he wouldn’t have it. “It’s not the way we’re going to do it.” And that was that. I was aggressively ushered out and the door slammed in my face.

Castor is a major-league sycophant for Israel, giving briefings on behalf of AIPAC:

http://www.jewishpresspinellas.com/news/2011-08-26/World_News/4_members_of_Congress_to_speak_at_AIPAC_briefing.html

She is also an idiot.

http://floridapolitics.com/archives/9647

“I have so much respect for my neighbors and the state of Israel, I’m willing to overlook the political machinations of Speaker Boehner and President Netanyahu, ” Castor said,

Though, in fairness to Rep. Castor, both of Florida's Senators, Rubio and Nelson, pretty much told Tariq Khdeir and his family to go f@ck themselves, because he was an Arab and his tormentors were Israeli.

[Jefferson23]

5. +1. n/t

[oberliner]

6. This misrepresentation of events is being used to enflame sentiments

This misrepresentation of events is being used to enflame sentiments at a time when Americans should be working to bridge differences among people.

All who work in Congress, in D.C. or district offices, have had the experience of meeting with someone who is understandably frustrated or angry who wanted immediate responses or results that could not be provided. That does not mean that they were not heard or that their concerns were not taken seriously.

Our office is assisting the Khdeir family. Congresswoman Castor agrees with the U.S. State Department position announced last week expressing dismay at reports that Tariq Khdeir was severely beaten while in police custody, strongly condemning any excessive use of force, and urging a speedy, transparent and credible investigation and full accountability for any excessive use of force.

Israel’s Justice Ministry announced that it was conducting such an investigation last week, and subsequently that it is leaning toward indicting the police officer responsible for excessive force. However, the investigation as to the entire series of events revolving around the protest has not concluded.

In this volatile time, Congresswoman Castor urges peace among peoples and accountability for those who target innocent youth for vengeful purposes.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/15/tariq-abu-khdeir-cousin_n_5589553.html

Israeli officer indicted for beating Palestinian-American teen in July

Israel Police filed an indictment on Wednesday against an officer who was filmed beating a Palestinian-American teenager during a violent protest in July.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/israel/1.615169

[geek tragedy]

8. once she started getting bad press for blowing off a constituent because of the

nationality of his abusers, some CYA did happen.

Had this been a Jewish kid being abused and arrested in Jordan or Turkey, same treatment by the Congresscritters?

[oberliner]

9. Sources close to Abu Khdeir's family say Castor's staff has treated the family with respect

While sources close to Abu Khdeir's family say Castor's staff has treated the family with respect even as they rebuffed their demands, a distant relative who visited Castor's field office in Washington D.C. to plead for help said she was "yelled out, intimidated, and insulted" by a staffer.

http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/florida-congresswoman-sides-israeli-police-over-her-own-brutalized-teenage

That is from Max Blumenthal.

In response to your question, I'd say that it depends what the Jewish kid was doing when they got arrested.

[geek tragedy]

10. "In a private letter to Abu Khdeir's family ..."

In a private letter to Abu Khdeir's family, Castor pointedly stated that she had not called for the teen's release and return to the US. Instead, she assured them that she "requested for Tariq to be provided with the appropriate and needed medical care and for [her] to be kept apprised of any plans of his return to the United States." In a separate letter to the US consulate in Jerusalem, Castor merely stated that she would "appreciate being kept apprised of any plans for the return of Tariq and his parents to the United States."

This kid was attending a wedding.

[oberliner]

12. The article also misrepresents the Congresswoman’s private letter to the family

Here is the text of the email response from spokesperson in the office of Congress member Castor:

Sean, the Congresswoman is unavailable right now, but wanted to let you know that the article is not accurate. The article also misrepresents the Congresswoman’s private letter to the family. Our office is assisting the Khdeir family. Congresswoman Castor agrees with the U.S. State Department position announced last week expressing dismay at reports that Tariq Khdeir was severely beaten while in police custody, strongly condemning any excessive use of force, and urging a speedy, transparent and credible investigation and full accountability for any excessive use of force.

Israel’s Justice Ministry announced that it was conducting such an investigation last week, and subsequently that it is leaning toward indicting the police officer responsible for excessive force. However, the investigation as to the entire series of events revolving around the protest has not concluded.

http://www.wmnf.org/news_stories/max-blumenthal-criticizes-us-rep-kathy-castor-d-fl-for-inaction-on-tampa-teenager-beat-up-by-israeli-police

[geek tragedy]

13. If the family of an American kid who's been brutalized by a foreign government

is saying that the Congressperson isn't supporting them at all, it's about 100% certain that the Congressperson is not doing enough.

The lack of a public statement of support does not look good.

[oberliner]

32. Only one distant cousin of the kid is saying that

You would think the parents would be the ones saying something if such was the case.

[geek tragedy]

33. no. read again.

Abu Khdeir's family has beseeched their congressional representative, Castor, to publicly call for his release and immediate return to the United States. Though her staff has met repeatedly with the family, she has said and done nothing of substance to assist them.

"If Tariq [Abu Khdeir] was a Jewish American teen, everybody and their mother would be howling for his release," Hassan Shibly, chief director of CAIR-Florida and the Abu Khdeir family's legal representative told me. "What we're seeing here is a clear double standard."

While sources close to Abu Khdeir's family say Castor's staff has treated the family with respect even as they rebuffed their demands, a distant relative who visited Castor's field office in Washington D.C. to plead for help said she was "yelled out, intimidated, and insulted" by a staffer.

...

Shibly, the Abu Khdeir family's legal representative, captured the sense of frustration: "The silence we're witnessing from Castor and the rest of Congress gives the impression that they care more about Israeli police officers than an American teen."

[oberliner]

39. You are reading something that is not there

The only relative who has made any statement of this nature is the cousin.

Nothing that you have bolded here suggests otherwise. They refer to the cousin, a lawyer, and "sources close to the family."

[geek tragedy]

40. The family's legal representative speaks on

their behalf. He's their authorized spokesperson.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

7. They should have brought a news team with them.

It's too bad that Rep Kathy Castor believes her constituency resides in Tel Aviv.

[bravenak]

11. Hola!

On Mon May 11, 2015, 02:01 PM an alert was sent on the following post:

They should have brought a news team with them.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1134&pid=103363

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

This poster is insinuating that a democratic representative to congress is a traitor to her country and is only loyal to Israel. Please hide this disgusting attack. Thanks.

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Mon May 11, 2015, 02:08 PM, and the Jury voted 0-7 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: This needs to be discussed, no hidden. The jury alert is not the place for you to try to win your argument, alerter.
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #7 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: If the shoe fits. We have far too many like her in Congress.

Thank you very much for participating in our Jury system, and we hope you will be able to participate again in the future.

[Aerows]

14. Well look who is in the club :D

I served on that jury, too!

That's kind of interesting that we seem to end up on the same juries - it must be our sensible views, elegant locution and the inability to indulge bullshit .

[bravenak]

15. For real! We are just too reasonable.

The system just knows that we have the ability to see through bullshit.

[Aerows]

16. I'm in good company

That's all I have to say.

[bravenak]

18. Me too.

[Mosby]

17. you don't think that claiming she is more loyal to Israel than the US is OTT?

If she was Jewish the post would be straight up Antisemitic.

You know she is on our side, right?

[Aerows]

19. What side would that be? n/t

[Mosby]

22. She's a Democrat

[Aerows]

25. *I'm* a Democrat

I actually vote like one.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

21. AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...

Hi, mos!

[Mosby]

24. Grow up dude.

[Aerows]

26. Most of us in this thread

are grown folks.

[Aerows]

29. I don't post in here a lot

but I have been subscribed to this group for quite a while. I just don't comment very much.

As to who I "get in bed with", that is none of your damn business. You take offense at the slightest comment, but you want claim I'm "in bed" with people?

Shame on you!

[Mosby]

30. I wouldn't have bothered with a lot of posters

But I like your contribution here at DU.

I know you are willing to take some shit from posters by standing your ground and I respect that.

All I'm trying to say is that you need to be careful down here, there are a lot of fake liberals/progressives who are only here because they hate Israel. (not speaking about anyone in particular)

[Aerows]

31. I'll take that under advisement. n/t

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

34. "there are a lot of fake liberals/progressives who are only here because they hate Israel..."

You could say more succinctly that there are a lot of fake liberals/progressives who are only here to promote Israeli hasbara.

And as usual, do you need to be reminded that criticism of Israel isn't hatred? <---Insert emoticon here.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

36. I usually ridicule ignorance and crass indifference.

And I don't ask others to get into bed with me on my political views. I can handle myself just fine.

[Aerows]

38. I think it is safe to assume

that neither of us will be "getting into bed together" any time ... ever, and I'm including time jumps, lapses and chrono disruptions.

No offense.

I'm sorry I even posted here. Here I was attempting to expand my horizons and view of the world, and I get all of this mess.

Bravenak is far more patient than I am.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

35. I'm not the one knee-jerking on the alert button, dude.

[King_David]

37. +1

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

27. Regardless if she were Jewish, it would still be a

question worth asking, but since she is not I find it curious that you needed to bring it up.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

20. Somebody is certainly jones'n to shut me down.

It must really suck for them always being wrong...



BTW: TY!

[bravenak]

23. Must be tough to keep losing ones alerting privileges.