Palestinian boy lies crippled by an Israeli bullet ... (more)

[Resistance]

(shortened long headline)

The Guardian

Chris McGreal in Gaza reports on a family's battle to hold on to their home despite the shooting of a son

No matter how much the Israelis threw at Khalil Bashir, he stuck with the message that has drawn admiration and scorn in Gaza: there is no time for anger, no time for revenge, there should only be tolerance for the Jews.

It has been a hard view for the Palestinian school headteacher to sustain as the Israeli army has tried to prise him from his home, isolated next to the Jewish settlement of Kfar Darom.

The Bashirs' greenhouses were demolished and their date palms uprooted. Troops threw stun grenades into the house. A soldier shot one of Mr Bashir's sons, Yasan, in the neck, causing a light flesh wound.

But Mr Bashir was as firm in his refusal to move as he was in his message of universal forgiveness.

Then a fortnight ago an Israeli soldier shot Yusuf, his 15-year-old son, in the back at close range. Mr Bashir says it was a cold-blooded attempt to murder his child, who is paralysed from the waist down after the bullet lodged in his spine.

[Resistance]

1. y'know....

the IDF are some really demented psychopaths -- shooting a 15 yr old kid in the back??

[Gimel]

2. Dupe

Posted at: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=124&topic_id=56316&mesg_id=56316



The IDF Spokesman's Office has responded that "on February 18 an IDF officer carried out a shooting in the direction of the wheel of a vehicle that looked suspicious to him, in the area adjacent to Kfar Darom. Apparently from the shooting a youth who was in the area was injured. The officer has been suspended from his position until the investigation is completed. The IDF is continuing to investigate the circumstances of the incident." http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=398835

[Resistance]

3. This new Guardian story is an update

[Devils Advocate NZ]

4. Gotta love that IDF investigative style!

an IDF officer carried out a shooting in the direction of the wheel of a vehicle that looked suspicious to him

See, before he even says they are going to investigate the "incident", the IDF spokesman has already declared what happened!

No, says he, the soldier did NOT intentionally shoot an unarmed 15 year old boy in the back, he was shooting at the "wheel of a vehicle that looked suspicious".

So the only thing to investigate was whether the soldier was TOTALLY justified in shooting and did no wrong, or whether he was MOSTLY justified in shooting but was careless.

Anybody want to take bets on which of the two the IDF settles on? My 5 bucks is on the former.

[Gimel]

10. The IDF statement

The IDF statement is based on the information available at the time. There is a contradiction in this "update" and the first article. The first article carried more information. This has nothing new, and is a rehash. Also this story talks about a bullet in the spine of the boy, whereas the first article says clearly that it was shrapnel.

[lefty_mcduff]

11. Bottom line, the IDF is responsible for the kid's injuries...

...through neglect, incompetence, stupidity or attempted murder. I tend to believe that the kid was shot in the back, but no matter...

Whatever way you want to slice this event, the IDF is responsible. The kid is NOT responsible. His parents are NOT responsible. The neighbors are NOT responsible. The IDF is responsible.

I am getting sick and tired of the IDF getting one pass after another for the most outrageous actions, while other cases on the 'other side' (as in the case of Rachel Corrie - see the current threads about her) are subject to enormous scrutiny, scorn and moebius strip logic where it is NEVER the IDF's fault.

What IS truly remarkable about this case is that the boy's father is calling for peace and reconciliation after all this -

"Three years ago soldiers requisitioned the top floors of the house, covered the roof in camouflage and barbed wire and installed a machine gun post.

"Mr Bashir, his wife, five children and his elderly mother were confined to a single room on the bottom floor during the nightly gun battles between Palestinian fighters and Israeli troops.

Bullets shattered the windows. The Bashirs keep a bucket holding the remnants of an Israeli shell that hit the house.

As the months passed the army added a gunpost outside the kitchen window and expanded Kfar Darom's security fence until the barbed wire coils ran along the wall of the Bashir home. The army set about trying to force the family out.

The Bashirs' greenhouses were demolished and their date palms uprooted. Troops threw stun grenades into the house. A soldier shot one of Mr Bashir's sons, Yasan, in the neck, causing a light flesh wound.

The family was forbidden to move around outside the house except to go into the yard, and visitors had to be screened by the army. Even close relatives were turned away."

I know I would be less than enthusiastic about peace and reconciliation...

[Gimel]

13. Extreme hardship

I do agree that the conditions were extremely difficult. Being confined to a single room during gun battles, would however, be for their own protection.

However, I object to the hate-fest and disinformation which exploits this child's injury. Rather than go over the same again, please wait for more information, which will not come from the British.

The Army has apologized to the family, and that is sincere. The boy will live, and hopefully be able to walk as before. The same cannot be said for the 8 Israelis killed on the latest bus bombing. One side can't act in such a despicable manner without getting receiving a counter-operation.

[lefty_mcduff]

14. Guess it could be argued that this comment

could apply to both sides - "One side can't act in such a despicable manner without receiving a counter-operation".

It amazes me that the rabidly pro-IDF folks can't see that.

The 8 Isreali's killed is *ALSO* a terrible tradgedy, but does not negate, or minimize the situation that we are discussing. Both are horrible. Both are tragic. Neither is excused by the other...

It is, however, fairly typical that defence of despicable IDF *OR* Palestinian actions often takes the route of "but, did you see what *they* did..."

It is an argument that I grow weary hearing, and discussing....

[Forkboy]

16. Amen lefty

[Resistance]

17. What is interesting to me

is that you constantly hear the argument that there is no excuse for Palestinian extremist operations against Israel, but then the same people turn and justify extreme Israeli operations against Palestine.

How the comment "one side can't act in such a despicable manner without receiving a counter-operation" is any different from excusing Palestinian attacks is beyond me.

[Gimel]

18. All Israelis see that

However, you can't let your citizens be bombed by the dozens and do nothing in self-defense. It is a war, and it amazes me that people here don't see that.

[Resistance]

19. this is too easy...

"you can't let your citizens be bombed by the dozens and do nothing in self-defense" could just as easily have been said in support of suicide bombings.

[Gimel]

20. Except

The first helicopter attack (no casualties) followed the suicide bombing that killed 21 Israelis at the Dolphinarium in 2002. Suicide bombing began months before that. Oslo was being implemented as the "suicide" bombing attacks began. That means Israel was committed to withdrawing from the PA areas and to the eventual creation of a Palestinian state. Arafat didn't like the deal and anyway the suicide bombing attacks looked like a better solution to him, as he is in fact a terrorist with terrorist methods.

[Resistance]

21. you missed the point

"you can't let your citizens be bombed by the dozens and do nothing in self-defense" can be said to justify terror operations that either side are involved in.

[ex_jew]

5. Is this the kind of non-violent posture Palestinians are advised to try ?

Refusing to give up your home despite having it turned into an armed camp for the IDF ? Just how well is it working ? Ask Mr. Bashir.

[_Jumper_]

6. has the American media covered this?

n/t

[Forkboy]

7. hahahahahahahahahaha

good one!

[_Jumper_]

8. Why is it like this?

Everyone--including the Israeli media--covers this but the American media is MIA everytime this happens.

[Forkboy]

9. I dont know

our media sucks on every issue though,not just this one.

[Scurrilous]

12. The American media....

...is focused on more important issues than a crippled Palestinian boy:

http://au.news.yahoo.com/040303/19/nyoi.html

Madonna to perform in Israel during world tour this summer

[tinnypriv]

15. To be fair

This topic is Ma'ariv's poll today. :7