Nov 25, 2008
WEST BANK - An Israeli policeman wearing a hard helmet is shown headbutting a
Palestinian woman in a video released by a human rights group today.
The short film was recorded by the Israeli group B'Tselem during a protest against the demolition of Palestinian homes.
The Jerusalem municipality destroyed two houses because it said they were built without permission.
The
pictures, taken on November 5 but not released until today, show the
actions of one policeman whose reinforced visor is pushed back above
his helmet.
At one point he grasps the hands of a Palestinian
woman and slams against the top of her head with his protective
headgear. She reels back, clutching her head. Other residents object,
and the policeman is seen grabbing the wrists of a Palestinian man and
headbutting him as well.
According to an Israeli police
spokesperson, the family living in the house that was destroyed refused
to leave the building, and local residents threw stones and firebombs
at officers.
"[On] the day, severe riots took place in Silwan," Micky Rosenfeld, a police spokesman told Reuters.
"As
a result five policemen were wounded and evacuated to hospital, 11
locals were arrested for assaulting policemen and throwing firebombs
and six police vehicles were damaged. This event was exceptional and is
now being examined by an external police investigation unit."
Police
were said by B'Tselem to have used stun grenades to break up the
crowds. Witnesses later claimed police fired live ammunition in the
air.
Silwan is in Arab East Jerusalem, an area annexed by
Israel in 1967. Palestinians want the eastern part of the city to be
the capital of a future Palestinian state.
B'Tselem monitors human rights violations in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Arab East Jerusalem.
In
July, B'Tselem activists filmed two Israeli soldiers shooting a bound
Palestinian with a rubber bullet. They were later charged by the army.
B'Tselem in Hebrew literally means "in the image of" but, the group explains, it is also used as a term meaning human dignity.
An Unconstitutional Rampage
Trump and Musk are on an unconstitutional rampage, aiming for virtually every corner of the federal government. These two right-wing billionaires are targeting nurses, scientists, teachers, daycare providers, judges, veterans, air traffic controllers, and nuclear safety inspectors. No one is safe. The food stamps program, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are next. It’s an unprecedented disaster and a five-alarm fire, but there will be a reckoning. The people did not vote for this. The American people do not want this dystopian hellscape that hides behind claims of “efficiency.” Still, in reality, it is all a giveaway to corporate interests and the libertarian dreams of far-right oligarchs like Musk. Common Dreams is playing a vital role by reporting day and night on this orgy of corruption and greed, as well as what everyday people can do to organize and fight back. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover issues the corporate media never will, but we can only continue with our readers’ support. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
WEST BANK - An Israeli policeman wearing a hard helmet is shown headbutting a
Palestinian woman in a video released by a human rights group today.
The short film was recorded by the Israeli group B'Tselem during a protest against the demolition of Palestinian homes.
The Jerusalem municipality destroyed two houses because it said they were built without permission.
The
pictures, taken on November 5 but not released until today, show the
actions of one policeman whose reinforced visor is pushed back above
his helmet.
At one point he grasps the hands of a Palestinian
woman and slams against the top of her head with his protective
headgear. She reels back, clutching her head. Other residents object,
and the policeman is seen grabbing the wrists of a Palestinian man and
headbutting him as well.
According to an Israeli police
spokesperson, the family living in the house that was destroyed refused
to leave the building, and local residents threw stones and firebombs
at officers.
"[On] the day, severe riots took place in Silwan," Micky Rosenfeld, a police spokesman told Reuters.
"As
a result five policemen were wounded and evacuated to hospital, 11
locals were arrested for assaulting policemen and throwing firebombs
and six police vehicles were damaged. This event was exceptional and is
now being examined by an external police investigation unit."
Police
were said by B'Tselem to have used stun grenades to break up the
crowds. Witnesses later claimed police fired live ammunition in the
air.
Silwan is in Arab East Jerusalem, an area annexed by
Israel in 1967. Palestinians want the eastern part of the city to be
the capital of a future Palestinian state.
B'Tselem monitors human rights violations in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Arab East Jerusalem.
In
July, B'Tselem activists filmed two Israeli soldiers shooting a bound
Palestinian with a rubber bullet. They were later charged by the army.
B'Tselem in Hebrew literally means "in the image of" but, the group explains, it is also used as a term meaning human dignity.
WEST BANK - An Israeli policeman wearing a hard helmet is shown headbutting a
Palestinian woman in a video released by a human rights group today.
The short film was recorded by the Israeli group B'Tselem during a protest against the demolition of Palestinian homes.
The Jerusalem municipality destroyed two houses because it said they were built without permission.
The
pictures, taken on November 5 but not released until today, show the
actions of one policeman whose reinforced visor is pushed back above
his helmet.
At one point he grasps the hands of a Palestinian
woman and slams against the top of her head with his protective
headgear. She reels back, clutching her head. Other residents object,
and the policeman is seen grabbing the wrists of a Palestinian man and
headbutting him as well.
According to an Israeli police
spokesperson, the family living in the house that was destroyed refused
to leave the building, and local residents threw stones and firebombs
at officers.
"[On] the day, severe riots took place in Silwan," Micky Rosenfeld, a police spokesman told Reuters.
"As
a result five policemen were wounded and evacuated to hospital, 11
locals were arrested for assaulting policemen and throwing firebombs
and six police vehicles were damaged. This event was exceptional and is
now being examined by an external police investigation unit."
Police
were said by B'Tselem to have used stun grenades to break up the
crowds. Witnesses later claimed police fired live ammunition in the
air.
Silwan is in Arab East Jerusalem, an area annexed by
Israel in 1967. Palestinians want the eastern part of the city to be
the capital of a future Palestinian state.
B'Tselem monitors human rights violations in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Arab East Jerusalem.
In
July, B'Tselem activists filmed two Israeli soldiers shooting a bound
Palestinian with a rubber bullet. They were later charged by the army.
B'Tselem in Hebrew literally means "in the image of" but, the group explains, it is also used as a term meaning human dignity.
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.