Friday, June 13, 2014

Jeff Halper on U.S. speaking tour/Use of Live Ammunition Confirmed in Nawarah Shooting

“Imagining a Future for Israel and Palestine” is a presentation by Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions director Jeff Halper! It is scheduled for Mon., June 16 at 7 PM in the East Columbia Branch Library, 6600 Cradlerock Way. The Committee for Palestinian Rights (CPR) of Howard County is hosting renowned Israeli anthropologist and human rights activist Jeff Halper. The ICAHD co-founder and director is the author of the highly acclaimed 2008 book “An Israeli in Palestine.” His presentation is part of a U.S. speaking tour. Email CPR_Maryland@yahoo.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 12, 2014

CONTACT: Defense for Children International Palestine
Wesam Ahmad | Al Haq
m. +972 59 996 4184 | wahmad@alhaq.org
Sarit Michaeli | B'Tselem
m. +972 50 538 7230 | saritm@btselem.org
Ivan Karakashian | DCI-Palestine
m. +972 54 558 3985 | advocacy@dcips.org

Use of Live Ammunition Confirmed in Nawarah Shooting

Ramallah - June 12 - After undertaking an autopsy of the body of Nadim Nawarah, 17, on Wednesday, forensic pathologists have determined that a live bullet was the cause of his death. The Palestinian teenager was killed by Israeli forces on May 15 during clashes in the West Bank town of Beitunia. The autopsy, which was undertaken at Al-Quds University’s Institute of Forensic Medicine in Abu Dis, revealed the entry and exit wounds caused by the bullet, as well as recovering metallic fragments, which are presumed to be lead from the bullet’s core. Chief Palestinian pathologist, Dr. Saber al-Aalul, conducted the autopsy in the presence of two Israeli forensic pathologists, Dr. Chen Kugel and Dr. Ricardo Nachman, from the National Institute of Forensic Medicine in Abu Kabir, and two international forensic pathologists from the U.S. and Denmark. At the request of the Nawarah family, Al Haq, Defense for Children International-Palestine, Physicians for Human Rights, and B'Tselem coordinated the attendance of the international forensic pathologists. Responding to the conclusions of the autopsy, the four non-government organizations stated: “These findings underline the urgency of our demand that the criminal investigation into the Beitunia killings be conducted efficiently and concluded promptly. Rather than attempting to discredit those who called for an investigation, the Israeli military should now focus on uncovering the truth about the shootings, and holding those responsible to account.” Nawarah's body was exhumed for the autopsy with his family’s consent. The family also provided the Palestinian prosecutor's office with the bullet recovered from Nawarah’s backpack, which he was wearing at the time of his death. Israeli forces have consistently denied that live ammunition was employed during the incident, maintaining that only rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters were used. The autopsy findings, however, rule out a rubber bullet injury as the cause of death. The full autopsy report will include an assessment of the bullet's trajectory. The family of Muhammad Salameh (Abu Daher), 16, the second victim killed during the clashes on May 15, declined an autopsy. Field research and medical evidence, however, strongly suggest that he too was shot with live ammunition.

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Defence for Children International-Palestine Section (DCI-Palestine) is a national section of the international non-governmental child rights organisation and movement, Defence for Children International (DCI), established in 1979.

Source URL: http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2014/06/12-0

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"The master class has always declared the wars; the subject class has always fought the battles. The master class has had all to gain and nothing to lose, while the subject class has had nothing to gain and everything to lose--especially their lives." Eugene Victor Debs

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