'Pitchfork remained on ground during purported attack'

[Donald Ian Rankin]

Was a pitchfork attack thwarted? Many serious question marks are brought up by the IDF's initial investigation into the functioning of the soldiers involved in Sunday's incident next to Awatra in which two Palestinians carrying a pitchfork were killed by IDF soldiers.

(snip)

Just 24 hours after the incident at Awarta, it is already clear to the IDF that the incident is not as clear cut as described by the soldiers, who said that the Palestinians made an attack and they returned fire.

"Under the circumstances, it is likely that the company commander acted appropriately because he felt in danger," military sources on Monday. However, they were willing to admit: "At the end of the day, when you look at all the characteristics of the event, it perhaps could have been concluded differently."

(snip)

The IDF reports – according to which one of the Palestinians tried to attack the soldiers with a pitchfork or hoe – were shown to be inaccurate. The two Palestinians were indeed in possession of farming tools. However, they were reportedly left on the ground beside them. As the two were asked what they were doing in the area and asked to hand over their details, the company commander reportedly heard one of them mutter something that sounded like a prayer. According to the debriefing, he then attacked the soldier with a broken piece of glass that he allegedly picked up from the ground.

The company commander turned around and fired two or three rounds at the Palestinian. The company commander then noticed that the other Palestinian man started moving in a threatening manner with a syringe he held in his hand. The soldier then fired two more bullets.

(snip)

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3866347,00.html

(I've tried to pick paragraphs to give an idea of the story, but almost certainly distorted it somewhat by doing so; the whole thing is at the link).

[Kurska]

1. Why was he carrying a syringe though?

If these men weren't terrorist, but farmers who panicked, why was one of them carrying around a syringe. What was IN the syringe?

I'm not a expert on agriculture, but if anyone could inform me of a common agriculture practice that involves a syringe that would explain why he had one?

[azurnoir]

2. IDF says they were not terrorists

as to the syringe perhaps the man was diabetic who knows not to mention was there a needle on the syringe or was there even a syringe at all?

[shaayecanaan]

3. Tree injectors are often used for stonefruit, including olives...

I thought at first that's what they were referring to. However, a tree syringe wouldn't have made much of a weapon - they don't have a metal bit for starters, only a polymer conduit which is hard enough to sink into the sapwood of the tree.