Israel shoots American peace-protestor in head

Monday April 07, 2003 13:58

by kokomero

Two Palestinian boys aged 8 and 14 shot dead in Gaza

The injured American, Brian Avery, 24, was being treated for head wounds in an Israeli hospital yesterday. Tobias Karlsson, a Swedish fellow volunteer who was with Mr Avery when he was shot, accused Israeli troops of firing at them even though they were clearly identified as human shields. They had their hands up, he said, and were wearing red fluorescent vests with a white reflective cross. The shooting comes 3 weeks after Rachel Corrie was deliberately crushed to death by an Israeli bulldozer while trying to protect Palestinian homes.

Fatah leader refuses to recognise Israeli court as terrorism trial begins
By Eric Silver in Jerusalem
07 April 2003

Whether or not the Israelis intended the prosecution of Marwan Barghouti to be a show trial, the West Bank Fatah leader did his best to make it one yesterday.

Mr Barghouti, 43, who surrendered to Israeli commandos in Ramallah a year ago, is charged with orchestrating attacks that killed 26 Israelis. When the prosecution began presenting its case, Mr Barghouti, bearded and dressed in brown prison fatigues, refused to recognise the Tel Aviv civilian court's right to try him. He disowned two defence lawyers appointed by the state after his own legal team stood down.

"I do not recognise those who are representing me," he told the three judges. "This court is only representing the Israeli occupation. I do not relate to this dirty process of lies."

Turning to the defence lawyers, he said: "You are part of the occupation. Don't get involved in this madness. You don't represent me."

After two witnesses from the Israeli police and military intelligence testified briefly on technicalities, a defence lawyer said: "I have been instructed by my client to say nothing. There will be no cross-examination."

Three important Palestinian witnesses, all serving long sentences for terrorist offences, covered their ears and refused to answer questions. The court declared them hostile witnesses.

Outside the court, in the still occupied territories, the violence continued. Israeli troops shot dead three Palestinians, including two boys aged eight and 14, during clashes in the Gaza Strip, having seriously wounded an American peace activist in the West Bank town of Jenin the day before. Security officers also shot dead a Palestinian gunman who had opened fire on Kiryat Arba, a Jewish settlement overlooking Hebron.

The injured American, Brian Avery, 24, was being treated for head wounds in an Israeli hospital yesterday. Three weeks ago, an American woman, Rachel Corrie, was crushed to death by an army bulldozer.

Tobias Karlsson, a Swedish fellow volunteer who was with Mr Avery when he was shot, accused Israeli troops of firing at them even though they were clearly identified as human shields. They had their hands up, he said, and were wearing red fluorescent vests with a white reflective cross.