4 Feb. 07

 
   "Cage House" in Hebron video sparks uproar  


Last month, B'Tselem made public a video clip documenting a young Palestinian woman's daily life under settler attacks. B'Tselem pointed out that the incident reflected only the tip of the iceberg of the daily violence that Hebron settlers, with the army's protection, have been committing for years against their Palestinian neighbors.

Following the publication, a ministerial committee was formed, to indicate ways to enforce the law on violent settlers. B'Tselem noted that a real solution to this problem must involve ordering the soldiers to intervene when settlers attack Palestinians.


 

Settler throwing stones in Hebron next to an Israeli police officer. Photo: Reuters

 

 
   B'Tselem strongly condemns suicide bombing in Eilat  


The attack, on 29 January, killed three civilians in a bakery in the city. The intentional killing of civilians is a war crime, which is unjustified under any circumstances. B'Tselem calls on the Palestinian organizations to immediately cease their deliberate attacks on civilians.

 

The site of the Eilat bombing
Photo:

 

 
   The trigger-happy phenomenon continues  


On 16 January, 'Abir 'Aramin, a ten-year-old girl, suffered head wounds during an incident in 'Anata, in East Jerusalem. Border Police fired at Palestinians who threw stones at the jeep in which they were riding. B'Tselem retained a pathologist, Dr. Chen Kugel, to carry out a forensic examination on behalf of the Aramin family. The pathologist concluded that, most likely, the child had been killed by a rubber-coated metal bullet. The Shai (Judea and Samaria) Police District opened an investigation into the matter.

In recent weeks, B'Tselem has documented a number of cases in which security forces' gunfire has killed or wounded Palestinians, has approached the relevant authorities demanding a criminal investigation into suspicions of unlawful use of lethal force.

 

'Abir 'Aramin

 

 
   B'Tselem calls to cease using undercover units in combat actions  


Following an undercover unit's action that went awry in the center of Ramallah on 4 January, Israeli security forces killed four Palestinians, three of whom did not take part in the hostilities. B'Tselem demanded a Military Police investigation into the killing of civilians, and the decision to hold the operation. In addition, B'Tselem called on the army to put an immediate stop to the use of undercover soldiers in what the army considers combat actions. The laws of warfare prohibit perfidy, which includes combatants feigning the status of civilians.

 
The vegetable market in Ramallah after the incident on 4 Jan. 07. Photo: 'Abbas Mumani, AFP
Central Ramallah after the incident on 4 Jan. 07.
Photo: 'Abbas Mumani, AFP

 

 
   B'Tselem to armed Palestinian groups: don't attack civilians  


B'Tselem is concerned about the worsening inter-Palestinian violence in Gaza and has called on the armed Palestinian groups to respect the principles of international humanitarian law, which forbid attacks on civilians and on persons who have laid down their weapons, and the taking of hostages.

 

Palestinian factions in Gaza. Photo: Reuters

 

Additional information
I
I
I
I