Video: Soldiers detain developmentally-disabled child in Hebron, 19 Oct. 2014

[Jefferson23]

Classy


Published:
20 Oct 2014

Yesterday, soldiers briefly detained a developmentally disabled Palestinian boy, who is under the age of criminal responsibility, on suspicion that he had thrown stones. The boy, A. a-Rajbi, (full name withheld in interest of privacy) who will be 12 in a month, was detained after Palestinian children threw stones at soldiers on the main road of the Jabel Johar neighborhood in Hebron, close to the settlement of Kiryat Arba. A-Rajbi was handcuffed, blindfolded, and held on the floor of an army jeep for some 15 minutes until his father arrived and convinced the soldiers to release his son, who is mentally disabled and cannot speak.

In the video footage, filmed by B’Tselem volunteer Samih Da’na from his window, soldiers are seen holding the boy, handcuffing him, blindfolding him and closing him in the jeep, despite cries by Palestinian residents that the boy is mentally disabled. The footage also shows settlers from Kiryat Arba, watching the incident from behind the settlement’s fence. Some are seen calling out encouragement to the soldiers, including several racist remarks.

http://www.btselem.org/press_releases/20141020_soldiers_detain_developmentally_disabled_child_in_hebron

[sabbat hunter]

1. Boy threw stones

boy was briefly detained in jeep until father explained that he was mentally disabled and could not speak. At that time the boy was released.

sounds like everything was done by the book.

If the child was throwing stones, then whomever encouraged to do so are the real 'classy' ones to take advantage of a disabled youngster like that and should be ashamed of themselves. Those people are cowards to use a child like that.

[azurnoir]

2. so it's "by the book" aka okay to blind fold and tie a child?

so glad you informed us of this otherwise we might think it a bit strong armed or something

[sabbat hunter]

25. if rocks were being thrown

at the IDF soldiers, then I would think it would be perfectly appropriate to handcuff or otherwise tie up the suspect (same for regular police). As far as the blind fold, I would need to know more, was it a full face covering to prevent spitting. If that is the case then was the child spitting at them? If he was not then the face covering should be unnecessary.

edit: i could not tell from the video if the blindfold was just over his eyes or his entire face.

[Jefferson23]

3. Would you like to tell me how you know he was used and why it's appropriate to blind fold him etc,

he is a 12 year old kid with a disability.

You support the similar police tactics we see here in the US, because we have many scenarios
that depict this type of behavior. I find it repugnant.

[Borris Bonshlavsky]

4. A testament.

This is testament to how humanitarean the Israeli army is if the biggest complaint against it is detaining someone for 15 minutes. Israel's civil liberties union has longed for the day when its agenda would be similar to that of its counterpart in the USA. The day has arrived.

[uppityperson]

5. hahahahahaha. Or wait, are you serious that that is the biggest complaint?

[DanTex]

14. Heeee's back!

[sabbat hunter]

24. It is possible that

the disability is not visible, so it would not be readily apparent that the boy was disabled. I think we all should remember that many disabilities are invisible, including developmental ones.

I do not approve of the blindfolding, unless perhaps it was a whole face covering to prevent spitting. That has been used by police to prevent the spread of bodily fluids. It is not something that should be used lightly however.

[Borris Bonshlavsky]

6. not by the book at all

Sabbat hunter could not be more wrong when he claims this was by the book.

If it was by the book, the soldiers would have taken the one they arrested in for booking, and let a judge/jury decide his guilt. The soldiers, instead, took it upon themselves to grant a Pardon, which under Israeli law only the President can do. Some people believe in the rule of law and that no one man should usurp all authority and discretion for himself. For all we know, these soldiers now face court marshall.

[azurnoir]

7. Israeli military courts have juries? I ask because that is where Palestinian childrens

cases are hears, according to Haaretz these military tribunals have a 99.74% conviction rate

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/nearly-100-of-all-military-court-cases-in-west-bank-end-in-conviction-haaretz-learns-1.398369

[oberliner]

8. ...and release him to his father after 15 minutes

Seems kosher, no?

[azurnoir]

9. ah it's okay to tie blindfold andforce a disabled child to lie on the floor of a military vehicle?

I see for some here it is 'but it was only 15 minutes'

[azurnoir]

15. so you're good with a developmentally disabled child being tied blindfolded and forced

to lie on the floor of a military vehicle because he knew what he was doing and understood the consequences? Of course you then go on to say that it's possible he was told to but you miss the most obvious 2

1 he was imitating what he saw others doing

2 he was not throwing rocks at all he was simply the easiest to grab

[sabbat hunter]

26. Just because he is

developmentally disabled, does not mean the disability is a visible one.

It seems more likely that he was duped by others, who were taking advantage of his disability, to throw rocks. When his father explained the situation, the IDF soldiers did the right thing and released the child in tho his custody.

His arms were tied with zip ties which are often used as a replacement for handcuffs. The zip ties used are designed for this purpose.

[oberliner]

13. Try to throw rocks at a military vehicle in the US and see what happens to you

Please report back with your findings.

[azurnoir]

16. ah so it's okay because the US military might do the same?

How far would you take that theory?

[oberliner]

18. Every military

Try China after the US.

[Jefferson23]

19. China ranks right after the US? I think you've just insulted many Americans in your quest to

absolve Israeli tactics in this case.

[Jefferson23]

10. No, not at all. n/t

[oberliner]

20. What would have been the more appropriate reaction?

How should it have been handled?

[Jefferson23]

21. No violence, that is usually a good way to de-escalate a situation with people. n/t

[oberliner]

22. Well I agree that rocks should not have been thrown in the first place

But after that violent attack, what should the next step have been?

[Jefferson23]

23. You have a disingenuous approach to defining violence. n/t

[Mosby]

27. he seems like such a nice kid

And his little brother is just adorable!




Very photogenic family don't you think?

[Jefferson23]

28. Link? n/t

[azurnoir]

29. I traced them back-they came from Elder of Zyon

the same site that claim the 2 Palestinian kids that CNN caught on camera being shot by IDF were actually alive and well when they put in the ambulance and then shot by Palestinians using stolen IDF guns!!!! also in the same article and photo lay out they have a picture that they claim as the profile picture on this kids face book page but when that is checked out it turns out to be an adult with the same name, so take it as you will

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003922624249&fref=photo&sk=photos

[Jefferson23]

30. I am shocked it brought you to that anonymous blog, aren't you?

Thanks, azurnoir.