West Bank Settler Fashionista Police Reprimand Faux Couture Palestinians

 

On June 8, four masked Israeli settlers attacked several members of the Nawaj’ah family from Khirbet Susiya as they were tending their sheep on Palestinian property near the West Bank settlement of Susiya. The land the Palestinian family was grazing on is owned by a Palestinian resident of nearbly Samu’ Village and has been closed by court order to Israelis since 2006.

Because the Nawaj'ah family has been the victim of repeated harassment by area settlers, the Israeli human rights group B'Tselem had provided them with a video camera as part of B'Tselem's "Shooting Back" advocacy and information program. This allowed the entire attack to be filmed by the family and was used for the first time by Israeli police in their investigation.

With the aid of the footage police have arrested two alleged suspects. Police believe however that the Palestinians themselves may have provoked the attack due to their faux couture:

"... police say they are investigating whether the Palestinian shepherds may have provoked the attack by not wearing traditional Arab dress, thereby arousing the suspicion of neighboring Israeli settlers. "This is something that doesn't normally happen," Israeli police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld said. "The way they were dressed could also possibly have been something which was provocative and this might have been something which led to the actual incident itself.""

The settlers beat three members of the Nawaj’ah family: Imram (32), his father Khalil (61) and Imram's mother Tamam (60) who was coincidentally wearing traditional Arab dress. The two men were treated in a local hospital and released. The mother was transported to an Israeli hospital where her injuries required a three-day hospitalization.

In the CNN report on this attack, they also highlight an incident a year ago in Hebron that was also captured with a camera suplied by B'Tselem. In this video young Israeli boys are seen spitting at Palestinians, throwing rocks at their home and threatening to "exterminate" them. The CNN videoreport also clearly shows Israeli soldiers looking on as the Palestinians futilely plead with them to intervene.

Below is the BBC video report of the most recent incident.

Comments

[Graeme]

I hadn't heard about this. that was quite a pathetic statement by the police spokesman.

settlements are a major obstacle for the peace movement

[lennybruce]

Hi Graeme,

The statement by the police spokesperson is what I thought people should be exposed to.

Those in the know, folks like you, realize that these incidents are sadly fairly routine. And although it also sadly goes both ways often times, it is the general callousness and indifference of the police that creates extra suffering for the Palestinians. We all know what would likely happen if in this case the roles were reversed and Israelis were being attacked. The police and army would have quickly brought a great deal of force to bear and would have not stopped at arresting 2 alleged suspects. Palestinians can count on the-more-the-merrier arrest policy including preventive detention. Israelis committing the same offenses get a ludicrous pret-a-porter excuse from the police laying the groundwork for a later, under-the-radar dismissal or slap on the wrist which is what usually happens to Israelis.

Be well.

[lennybruce]

And by the way Graeme, I absolutely agree that the settlements, and in particular the continuing totally needless expansion of the settlements, is one of the major obstacles in the peace process. And it is one which has no purpose at all except to say a) it's our way or the highway or b) we are not really that interested in the peace process.

[jane arnold]

Seen this before somewhere, its what right wingers do when they want to force somebody to do something, like get them off their own land, bit like the Nazis, in fact the same as, makes you hate Israel, and long for Iran to do our dirty work for us, before Israel gets to them.

[lennybruce]

Hi Jane,

Thnks for the visit and taking the time to comment. Repugnant as I find much of what Israel does in her dealings with the Palestinians, I have a great deal of trouble with the Nazi metaphor so I won't go into that. And as far as 'hating' Israel and longing for Iran to do somebody's dirty work I must strongly disagree on both points. To me a much preferable path is to fight for justice for both peoples from a starting point of love rather than hate. And I feel it is important to discern between the acts of the leaders, the acts of some individuals and the intents of the silent and sometimes silenced majorities on both sides.

Be well.

[abe bird]

The Susiya saga had not proved to be true story for now. People suspect that all the shots are "Peace Now" haux, in order to slander the Jews.

[lennybruce]

Thnks for stopping by Abe. It's a shame you didn't leave any reference for your somewhat outlandish claim. Perhaps there is no source for your claim nor basis for it either since both Peace Now and B'Tselem have proven themselves to be honest organizations with integrity.

Be well...