An IDF soldier soldier in Hebron, Palestine, nick-named "David Ha-Nahlawi", was videotaped cocking his gun at Palestinian youth, in violation of standing IDF orders, after the latter taunted and tried to hit him. The video went viral, and the soldier was disciplined. Eventually, the soldier was sentenced for an entirely unrelated matter - throwing a stone at his platoon commander.
But the details of the case became irrelevant, relative to the response, both online and on the ground.
A Facebook support page "Me too with David Ha-Nahlawi" went viral (Israeli terms), with over 90,000 likes overnight. The subtitle of the page - "No longer willing to serve as chess tools." Soldiers in uniforms, faces hidden, posted numerous support photos, in violation of IDF standing orders.
Media responses say IDF top command is "in shock", "out of touch".
The support for the soldier comes from across the political spectrum, recognizing the impossibility of the current state of affairs:
IDF soldiers are placed in an impossible situation, when they are forced to engage in policing and enforcement of apartheid policies in Hebron, subjected to abuse and stone throwing by Palestinian youth on a daily basis, but disciplined by court-martial, whenever they use excessive force in response.
Hebron is the prime example of de-facto apartheid policies established by Israel in Palestine today: The former Palestinian main business street is now boarded up and reserved only for Jewish traffic and pedestrians. Entrance to the Tomb of Patriarchs, the center of violence in Hebron, is split according to religion - separate hours for Muslims, Christians, and Jews (atheist is not an option...).
Remarkably, the original video was released by the Palestinian non-violent organization - "Youth against Settlements" - based in Tel Rumeida in Herbron, the site of routine abuse of Palestinians by a small group of Jewish settlers there.
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Joseph Zernik, PhD
Human Rights Alert (NGO)
OccupyTLV
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* The Human Rights Alert (NGO) submission to the Human Rights Council of the United Nations was incorporated into the 2010 Periodic Review Report regarding Human Rights in the United States, with the note: "corruption of the courts and the legal profession and discrimination by law enforcement in California".
* The Human Rights Alert (NGO) submission to the Human Rights Council of the United Nations was incorporated into the 2013 Periodic Review Report regarding Human Rights in Israel, with the note: "lack of integrity of the electronic records of the Supreme Court, the district courts and the detainees courts in Israel."
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LINKS:
[1] The original video by the Palestinian non-violent organization "Youth against Settlements"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=EL6tBXOeEFg
[1] Facebook page: "Me too with David Ha-Nahlawi"
https://www.facebook.com/Israelijustice
[2] 2014-04-30 Top IDF commanders shocked by soldiers protest, "out of touch"_Walla news
http://news.walla.co.il/?w=/550/2742171
[1] The original video by the Palestinian non-violent organization "Youth against Settlements"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=EL6tBXOeEFg
[1] Facebook page: "Me too with David Ha-Nahlawi"
https://www.facebook.com/Israelijustice
[2] 2014-04-30 Top IDF commanders shocked by soldiers protest, "out of touch"_Walla news
http://news.walla.co.il/?w=/550/2742171
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