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al-Sharifs killer Elor Azraya
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Abdel Fattah al-Sharif 21
Ramsey Qasrawi 21 March 24 2016 |
5 jan 2017
An image of the three judges with Hitler moustaches
54-year-old man threatens in Facebook post 'Col. Maya Heller will not finish her year' while 22-year-old woman writes: 'Take a grenade and blow up the judge and scatter all of her parts in different places, let the dogs eat her'; many others online have flooded social media with posts inciting against the judges and even calling on soldiers to rebel against the IDF.
Police have arrested a 54-year-old man from Jerusalem and a 22-year-old woman from Kiryat Gat who are suspected of inciting to violence against the judges who convicted Sgt. Elor Azaria of manslaughter.
The Azaria family came out against the posts of incitement and expressions of violence on social media, particularly those aimed at the judges’ panel.
"The family has no connection and is not responsible for anything that happens outside the courtroom and a connection between the two things should in no way be made. Obviously, the family members disagree with all expressions of violence and completely condemn them," a statement from the family said.
The Jerusalem District Police said the Jerusalem man wrote a post on Facebook "expressing radical criticism of the judges' decision to convict the soldier Elor Azaria."
He was arrested after the police received the State Attorney's Office's approval to investigate the post.
"I express my support in a full acquittal (for Azaria) and do publicly declare: Col. Maya Heller will not finish her year. 'She passes the judgment of the land and I give her the judgment of the heavens' so that all should see and beware across the generations," the man wrote in the post that was later removed.
He went on to say that "those who support the conviction of a 'soldier in God's army' will receive a bitter fate and all of the curses written in the Torah will plague them and their families until their end."
The man was put on house arrest under restrictive conditions. He is not allowed to come near Judge Heller and is barred from using any media device over the next 14 days.
The woman was questioned and released under restrictive conditions after writing: "Take a grenade and blow up the judge and scatter all of her parts in different places, let the dogs eat her. God will make her pay for everything."
"The Israel Police regularly monitors internet activity that deviates from the limits of legitimate expression of opinion and is suspected of being inciting," the police said in a statement.
"The Israel Police will not allow any incitement to violence against government and judicial institutions and will take a hard line against any publication that is considered incitement and could lead to actual harm to public officials," the statement went on to say.
After the military court found Azaria, who shot dead an already-neutralized terrorist in Hebron last year, guilty of manslaughter on Wednesday, social media has been flooded with swear words, harsh language and incitement against the head of the judges' panel, Judge Col. Maya Heller.
As a result, the IDF decided to assign a security detail to protect the three judges—Lt. Col Yaron Sitbon, Col. Maya Heller and Col. Carmel Wahabi—as well as the chief military prosecutor in the case, Lt. Col. Nadav Weissman.
Users on social media claimed that Heller was the sister of Tali Fahima, a left-wing activist who was convicted for her contacts with Zakaria Zubeidi, Jenin chief of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades and served two years in prison.
"It's a disgrace for the State of Israel to allow an Israeli hater to judge a soldier, or to judge in the State of Israel at all," one poster wrote.
Another post said: "Maya Heller, you should be ashamed of yourself. Just like you destroyed this family's joy of life and health, so will God repay you."
Yet another poster wished the judge "to be in a terror attack."
One poster lashed out against the top echelons of the defense establishment, journalist and "the Nazi judge Maya Heller."
That poster warned that "God is counting every tear shed by a mother. You will pay for this—sooner or later. God works in mysterious ways. I wish you torment. May you never have a single moment of happiness until your dying day."
Two others wished "rape and death by burning" to Judge Heller.
A Facebook page titled "Elor Azaria, the people are with you," which has 1,500 followers, was also flooded with harsh posts against the judge.
"Who are you and who gave you the right to convict Elor?" the page's managers wrote, concluding their post with "We will remember you and the prosecution eternally in disgrace. You are the Judenrat of this generation."
There were also calls for soldiers to rebel against the IDF. One poster, alongside a photo of weapons, wrote: "Elor is going to jail—we're all going to jail."
Ran Carmi-Buzaglo, one of the leaders of the public struggle for Azaria, said: "We will continue to fight with determination to release this soldier who is part of us all. The struggle is based on fierce belief in the righteousness of the way and is conditioned on appropriate behavior. We will continue to act based on the law and in accordance with the principles of democracy. Those lawbreakers were first seen at the (initial) hearing in Qastina and they appeared again nine months later. They do not, in any way, represent the spirit of the struggle."
The incitement began outside the court on Wednesday, when Azaria supporters chanted to the IDF chief of staff, Gadi Eisenkot: "Gadi, Gadi, beware. Rabin's looking for a friend," referring to the slain Israeli prime minister.
54-year-old man threatens in Facebook post 'Col. Maya Heller will not finish her year' while 22-year-old woman writes: 'Take a grenade and blow up the judge and scatter all of her parts in different places, let the dogs eat her'; many others online have flooded social media with posts inciting against the judges and even calling on soldiers to rebel against the IDF.
Police have arrested a 54-year-old man from Jerusalem and a 22-year-old woman from Kiryat Gat who are suspected of inciting to violence against the judges who convicted Sgt. Elor Azaria of manslaughter.
The Azaria family came out against the posts of incitement and expressions of violence on social media, particularly those aimed at the judges’ panel.
"The family has no connection and is not responsible for anything that happens outside the courtroom and a connection between the two things should in no way be made. Obviously, the family members disagree with all expressions of violence and completely condemn them," a statement from the family said.
The Jerusalem District Police said the Jerusalem man wrote a post on Facebook "expressing radical criticism of the judges' decision to convict the soldier Elor Azaria."
He was arrested after the police received the State Attorney's Office's approval to investigate the post.
"I express my support in a full acquittal (for Azaria) and do publicly declare: Col. Maya Heller will not finish her year. 'She passes the judgment of the land and I give her the judgment of the heavens' so that all should see and beware across the generations," the man wrote in the post that was later removed.
He went on to say that "those who support the conviction of a 'soldier in God's army' will receive a bitter fate and all of the curses written in the Torah will plague them and their families until their end."
The man was put on house arrest under restrictive conditions. He is not allowed to come near Judge Heller and is barred from using any media device over the next 14 days.
The woman was questioned and released under restrictive conditions after writing: "Take a grenade and blow up the judge and scatter all of her parts in different places, let the dogs eat her. God will make her pay for everything."
"The Israel Police regularly monitors internet activity that deviates from the limits of legitimate expression of opinion and is suspected of being inciting," the police said in a statement.
"The Israel Police will not allow any incitement to violence against government and judicial institutions and will take a hard line against any publication that is considered incitement and could lead to actual harm to public officials," the statement went on to say.
After the military court found Azaria, who shot dead an already-neutralized terrorist in Hebron last year, guilty of manslaughter on Wednesday, social media has been flooded with swear words, harsh language and incitement against the head of the judges' panel, Judge Col. Maya Heller.
As a result, the IDF decided to assign a security detail to protect the three judges—Lt. Col Yaron Sitbon, Col. Maya Heller and Col. Carmel Wahabi—as well as the chief military prosecutor in the case, Lt. Col. Nadav Weissman.
Users on social media claimed that Heller was the sister of Tali Fahima, a left-wing activist who was convicted for her contacts with Zakaria Zubeidi, Jenin chief of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades and served two years in prison.
"It's a disgrace for the State of Israel to allow an Israeli hater to judge a soldier, or to judge in the State of Israel at all," one poster wrote.
Another post said: "Maya Heller, you should be ashamed of yourself. Just like you destroyed this family's joy of life and health, so will God repay you."
Yet another poster wished the judge "to be in a terror attack."
One poster lashed out against the top echelons of the defense establishment, journalist and "the Nazi judge Maya Heller."
That poster warned that "God is counting every tear shed by a mother. You will pay for this—sooner or later. God works in mysterious ways. I wish you torment. May you never have a single moment of happiness until your dying day."
Two others wished "rape and death by burning" to Judge Heller.
A Facebook page titled "Elor Azaria, the people are with you," which has 1,500 followers, was also flooded with harsh posts against the judge.
"Who are you and who gave you the right to convict Elor?" the page's managers wrote, concluding their post with "We will remember you and the prosecution eternally in disgrace. You are the Judenrat of this generation."
There were also calls for soldiers to rebel against the IDF. One poster, alongside a photo of weapons, wrote: "Elor is going to jail—we're all going to jail."
Ran Carmi-Buzaglo, one of the leaders of the public struggle for Azaria, said: "We will continue to fight with determination to release this soldier who is part of us all. The struggle is based on fierce belief in the righteousness of the way and is conditioned on appropriate behavior. We will continue to act based on the law and in accordance with the principles of democracy. Those lawbreakers were first seen at the (initial) hearing in Qastina and they appeared again nine months later. They do not, in any way, represent the spirit of the struggle."
The incitement began outside the court on Wednesday, when Azaria supporters chanted to the IDF chief of staff, Gadi Eisenkot: "Gadi, Gadi, beware. Rabin's looking for a friend," referring to the slain Israeli prime minister.
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Woman calls to throw grenade at judge
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Post claiming Judge Heller is the sister of Tali Fahima
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Post wishing: 'May you never have a single moment of happiness until your dying day'
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Post asking: 'Who are you and who gave you the right to convict Elor?'
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Post saying: 'Elor is going to jail—we're all going to jail'
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A day after Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu came under questioning as part of a corruption probe, Netanyahu issued a call for the pardon of an Israeli soldier who killed a Palestinian who was lying on the ground, critically wounded, by firing multiple shots at the Palestinian’s head.
Elor Azaria was convicted on Wednesday of manslaughter for the execution of 21-year old Abdul-Fattah Sharif in March 2016.
In response, the Prime Minister posted on his Facebook page, ““This is a difficult and painful day for all of us – and first and foremost for Elor and his family, for [Israeli army] soldiers, for many soldiers and for the parents of our soldiers, and me among them.
We have one army, which is the basis of our existence. The soldiers of the [Israeli army] are our sons and daughters, and they need to remain above dispute.”
Human rights groups issued statements following the verdict that the conviction was insufficient, and that there are many soldiers who have committed similar executions of Palestinians, but did not have video evidence of the crime.
In Azaria’s case, a cell phone video taken by a local resident was released to the media, and it showed Azaria pointing his gun at Fattah Sharif when he was lying on the ground and posed no threat, and shot him in the head. The judge in his trial pointed out that the shooting was clearly a revenge attack.
Critics have pointed out the Netanyahu may be trying to deflect attention from the ethics probe, which he says “will come to nothing”.
Police investigators came to Netanyahu’s home on Monday evening and questioned him for three hours for suspicion of involvement in trading political favors for illicit gifts.
Elor Azaria was convicted on Wednesday of manslaughter for the execution of 21-year old Abdul-Fattah Sharif in March 2016.
In response, the Prime Minister posted on his Facebook page, ““This is a difficult and painful day for all of us – and first and foremost for Elor and his family, for [Israeli army] soldiers, for many soldiers and for the parents of our soldiers, and me among them.
We have one army, which is the basis of our existence. The soldiers of the [Israeli army] are our sons and daughters, and they need to remain above dispute.”
Human rights groups issued statements following the verdict that the conviction was insufficient, and that there are many soldiers who have committed similar executions of Palestinians, but did not have video evidence of the crime.
In Azaria’s case, a cell phone video taken by a local resident was released to the media, and it showed Azaria pointing his gun at Fattah Sharif when he was lying on the ground and posed no threat, and shot him in the head. The judge in his trial pointed out that the shooting was clearly a revenge attack.
Critics have pointed out the Netanyahu may be trying to deflect attention from the ethics probe, which he says “will come to nothing”.
Police investigators came to Netanyahu’s home on Monday evening and questioned him for three hours for suspicion of involvement in trading political favors for illicit gifts.
4 jan 2017
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After an Israeli soldier was found guilty of manslaughter for the execution-style killing of a Palestinian -- a video of which garnered widespread outrage from the international community -- the Palestinian Foreign Ministry called the case a “show trial,” handing down a lenient sentence on the soldier, while focusing on the case to distract from a wider culture of impunity for Israeli forces.
Shortly after the verdict for 20-year-old Elor Azarya was announced on Wednesday afternoon, the ministry said that since the video went viral the day of the killing back in March, “the Israeli government and its political, judicial, and military arms have been trying to attract international reactions to this hideous crime through the farce of detaining and trying the killer soldier." "Except for some voices who have tried to defend the alleged Israeli army's code of ethics, the majority of Israeli officials including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and several of his ministers, have embarked upon defending the murderer Azarya." While the Israeli military court gave a wholesale endorsement of the prosecution’s argument that the killing of 21-year-old Abd al-Fattah Yusri al-Sharif in Hebron was unjustified in its decision to convict Azarya -- supported by the blistering testimonies given by his army commanders -- Azarya has garnered mass support from Israel’s far-right citizens and government, who have labeled the soldier a national hero. A 2016 poll by the Israel Democracy Institute found that 47 percent of Jewish Israelis supported the sentiment that “any Palestinian who carries out a terror attack against Jews should be killed on the spot, even if he has been captured and clearly does not pose a threat.” The Palestinian Foreign Ministry's statement added that "several Israeli organizations and extremist settler groups dedicated efforts to fundraise for a campaign to defend the killer soldier and acquit him." The statement also highlighted that several "extremist rabbis issued religious opinions legalizing what Azarya did." A report released this week by Human Rights Watch documented documented “numerous statements” made by senior Israeli politicians and religious figures “calling on police and soldiers to shoot to kill suspected attackers, irrespective of whether lethal force is actually strictly necessary to protect life.” "Today we are watching the last chapter of the killer soldier's trial, defined by a familial atmosphere in the court, with the killer entering the hall laughing before he took a seat near his relatives," the Foreign Ministry statement continued. Videos published in Israeli media show Azarya being met with applause as he entered the session, which was attended by members of his family who embraced the smiling soldier. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry described the court atmosphere as clear evidence that the case was not being taken seriously, and that the crime was in fact being addressed “recklessly." Manslaughter charges carry a maximum prison sentence of 20 years, and Azarya can appeal both the conviction and the sentence to the Israeli Military appeals court. However, according to Israeli daily Haaretz, it is likely the sentence will not come close to the 20-year maximum, based on research showing precedent for Israeli soldiers who have been indicted and tried for manslaughter in a number of cases since 2000, the majority of whom were not convicted and accepted a plea bargain instead. A court reporter for Israel’s The Jerusalem Post said that the judge’s “one-sided” conviction made the decision more vulnerable to appeal, as judges had not expressed any sympathy to the defense’s argument. |
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin may also face a request to pardon him, according to reports. Israeli Education Minister Naftali Bennett has already stated that Azarya should be granted an immediate pardon. Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman has also reportedly not ruled out the possibility of a pardon in private discussion, however on Wednesday he said the verdict had to be respected, though expressed his displeasure with the conviction.
Imad Abu Shamsiyya, a Palestinian activist who filmed the point-blank shooting of Abd al-Fattah al-Sharif by an Israeli soldier in Hebron last March, said he “feared for his life” after the Israeli soldier was found guilty of manslaughter for the killing Wednesday.
One message written to Abu Shamsiyya said that his killing was "inevitable," while the activist also said members of the soldier's family had broken into his house.
The court notably ruled Wednesday that the video shot by Abu Shamsiyya was authentic and admissible, as the panel of three judges meanwhile proceeded to give a wholesale rejection to every argument presented by the defense.
At a protest in Hebron organized by al-Sharif’s family while the verdict was being announced, Abu Shamsiyya told Ma’an he has continued to receive hundreds of death threats since the video he shot for Israeli rights group B’Tselem went viral and sparked international outrage over the apparent “extrajudicial execution” of al-Sharif, who was already seriously injured after being shot for allegedly attempting to stab an Israeli soldier.
He said that members of Elor Azarya’s family -- the soldier who shot al-Sharif -- broke into his home and "asked me to go to court and change my testimony." He said he had video footage proving the incursion took place.
“I have received hundreds of messages from Israeli settlers threatening me, and they have tried to pay me bribes to convince me to change my testimony in court."
Abu Shamsiyya testified in June amid the ongoing trial, when he said Azarya’s defense attorney “tried to mislead the court by raising doubt” about his testimony.
Abu Shamsiyya added that Israeli forces surrounded his house on Wednesday and prevented reporters and other people from accessing the home during the court hearing.
Director of the Hebron unit of the Palestinian Prisoner's Society Amjad al-Najjar told Ma’an at the protest that he had personally seen “hundreds of messages from settlers and from Israeli occupation forces threatening Abu Shamsiyya,” saying that the activist’s life was “now in danger and we should create a committee to protect him.”
Just one day after the killing and release of the video back in March, Israeli settlers gathered outside the home of Abu Shamsiyya to throw rocks and make death threats, and he has received countless hateful messages on Facebook since.
The United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner last month condemned the “daily violations” of human rights and international law faced by activists and human rights defenders in the occupied Palestinian territory.
A “worrying number of complaints” have been filed by human rights activists to the UN in recent months, which have highlighted in particular the Israeli government practice of arbitrarily detaining Palestinian activists “as a direct result of their important work in their communities.”
“The right of all those who are seeking hope and participation in concrete, nonviolent action must be protected, particularly as we are seeing the deepening entrenchment of the Israeli occupation and the accompanying human rights violations," the report said.
One message written to Abu Shamsiyya said that his killing was "inevitable," while the activist also said members of the soldier's family had broken into his house.
The court notably ruled Wednesday that the video shot by Abu Shamsiyya was authentic and admissible, as the panel of three judges meanwhile proceeded to give a wholesale rejection to every argument presented by the defense.
At a protest in Hebron organized by al-Sharif’s family while the verdict was being announced, Abu Shamsiyya told Ma’an he has continued to receive hundreds of death threats since the video he shot for Israeli rights group B’Tselem went viral and sparked international outrage over the apparent “extrajudicial execution” of al-Sharif, who was already seriously injured after being shot for allegedly attempting to stab an Israeli soldier.
He said that members of Elor Azarya’s family -- the soldier who shot al-Sharif -- broke into his home and "asked me to go to court and change my testimony." He said he had video footage proving the incursion took place.
“I have received hundreds of messages from Israeli settlers threatening me, and they have tried to pay me bribes to convince me to change my testimony in court."
Abu Shamsiyya testified in June amid the ongoing trial, when he said Azarya’s defense attorney “tried to mislead the court by raising doubt” about his testimony.
Abu Shamsiyya added that Israeli forces surrounded his house on Wednesday and prevented reporters and other people from accessing the home during the court hearing.
Director of the Hebron unit of the Palestinian Prisoner's Society Amjad al-Najjar told Ma’an at the protest that he had personally seen “hundreds of messages from settlers and from Israeli occupation forces threatening Abu Shamsiyya,” saying that the activist’s life was “now in danger and we should create a committee to protect him.”
Just one day after the killing and release of the video back in March, Israeli settlers gathered outside the home of Abu Shamsiyya to throw rocks and make death threats, and he has received countless hateful messages on Facebook since.
The United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner last month condemned the “daily violations” of human rights and international law faced by activists and human rights defenders in the occupied Palestinian territory.
A “worrying number of complaints” have been filed by human rights activists to the UN in recent months, which have highlighted in particular the Israeli government practice of arbitrarily detaining Palestinian activists “as a direct result of their important work in their communities.”
“The right of all those who are seeking hope and participation in concrete, nonviolent action must be protected, particularly as we are seeing the deepening entrenchment of the Israeli occupation and the accompanying human rights violations," the report said.
From left to right: Lt. Col Yaron Sitbon, Col. Maya Heller and Col. Carmel Wahabi
Amid fear of violent reprisals, all three judges who convicted Sgt. Elor Azaria of manslaughter, along with the chief prosecutor, are to be escorted by security personnel in the coming days; Attorney General: ‘Claims that law enforcement officials supposedly act according to external reasons are unfounded and irresponsible.’
The IDF has assigned a security detail to protect the three judges involved in the trial of Sgt. Elor Azaria who, on Wednesday, convicted him of manslaughter of a Palestinian terrorist.
Security guards have also been assigned to the chief military prosecutor in the case, Lt. Col. Nadav Weissman amid fear of violent reprisals of angry supporters of the soldier.
The judges—Central Command Chief Justice Col. Maya Heller, Col. Carmel Wahabi and and Lt. Col Yaron Sitbon— will be escorted by security guards throughout the coming days.
Following the steady flow of harsh reactions to the decision to convict Azaria, the State Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit issued a special statement defending the rule of law.
“Israeli law enforcement system, including the military justice system, fulfilling its role independently, impartially and devoid of bias, and according to legal and professional considerations only. Respect for the state legal system and judicial decisions is a fundamental rock of Israeli democracy. Claims that law enforcement officials supposedly act according to external reasons are unfounded, irresponsible and must be fully condemned.
In the afternoon, Weissman also met with Chief Military Advocate Brig. Gen. Sharon Afek and are expected to meet once again to discuss the punishment that will be imposed on Azaria. The convicted soldier is expected to be sentenced in approximately one month.
Outside the courtroom, hundreds of protesters gather in solidarity with Azaria. However, some of the chants raised concern, particularly when combined with some of the violent actions taking place. “You haven’t yet heard the last word. We will shake up the country,” was the message that the enraged protesters transmitted to the family.
But the four main actors in the case were not the only ones to fall prey to the violent threats of angry mobs. Channel 2 aired footage of some protesters chanting "Gadi, Gadi beware, Rabin's looking for a friend," referring to the Israeli prime minister who was assassinated.
Amid fear of violent reprisals, all three judges who convicted Sgt. Elor Azaria of manslaughter, along with the chief prosecutor, are to be escorted by security personnel in the coming days; Attorney General: ‘Claims that law enforcement officials supposedly act according to external reasons are unfounded and irresponsible.’
The IDF has assigned a security detail to protect the three judges involved in the trial of Sgt. Elor Azaria who, on Wednesday, convicted him of manslaughter of a Palestinian terrorist.
Security guards have also been assigned to the chief military prosecutor in the case, Lt. Col. Nadav Weissman amid fear of violent reprisals of angry supporters of the soldier.
The judges—Central Command Chief Justice Col. Maya Heller, Col. Carmel Wahabi and and Lt. Col Yaron Sitbon— will be escorted by security guards throughout the coming days.
Following the steady flow of harsh reactions to the decision to convict Azaria, the State Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit issued a special statement defending the rule of law.
“Israeli law enforcement system, including the military justice system, fulfilling its role independently, impartially and devoid of bias, and according to legal and professional considerations only. Respect for the state legal system and judicial decisions is a fundamental rock of Israeli democracy. Claims that law enforcement officials supposedly act according to external reasons are unfounded, irresponsible and must be fully condemned.
In the afternoon, Weissman also met with Chief Military Advocate Brig. Gen. Sharon Afek and are expected to meet once again to discuss the punishment that will be imposed on Azaria. The convicted soldier is expected to be sentenced in approximately one month.
Outside the courtroom, hundreds of protesters gather in solidarity with Azaria. However, some of the chants raised concern, particularly when combined with some of the violent actions taking place. “You haven’t yet heard the last word. We will shake up the country,” was the message that the enraged protesters transmitted to the family.
But the four main actors in the case were not the only ones to fall prey to the violent threats of angry mobs. Channel 2 aired footage of some protesters chanting "Gadi, Gadi beware, Rabin's looking for a friend," referring to the Israeli prime minister who was assassinated.
