Beating Palestinian boys ‘to a pulp’ is a tradition among Israeli forces

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

http://mondoweiss.net/2014/07/palestinian-children-tradition.html

The western press has been shocked by the images of 15-year-old Tarek Abu Khdeir, of Tampa, FL, following his beating by Israeli forces last Thursday in Shuafat, East Jerusalem. Israeli officials have sought to justify the treatment by saying that Abu Khdeir had hurled rocks from a slingshot at Israeli forces. The boy has denied this.

This narrative ought to be familiar to the western press. It is a very old script inside the occupied territories when Palestinian boys are suspected of throwing stones, or they are near other children who have thrown stones.

Two years ago, the Israeli human rights’ organization Breaking the Silence published a report on the brutal treatment of children, titled, “Children and Youth– Soldiers’ Testimonies, 2005-2011.” If there is one theme in the 70-page report of anonymous statements, it is Israeli soldiers beating Palestinian children “to a pulp.” The word “pulp” appears 12 times in the report.

Here are several of the references, describing boys about Tarek Abu Khdeir’s age, 15. Many other beatings, not “to a pulp,” also appear in the report (I’ve included one of the most egregious, at the end). Also, note that a Motorola Solutions device is used in one beating; the Presbyterian Church just voted to divest from that company because of its role in the occupation.

[Jefferson23]

1. House arrest and still no charges, correct? n/t

[alsame]

2. From yesterday's State Dept briefing

They 'continue to be shocked'

QUESTION: First, do you have any update on the American citizen who was detained and that was then put under house arrest?

MS. PSAKI: I don’t know if I have much of an update since yesterday, Matt, but let me provide you --

QUESTION: Well, has he been – has anyone gone to visit him? Have you looked at his – has he – is his health okay?

MS. PSAKI: Well first, our – we visited him in the – an official from the U.S. Consulate General visited him on July 5th and attended his hearing on July 6th. We’ve also seen the family. I don’t have anything else to read out for you in terms of his health.

Obviously, this is a case where we remain deeply concerned about the reports. In fact, we remain shocked that he was severely beaten while in police custody and strongly have condemned that, and any use of excessive force, of course. We’re calling – and I would reiterate our call for a speedy and transparent and credible investigation. As I understand it, he’s been interviewed for that, and so that’s moving forward.

QUESTION: You remain shocked?

MS. PSAKI: Well, we are shocked.

QUESTION: You’re shocked --

QUESTION: Well, it sounds like --

QUESTION: You’re shocked when a --

MS. PSAKI: We continue to be shocked.

QUESTION: Okay.

QUESTION: What you were saying, I think on Thursday or in your statements over the weekend, that you remain concerned about reports that he was apparently beaten. And now you’re saying that you’re shocked that he was beaten. So it seems as if like – it doesn’t seem as if there’s any doubt, really, now. I mean, there might be a doubt as to how it happened, or the extent of it, or whether what he did – the Israeli Ambassador said that he was provoking, that he wasn’t an innocent bystander, that kind of implied that he asked for it.

MS. PSAKI: Well, Elise, a couple things, as you know, happened over the weekend. One, of course, we – our consulate – a representative from our Consulate General was able to see him. And obviously, he’s been released and is with his family now at this time. And of course, I’ve seen the comments, and our view is an arrest is justified for anyone who is guilty of committing a crime. And obviously, there’s an investigation; there’ll be a process to review that. But beating an arrestee after they are subdued and in custody is never justified. So we will let the process see itself through. But certainly, we’ve all seen him and we’ve been in touch with him, and we are continuing to call for a credible investigation.

QUESTION: Have you formally demarched the Israeli Government about it?

MS. PSAKI: We’ve been in close touch with the government, but I’m not aware of a specific demarche.

QUESTION: Do you have any concerns about the – an Israeli investigation into this incident?

MS. PSAKI: We’ve seen Prime Minister Netanyahu and other officials express strong concern about a range of these reports, and they’ve expressed a commitment to seeing through an investigation.

QUESTION: All right. Now meanwhile, in southern Israel --

QUESTION: Well, can we just stay on this for one second?

QUESTION: Yeah.

MS. PSAKI: Mm-hmm.

QUESTION: I understand that Secretary Kerry spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu over the weekend. Was this case in particular brought up, or was it about the larger kind of escalating violence?

MS. PSAKI: He reiterated – the Secretary did speak with the prime minister about a range of incidents that are happening on the ground, Elise. And certainly, the focus was on reiterating our concern about escalating tensions. And the Secretary, of course, urged Prime Minister Netanyahu – as he’s urged both parties – to exercise restraint and avoid steps that could further destabilize the situation.

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2014/07/228782.htm

[Jefferson23]

3. Thank you..yea, well I would hope she would press them on that. n/t

[Scootaloo]

4. I guess he wasn't "American enough" for outrage, action, or even a stiff rebuke

[cali]

5. yes he was. the White House has responded quite clearly and forcefully.

[azurnoir]

6. well I guess being "profoundly troubled" is ummm forceful

http://news.yahoo.com/us-profoundly-troubled-americans-beating-israeli-custody-204629191.html

[cali]

7. and I guess being selective is your thing. good for you! from YOUR article:

State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the United States "strongly condemn(s) any excessive use of force," referring to the alleged beating.

boom goes the deceptive editing by you, dear az.

[azurnoir]

10. there was no deceptive editing on my part only a need to attack on someone elses

boom goes the truth because while you accuse me of hate but the only hateful accusative replies here are not mine

[Scootaloo]

11. Cali, usually i'm right there with you on stuff...

But I have a hard time accepting that such a generic, non-specific condemnation of "any use of excessive force" is sufficient in this case.

It's a broad blandishment in general, that avoids actually talking about the particular situation.

[cali]

8. you know, I think it's worth saying:

to me you and certain partisans here on the other side are so much alike, it would be funny if it weren't all so hate filled.

You are what you profess to despise.

[azurnoir]

9. I pointed out what the WH spokesman said if you wish to call that "hate" that is your perogative

why do you feel that is hate?