Inquiry after Israeli forces caught using boy as shield

[corporatewhore]

Inquiry after Israeli forces caught using boy as shield
By Donald Macintyre in Jerusalem

24 April 2004

A photograph of a Palestinian boy tied to an Israeli police jeep has been handed to justice officials charged with investigating complaints over the use of "human shields" against demonstrators.

The boy, 13-year-old Mohammed Bedwan, and three adult protesters were tied to border police vehicles last week during one of what have become almost daily demonstrations against the routing of the Israeli government's barrier through Palestinian land.

The photograph, taken by human rights activists in the village of Biddo, north-west of Jerusalem, shows Mohammed tied by an arm to a mesh on the jeep windscreen - a mesh intended to protect the vehicle and its driver against stones and rocks. Police said last night that the Justice Ministry's police complaints unit was investigating the case.
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/story.jsp?story=514691
At least four Palestinians have been shot dead in Biddo this year in rock-throwing protests against the barrier. An elderly man also died of heart failure after inhaling tear gas. Palestinian activists say border police had in two separate instances this month used villagers as shields to prevent stone-throwing, and that forces had also repeatedly used both rubber and live bullets to disperse protesters.

[hellboy]

1. War is hell.

[parasim]

2. Peace is Heaven.

[Scurrilous]

3. "The most moral border police in the world?"

n/t

[hellboy]

5. That kid might of had a bomb connected to him.

[newyorican]

7. If he did...

why would he be tied to the front of the jeep?

[Scurrilous]

8. Then why did they use him...

..for a hood ornament? Is that SOP for dealing with suspected suicide bombers?

[lefty_mcduff]

9. So why would they tie him to the vehicle?

Yeah - that's right - *TIE HIM TO THE VEHICE*

[newyorican]

11. Obviously an assertion so stupid...

as to perplex more than lil' ol' me...

On Edit: Then again, you can save what's left of your face by using the edit feature...the clock is ticking.

[The Magistrate]

12. Then, Sir

It would be damned foolish of the police to congregate around him, and as that is merest speculation on your part, it can be dismissed entirely in discussing the incident.

What is beyond dispute is that such behavior by the police involved is criminal: persons are not to be used as shelter by armed forces, and at need, policemen can stand up to a few rocks....

[Hornito]

16. Hellboy, 60 posts in one day, many promoting hateful

ideology, and embracing the fascist tactics of Sharon and his Likud gang. You won't last long here....boy.

[Forkboy]

21. Dont be so sure

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

25. I have asked the administrators to ban him

Please go to this topic to support it http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=120x17038

[Forkboy]

28. I doubt the mods need,or want,my help

in determining who stays or goes ;-)

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

26. Please support

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=120x17038

[Scurrilous]

36. You were right...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=user_profiles&u_id=142762

[newyorican]

38. He'll be back...

Another persona, another day...

[newyorican]

4. Photo is on Maariv Int. website...

http://www.maarivintl.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=article&articleID=6124

<snip>
According to Rabbi Ascherman “as we approached the police unit they tear-gassed us, without any provocation on our part. After the gas had dissipated I approached them, and asked them what was happening to the boy. At that point the commander, Pakad (Superintendent) Shahar Itzhaki told me I was under arrest for violating a military order by entering a closed military zone without permission. When I attempted to protest, he beat me, head butted me and had me handcuffed, together with a Palestinian man and a Swedish human rights activist”.

“The boy, crying, shaking from fear and eventually cold, was sat on the hood of a jeep and tied to the bars protecting the glass. The other three arrestees were bound and placed in front of a second jeep as human shields, to deter protestors from throwing stones at the jeep”.

“I repeatedly requested over the next few hours that we not be used as human shields, and that the boy receive medical attention and that the officers identify themselves. He also asked to lend his coat to the child and to stand in front of the child to protect him from stones. All these requests were met with physical and verbal threats, orders to "shut up," and/or derision”.

</snip>

[mike_c]

13. the IDF-- maintaining the moral high ground in the war on...

...Palestinian refuges and peace activists. Pigs.

[tinnypriv]

37. The print edition

(Hebrew) had a larger picture - the same as on the human rights websites.

[lefty_mcduff]

6. Nice.

"The boy, 13-year-old Mohammed Bedwan, and three adult protesters were tied to border police vehicles last week during one of what have become almost daily demonstrations against the routing of the Israeli government's barrier through Palestinian land."

Why do they hate us again?
Oh that's right - they hate us becasuse of our 'Freedom'.

[mike_c]

10. "the Justice Ministry's police complaints unit..."

...is "investigating the case." NOT the ICC, where it should be investigated!

[The Magistrate]

14. The Jurisdiction Of That Court, Sir

Would come into play only once it had been determined the Israeli authorities would not investigate the matter, or if it was clear their investigation was a sham. It is unfortunate, from the point of view of any who support Israel, that it is likely the investigation will prove a sham, and that only token punishment, if that, will be meted out.

[mike_c]

15. it was a rhetorical remark...

...intended to convey my belief that war crimes should be referred to a more powerful judiciary than the "police complaints unit."

[number6]

17. dont cha know the IDF and Israel never..

do anything bad :eyes:

[riverwalker]

18. "investigating the case"

a few years back Israelis investigated the clear murder of a child by IDF troops. They were fined 3 cents by their "courts".

[Comadreja]

19. US reaction

Haven't you heard that, like every country, Israel has the right to "self defense"?

[Dookus]

20. Absolutely disgusting....

and it won't appear in any mainstream American news outlet, either.

[hellboy]

22. Pic is probably propoganda. I question the validity of it. "Truth is

the first casualty of war."

[Forkboy]

23. Your posts are pure propaganda

again,offer up some evidence to support your theory.Put up or shut up.Quit embarrassing yourself further.

[hellboy]

27. I feel that you're embarrassing yourself with your lack of depth.

Again, it's my OPINION that it's staged. Remember when the palestinians were caught staging that funeral procession, lol. Remember when the supposed dead person fell from the stretcher and then mysteriously ran away, lol. That is why I'm skeptical of Palestian propoganda.

[lefty_mcduff]

30. You may want to check *your depth*

If this was a staged event, it would have to have been staged by the IDF. Not sure what propaganda goal that would serve. I am, however, sure that you have the answer, being the only one around here with a clear understanding of the complexities of the M/E.

[Forkboy]

33. heh

depth would be lost on you I'm afraid.Of course,that would just be my OPINION.

[lefty_mcduff]

24. Well...

You first claimed that the youth 'had a bomb' strapped to him.
Now, you're claiming that the pic is propaganda.
Could it be that you'll look for any reason to excuse the IDF for their barbaric behaviour? And wouldn't that fall under the category of propaganda?

[hellboy]

29. I said the bomb comment as a tongue in cheek comment.

I claim the pic was propoganda because of past propoganda like the time the palestians faked that funeral procession. Remember when the dead body got up and ran away, lol.

The IDF is in a war. Of course, it's brutal.

[newyorican]

31. LOL

"Tongue in cheek", eh? Damn that 1 hour editing deadline!

Something is definitely in something, but it ain't your tongue in your cheek, boy.

[lefty_mcduff]

32. Yet on another post you claim the IDF is involved

in "...more of a police action". Of course, that argument was to excuse the IDF from Geneva Accord responsibilities. In this thread, you claim the IDF is in a war, so as to excuse the IDF for atrocities.

[Forkboy]

34. the depth is breathtaking

I say that tongue in cheek of course :P

[Forkboy]

35. sure you did

[undergroundrailroad]

39. Locking. Dupe;

continue here.