|
|
Dawabsha family, july 31 2015 burned by settlers |
19 june 2018
Amiram Ben-Uliel (L) and second unidentified suspect
Lod District Court determines some of the confessions given by two alleged Jewish terrorists suspected of killing 3 members of the Palestinian Dawabsheh family in 2015 are admissible, including a reconstructed account of the attack provided by the central defendant, but rules other confessions obtained by unspecified means are to be struck from the record.
The Lod District Court ruled on Tuesday that the majority of confessions given by two alleged Jewish terrorists who are suspected of killing three members of the Dawabsheh family in the Palestinian village of Duma in 2015, are admissible, bar those which were obtained under duress or by “special means.”
The publication of further details on the precise meaning of “special means” has been subjected to a gag order but the central defendant’s confession and reconstruction of the attack has been deemed admissible by the court.
While only one of his confessions was thrown out, the evidence against him remains robust.
Matters are considered more complex for the second defendant, who is a minor. A ruse used to get him to talk will remain admissible (he confessed to charges that are unrelated to the Duma incident, such as arson of a church and membership in a terror organization).
Another confession given by the minor on Duma “hypothetically”—without mentioning of names, but with a general description of the act—will also remain admissible. All of the other confessions he provided were disqualified, even if there was no force involved in their extraction.
In January 2016 an indictment was submitted against Amiram Ben-Uliel, a resident of an outpost near Shila who at the time of the attack was 21 years old. An indictment was also submitted against another man from the Samaria region of the West Bank who was 17 during the time. A gag order has remained in place since on the publication of his identity.
On July 31, 2015, Molotov cocktails were thrown at the Dawabsheh family's house in the village in the northern West Bank, killing an 18-month-old child, Ali, and critically wounded a four-year-old brother and both parents. The parents, Saad and Riham Dawabsheh later succumbed to their wounds.
Ben-Uliel stands accused of three counts of murder in the firebombing and two counts of attempted murder, arson, and conspiracy to commit a racially-motivated crime.
The minor also stands accused of conspiring to commit a murder but not of the murder itself. It is currently believed that in the end, the unnamed suspect did not take part in the actual firebombing but was involved in its planning.
In addition, he is charged with six counts of committing a series of arson offenses in other locations and other offenses.
Both defendants have denied all charges leveled against them in court despite the fact that they provided confessions during their investigations and, as noted, Ben-Uliel even reconstructed the sequence of events.
However, they later retracted their confessions and their defense attorneys urged the court to disqualify them on the grounds that they had been solicited under what were described as “special investigative means” by the Shin Bet. The attorneys claim that forceful methods were employed.
The prosecution teams however argue that the confessions are valid and that there is no reason to strike them from the evidence compiled against the defendants, particularly since there is no correlation between the means used and the confessions that were given on the days in which “special means” were not used.
According to the prosecution, the confessions were given on days subsequent to the use of the special means. Nullifying the confessions could influence the entire legal proceedings, they argue, since they constitute a central pillar of the case.
“Special investigative means” are used against people suspected of carrying out terror attacks and authorized only in cases involving what is commonly known as a “ticking time bomb,” meaning that the perpetrators may still be able to carry out further attacks.
Ben-Uliel remained silent for 17 days during his investigation, prompting the Shin Bet to change tack and employ what is known as “investigation of necessity” after receiving permission from the former attorney general Yehuda Weinstein. During the “investigation of necessity”, Ben-Uliel confessed to throwing a Molotov Cocktail into the Dawabsheh home which killed three family members.
This testimony was originally stricken from the record but four days later, follow-up investigations were carried out against Ben-Uliel during which he not only confessed again, but also reconstructed the attack, sharing details about the incident that could only have been known by the perpetrator.
These confessions, the judges concluded on Tuesday, were still valid and used as fundamental pieces of evidence in the case. The testimony provided by the second defendant is also valid and may serve to incriminate his co-conspirator.
According to the judges presiding over the trial, “special investigative means” to prevent a Jewish terror attack were justified in the case of the minor.
“The assumption of the Shin Bet investigators that the accused belonged to a rebellious network was reasonable and anchored in evidence,” a statement said. “The objectives of the investigation were of a preventive nature. To thwart future plans, the investigators needed to act to understand attacks that had been carried out by members of the rebellious network, including the attack in Duma.”
However, the judges took issue with the methods used in the “special investigative means.”
“These means struck a severe blow to the rights of the accused to protect the body and mind. Moreover, the dignity of the accused was harmed,” they added.
This, they explained, justified erasing the confessions but they also noted that their conclusion was only applicable to this particular case, and had no bearing on other trials. “This is a ruling that relates to this case only,” they emphasized.
The father of the minor said that he was pleased with the decision. “We are happy that justice has come to light and that the court ruled that our son is in no way linked to Duma. The decision by the court confirms what we have been saying the entire time: Our son underwent serious abuse during his investigation,” the father said, adding that the interrogation had caused his son to suffer from post trauma to the present day.
“We stand firm on our demand that an independent committee be immediately established to investigate the abuse and the legal authorization that was granted,” he added. “We demand that our son be released immediately from his harsh arrest and from his complete isolation.”
The lawyer representing the minor, Zion Amir, said that he believed his client would be released shortly from his arrest after two years in custody.
The Shin Bet also released a statement after the court decision.
“Regarding the defendant Amiram Ben-Uliel, to whom the murder itself is attributed, the court ruled that his confessions are valid and were given at free will,” the statement said, before turning to the minor.
“Regarding the minor, who stands accused of, among other things, conspiring to commit murder, the court decided that part of his confessions that were given by him may be used against him in legal proceedings. It should be emphasized that Shin Bet investigations are an important and central component of thwarting terror attacks of all kinds and of cracking serious terror attacks,” it pointed out.
“The information that is obtained in Shin Bet investigations saves countless lives and constitutes a tremendous contribution to state security.”
Despite the public interest in the case, judges acceded to a request submitted by the defense counsel that the legal discussions take place behind closed doors. Recently however, 20,000 copies of confidential documents concerning the findings of the investigation were distributed in synagogues across the West Bank and Jerusalem.
Each of the distributed copies includes some 15 pages of courtroom protocols from the trial.
According to the State Attorney's Office, the motive for the crime was the desire to avenge the murder of terror victim Malachi Rosenfeld who was shot dead in the vicinity of Binyamin Regional Council's Shvut Rachel settlement.
Recently, dozens of prominent Religious Zionist rabbis called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked to halt legal proceedings against the suspects, claiming that Shin Bet investigators had tortured them. The rabbis therefore demanded that an investigative committee be created to look into the matter.
Lod District Court determines some of the confessions given by two alleged Jewish terrorists suspected of killing 3 members of the Palestinian Dawabsheh family in 2015 are admissible, including a reconstructed account of the attack provided by the central defendant, but rules other confessions obtained by unspecified means are to be struck from the record.
The Lod District Court ruled on Tuesday that the majority of confessions given by two alleged Jewish terrorists who are suspected of killing three members of the Dawabsheh family in the Palestinian village of Duma in 2015, are admissible, bar those which were obtained under duress or by “special means.”
The publication of further details on the precise meaning of “special means” has been subjected to a gag order but the central defendant’s confession and reconstruction of the attack has been deemed admissible by the court.
While only one of his confessions was thrown out, the evidence against him remains robust.
Matters are considered more complex for the second defendant, who is a minor. A ruse used to get him to talk will remain admissible (he confessed to charges that are unrelated to the Duma incident, such as arson of a church and membership in a terror organization).
Another confession given by the minor on Duma “hypothetically”—without mentioning of names, but with a general description of the act—will also remain admissible. All of the other confessions he provided were disqualified, even if there was no force involved in their extraction.
In January 2016 an indictment was submitted against Amiram Ben-Uliel, a resident of an outpost near Shila who at the time of the attack was 21 years old. An indictment was also submitted against another man from the Samaria region of the West Bank who was 17 during the time. A gag order has remained in place since on the publication of his identity.
On July 31, 2015, Molotov cocktails were thrown at the Dawabsheh family's house in the village in the northern West Bank, killing an 18-month-old child, Ali, and critically wounded a four-year-old brother and both parents. The parents, Saad and Riham Dawabsheh later succumbed to their wounds.
Ben-Uliel stands accused of three counts of murder in the firebombing and two counts of attempted murder, arson, and conspiracy to commit a racially-motivated crime.
The minor also stands accused of conspiring to commit a murder but not of the murder itself. It is currently believed that in the end, the unnamed suspect did not take part in the actual firebombing but was involved in its planning.
In addition, he is charged with six counts of committing a series of arson offenses in other locations and other offenses.
Both defendants have denied all charges leveled against them in court despite the fact that they provided confessions during their investigations and, as noted, Ben-Uliel even reconstructed the sequence of events.
However, they later retracted their confessions and their defense attorneys urged the court to disqualify them on the grounds that they had been solicited under what were described as “special investigative means” by the Shin Bet. The attorneys claim that forceful methods were employed.
The prosecution teams however argue that the confessions are valid and that there is no reason to strike them from the evidence compiled against the defendants, particularly since there is no correlation between the means used and the confessions that were given on the days in which “special means” were not used.
According to the prosecution, the confessions were given on days subsequent to the use of the special means. Nullifying the confessions could influence the entire legal proceedings, they argue, since they constitute a central pillar of the case.
“Special investigative means” are used against people suspected of carrying out terror attacks and authorized only in cases involving what is commonly known as a “ticking time bomb,” meaning that the perpetrators may still be able to carry out further attacks.
Ben-Uliel remained silent for 17 days during his investigation, prompting the Shin Bet to change tack and employ what is known as “investigation of necessity” after receiving permission from the former attorney general Yehuda Weinstein. During the “investigation of necessity”, Ben-Uliel confessed to throwing a Molotov Cocktail into the Dawabsheh home which killed three family members.
This testimony was originally stricken from the record but four days later, follow-up investigations were carried out against Ben-Uliel during which he not only confessed again, but also reconstructed the attack, sharing details about the incident that could only have been known by the perpetrator.
These confessions, the judges concluded on Tuesday, were still valid and used as fundamental pieces of evidence in the case. The testimony provided by the second defendant is also valid and may serve to incriminate his co-conspirator.
According to the judges presiding over the trial, “special investigative means” to prevent a Jewish terror attack were justified in the case of the minor.
“The assumption of the Shin Bet investigators that the accused belonged to a rebellious network was reasonable and anchored in evidence,” a statement said. “The objectives of the investigation were of a preventive nature. To thwart future plans, the investigators needed to act to understand attacks that had been carried out by members of the rebellious network, including the attack in Duma.”
However, the judges took issue with the methods used in the “special investigative means.”
“These means struck a severe blow to the rights of the accused to protect the body and mind. Moreover, the dignity of the accused was harmed,” they added.
This, they explained, justified erasing the confessions but they also noted that their conclusion was only applicable to this particular case, and had no bearing on other trials. “This is a ruling that relates to this case only,” they emphasized.
The father of the minor said that he was pleased with the decision. “We are happy that justice has come to light and that the court ruled that our son is in no way linked to Duma. The decision by the court confirms what we have been saying the entire time: Our son underwent serious abuse during his investigation,” the father said, adding that the interrogation had caused his son to suffer from post trauma to the present day.
“We stand firm on our demand that an independent committee be immediately established to investigate the abuse and the legal authorization that was granted,” he added. “We demand that our son be released immediately from his harsh arrest and from his complete isolation.”
The lawyer representing the minor, Zion Amir, said that he believed his client would be released shortly from his arrest after two years in custody.
The Shin Bet also released a statement after the court decision.
“Regarding the defendant Amiram Ben-Uliel, to whom the murder itself is attributed, the court ruled that his confessions are valid and were given at free will,” the statement said, before turning to the minor.
“Regarding the minor, who stands accused of, among other things, conspiring to commit murder, the court decided that part of his confessions that were given by him may be used against him in legal proceedings. It should be emphasized that Shin Bet investigations are an important and central component of thwarting terror attacks of all kinds and of cracking serious terror attacks,” it pointed out.
“The information that is obtained in Shin Bet investigations saves countless lives and constitutes a tremendous contribution to state security.”
Despite the public interest in the case, judges acceded to a request submitted by the defense counsel that the legal discussions take place behind closed doors. Recently however, 20,000 copies of confidential documents concerning the findings of the investigation were distributed in synagogues across the West Bank and Jerusalem.
Each of the distributed copies includes some 15 pages of courtroom protocols from the trial.
According to the State Attorney's Office, the motive for the crime was the desire to avenge the murder of terror victim Malachi Rosenfeld who was shot dead in the vicinity of Binyamin Regional Council's Shvut Rachel settlement.
Recently, dozens of prominent Religious Zionist rabbis called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked to halt legal proceedings against the suspects, claiming that Shin Bet investigators had tortured them. The rabbis therefore demanded that an investigative committee be created to look into the matter.
15 june 2018
Amiram Ben Uliel, who was indicted in the Dawabsheh family’s murder
‘Jews Don’t Torture Jews’ organization hands out some 20,000 copies of confidential courtroom documents concerning July 2015 murder of three members of the Dawabsheh family in synagogues across Judea and Samaria and Jerusalem, ahead of court decision on submissibility of confessions extracted from defendants by Shin Bet.
Confidential documents concerning the findings of the investigation into the July 2015 arson attack at the Palestinian village of Duma were distributed Friday in 20,000 copies in synagogues across Judea and Samaria and Jerusalem.
Each of the distributed copies includes some 15 pages of courtroom protocols from the trial of the men charged with the murder of three members of the Dawabsheh family.
Court discussions in the affair have been held behind closed doors since charges were filed against the main suspect in the arson, Amiram Ben-Uliel, and another Jewish minor.
The documents were handed out by the Yehudi Lo Me’ane Yehudi (“Jews Don’t Torture Jews”) organization, which helps Hilltop Youth who are detained and investigated by the Shin Bet’s Jewish Division on suspicion of carrying out “price tag” activities against Arabs.
The courtroom protocol pages were distributed ahead of the Lod District Court’s decision on Tuesday regarding the submissibility of the culprits’ confessions in the affair. Their lawyers, on behalf of the Honenu legal aid organization, say the confessions were collected by means of torture. The culprits are waging an extensive legal battle against the Shin Bet investigators’ conduct in their interrogations.
The State Attorney’s Office offered the following response: “We would like to reiterate that the court has issued an order banning the publication of any detail pertaining to the identity of the minor and any detail related to the modi operandi and measures used by the General Security Service in the affair’s investigation. The discussions are held behind closed doors and their content must not be published.”
Reham and Saed Dawabsheh were critically hurt in a firebombing of their home on July 31, 2015. Their 18-month-old son, Ali, was killed on the spot. The father, Saed, succumbed to his wounds after several days in hospital, and his wife died about a month later. The couple’s other son, four-year-old Ahmed, was seriously wounded in the attack. He was hospitalized at the Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer and underwent long treatments.
A security forces and Shin Bet investigation revealed that the arson was a Jewish terror attack, as the walls outside the houses were sprayed with the writings "Long live Messiah the king" and "Revenge” alongside a drawing of a Star of David.
Five minutes after the attack, the State Attorney’s Office filed indictments against two Jewish terrorists for the murder of the Dawabsheh family members and for being part of a terror organization. The motive, according to the State Attorney’s Office, was their desire to avenge the murder of Malachi Rosenfeld, who was shot to death in a terror attack near the settlement of Shvut Rachel in the Binyamin region.
‘Jews Don’t Torture Jews’ organization hands out some 20,000 copies of confidential courtroom documents concerning July 2015 murder of three members of the Dawabsheh family in synagogues across Judea and Samaria and Jerusalem, ahead of court decision on submissibility of confessions extracted from defendants by Shin Bet.
Confidential documents concerning the findings of the investigation into the July 2015 arson attack at the Palestinian village of Duma were distributed Friday in 20,000 copies in synagogues across Judea and Samaria and Jerusalem.
Each of the distributed copies includes some 15 pages of courtroom protocols from the trial of the men charged with the murder of three members of the Dawabsheh family.
Court discussions in the affair have been held behind closed doors since charges were filed against the main suspect in the arson, Amiram Ben-Uliel, and another Jewish minor.
The documents were handed out by the Yehudi Lo Me’ane Yehudi (“Jews Don’t Torture Jews”) organization, which helps Hilltop Youth who are detained and investigated by the Shin Bet’s Jewish Division on suspicion of carrying out “price tag” activities against Arabs.
The courtroom protocol pages were distributed ahead of the Lod District Court’s decision on Tuesday regarding the submissibility of the culprits’ confessions in the affair. Their lawyers, on behalf of the Honenu legal aid organization, say the confessions were collected by means of torture. The culprits are waging an extensive legal battle against the Shin Bet investigators’ conduct in their interrogations.
The State Attorney’s Office offered the following response: “We would like to reiterate that the court has issued an order banning the publication of any detail pertaining to the identity of the minor and any detail related to the modi operandi and measures used by the General Security Service in the affair’s investigation. The discussions are held behind closed doors and their content must not be published.”
Reham and Saed Dawabsheh were critically hurt in a firebombing of their home on July 31, 2015. Their 18-month-old son, Ali, was killed on the spot. The father, Saed, succumbed to his wounds after several days in hospital, and his wife died about a month later. The couple’s other son, four-year-old Ahmed, was seriously wounded in the attack. He was hospitalized at the Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer and underwent long treatments.
A security forces and Shin Bet investigation revealed that the arson was a Jewish terror attack, as the walls outside the houses were sprayed with the writings "Long live Messiah the king" and "Revenge” alongside a drawing of a Star of David.
Five minutes after the attack, the State Attorney’s Office filed indictments against two Jewish terrorists for the murder of the Dawabsheh family members and for being part of a terror organization. The motive, according to the State Attorney’s Office, was their desire to avenge the murder of Malachi Rosenfeld, who was shot to death in a terror attack near the settlement of Shvut Rachel in the Binyamin region.
11 may 2018
A group of fanatic illegal Israeli colonizers hurled, on Friday at dawn, fire bombs at a home of the Dawabsha family in Douma village, south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus.
Media sources in Nablus said the Israeli assailants hurled many firebombs into the home of Yasser Ahmad Dawabsha, as he and his family were sleeping.
They also caused damaged to the iron bars on the windows of the house and fled the scene.
The family, and neighbors rushed to extinguish the fire before Palestinian firefighters arrived at the scene and safely extinguished it.
Although the attack led to excessive property damage, the family managed to escape physically unharmed.
It is worth mentioning that on July 30th 2015, a group of terrorist Israeli colonizers hurled firebombs into the home of Sa’ad Dawabsha, 32, in a similar dawn attack, leading to his death along with his wife Reham, 27, and their 18-month-old Ali. The only survivor was their son Ahmad, 5.
Media sources in Nablus said the Israeli assailants hurled many firebombs into the home of Yasser Ahmad Dawabsha, as he and his family were sleeping.
They also caused damaged to the iron bars on the windows of the house and fled the scene.
The family, and neighbors rushed to extinguish the fire before Palestinian firefighters arrived at the scene and safely extinguished it.
Although the attack led to excessive property damage, the family managed to escape physically unharmed.
It is worth mentioning that on July 30th 2015, a group of terrorist Israeli colonizers hurled firebombs into the home of Sa’ad Dawabsha, 32, in a similar dawn attack, leading to his death along with his wife Reham, 27, and their 18-month-old Ali. The only survivor was their son Ahmad, 5.
24 apr 2018
Facts on the ground show that Israel’s investment in the occupied West Bank is much more than the one inside the occupied 1948 borders. Within this context, the Israeli government allocated NIS 417,000,000 for developing settlements, in the Dead Sea area, in order to attract more settlers, expand the settlements outside the Green Line and Judaize it.
According to the above information, the budget is not allocated to remedy the Dead Sea drought, but to strengthen and support the settlement outside of the Green Line, within the so-called “Regional Council Megillot”, north of the Dead Sea, which means expansion under the slogan of development of tourism and maintenance of road no. 90.
In turn, Head of the Tamar Regional Council and a member of Kibbutz Ein Gedi, Dov Latinov, said the decision will serve as a lifeline to save the Dead Sea and to further develop the settlements there, as the sea is an irreplaceable national treasure,” after the government decision.
According to the PNN, the Jordan Valley region is considered part of the Afro-Asian crater pit, one of the lowest in the world, located at a low of about 380 miles below sea level. The Palestinian Jordan Valley stretches along the eastern side of the West Bank, from Ein Gedi (the Dead Sea) southward, to the so-called “Tal Makhkhoz”, on the borders of Bisan, northward inside the Green Line, and from the Jordan River in the east to the eastern slopes of the West Bank of the Jordan Valley in the west. This area accounts for 28.5% of the West Bank 2,400 sq km. Settler profits through investment in the northern Jordan Valley amount to $ 650,000,000, annually.
At the same time, the attacks and violations of the “pay the price gangs”, against Palestinians and their properties, escalated under the protection of the occupation government and silent encouragement from the American administration, during the past week. These terrorist groups carried out several attacks, including those perpetrated against the the eastern village of Lubban, attacking citizens’ property and assaulting farmers from the village of Madma, during the plowing of their land, and forcing them to leave by way of tear gas bombs.
Moreover, they assaulted the villagers of Al-Tawana in Mafassar Yatta, threw rocks at them, attacked a school bus in Yatta, resulting in the injury of 13-year-old Ahmed Abu Aram, as well as assaults on students in the Salameh neighborhood, in the Old City of Hebron, puncturing the tires of 45 vehicles in the village of Burqa, east of Ramallah, and cutting down about 100 olive fruitful trees in the village of Burin, south of Nablus, and 15 others in the Urief village.
For their part, settlers launched a campaign on Facebook, calling for the killing of Palestinians, to slaughter and burn them, calling hospital maternity wards and threatening to cut off the heads of recently born babies. Another said, “We must revenge for every Jew injured or killed.”
Within this context, the occupation Attorney General decided to abandon the confessions of the perpetrators of the arson attack on the Dawabsha family, in the village of Douma, south of the city of Nablus, 2 years ago, under the pretext that the confessions were illegal because they were obtained in an unusual way. Moreover, the Israeli Kern Keimet Fund decided not to allow the establishment of a memorial for Mohammed Abu Khdeir, who died after he was burned alive, in a crime committed by 3 Israeli settlers in July of 2014, in a forest around Jerusalem.
On the other hand, the 3rd annual report of the Palestinian Center for Israeli Studies (MADAR), on the “Register of racist and supportive laws for the occupation and settlement,” finds that the situation has been escalated, and even accelerated, by the Israeli right to enact legislation aimed at consecrating Israeli control of as much of the West Bank as possible.
During the 3 years of the parliamentary mandate of the Knesset, 185 laws were enacted, including 54 that were passed or entered into legislation. This clearly implies the involvement of the Knesset in imposing racist legislation aimed at restricting Palestinian citizens and controlling their land and property. Pal Legislation on the Judaization of Jerusalem and legislation on settlement expansion, since the beginning of the Knesset’s 20 mandate, has dealt with 43 laws for the direct and indirect annexation of the occupied West Bank or settlements.
The most important laws that have finally been passed are the Land Grab and Land Privileges Law, the Law for the Consolidation of Jerusalem, the Israeli Higher Education Law on Settlements Institutes, the University in Ariel, and 2 other academic colleges.
The National Bureau said that the positions of US officials helped in radicalizing the behavior of Israelis in general, and settlers in particular, and pointed out that the new escalation in attacks and violations of the terrorist “paying the price gangs” would not have continued seriously in the last few days and weeks, otherwise.
According to the above information, the budget is not allocated to remedy the Dead Sea drought, but to strengthen and support the settlement outside of the Green Line, within the so-called “Regional Council Megillot”, north of the Dead Sea, which means expansion under the slogan of development of tourism and maintenance of road no. 90.
In turn, Head of the Tamar Regional Council and a member of Kibbutz Ein Gedi, Dov Latinov, said the decision will serve as a lifeline to save the Dead Sea and to further develop the settlements there, as the sea is an irreplaceable national treasure,” after the government decision.
According to the PNN, the Jordan Valley region is considered part of the Afro-Asian crater pit, one of the lowest in the world, located at a low of about 380 miles below sea level. The Palestinian Jordan Valley stretches along the eastern side of the West Bank, from Ein Gedi (the Dead Sea) southward, to the so-called “Tal Makhkhoz”, on the borders of Bisan, northward inside the Green Line, and from the Jordan River in the east to the eastern slopes of the West Bank of the Jordan Valley in the west. This area accounts for 28.5% of the West Bank 2,400 sq km. Settler profits through investment in the northern Jordan Valley amount to $ 650,000,000, annually.
At the same time, the attacks and violations of the “pay the price gangs”, against Palestinians and their properties, escalated under the protection of the occupation government and silent encouragement from the American administration, during the past week. These terrorist groups carried out several attacks, including those perpetrated against the the eastern village of Lubban, attacking citizens’ property and assaulting farmers from the village of Madma, during the plowing of their land, and forcing them to leave by way of tear gas bombs.
Moreover, they assaulted the villagers of Al-Tawana in Mafassar Yatta, threw rocks at them, attacked a school bus in Yatta, resulting in the injury of 13-year-old Ahmed Abu Aram, as well as assaults on students in the Salameh neighborhood, in the Old City of Hebron, puncturing the tires of 45 vehicles in the village of Burqa, east of Ramallah, and cutting down about 100 olive fruitful trees in the village of Burin, south of Nablus, and 15 others in the Urief village.
For their part, settlers launched a campaign on Facebook, calling for the killing of Palestinians, to slaughter and burn them, calling hospital maternity wards and threatening to cut off the heads of recently born babies. Another said, “We must revenge for every Jew injured or killed.”
Within this context, the occupation Attorney General decided to abandon the confessions of the perpetrators of the arson attack on the Dawabsha family, in the village of Douma, south of the city of Nablus, 2 years ago, under the pretext that the confessions were illegal because they were obtained in an unusual way. Moreover, the Israeli Kern Keimet Fund decided not to allow the establishment of a memorial for Mohammed Abu Khdeir, who died after he was burned alive, in a crime committed by 3 Israeli settlers in July of 2014, in a forest around Jerusalem.
On the other hand, the 3rd annual report of the Palestinian Center for Israeli Studies (MADAR), on the “Register of racist and supportive laws for the occupation and settlement,” finds that the situation has been escalated, and even accelerated, by the Israeli right to enact legislation aimed at consecrating Israeli control of as much of the West Bank as possible.
During the 3 years of the parliamentary mandate of the Knesset, 185 laws were enacted, including 54 that were passed or entered into legislation. This clearly implies the involvement of the Knesset in imposing racist legislation aimed at restricting Palestinian citizens and controlling their land and property. Pal Legislation on the Judaization of Jerusalem and legislation on settlement expansion, since the beginning of the Knesset’s 20 mandate, has dealt with 43 laws for the direct and indirect annexation of the occupied West Bank or settlements.
The most important laws that have finally been passed are the Land Grab and Land Privileges Law, the Law for the Consolidation of Jerusalem, the Israeli Higher Education Law on Settlements Institutes, the University in Ariel, and 2 other academic colleges.
The National Bureau said that the positions of US officials helped in radicalizing the behavior of Israelis in general, and settlers in particular, and pointed out that the new escalation in attacks and violations of the terrorist “paying the price gangs” would not have continued seriously in the last few days and weeks, otherwise.
14 mar 2018
The two defendants: Ben-Uliel and the second suspect
Families of main defendant Amiram Ben-Uliel and another suspect say state has asked the district court to recognize 'special measures' used in interrogations as lawful and submissible in court; 'They're asking a court in Israel to recognize torture as legal,' relative says.
Judges at the Lod District Court are due to determine Thursday whether the confessions extracted from the defendants in the Duma arson case were legally obtained in light of the use of "special measures" in the interrogation room.
The attack, which took place in late July 2015, claimed the lives of three members of the Dawabsheh family and left another seriously wounded. Two Jewish suspects were arrested and indicted in the case, Amiram Ben-Uliel and another suspect, who was a minor at the time of the attack.
Ben-Uliel was charged with three counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder, two counts of arson, and one count of conspiring to commit a nationalistically-motivated crime. The second suspect was charged with one count of conspiring to commit a nationalistically-motivated crime. He is also suspected of involvement in the arson at Dormition Abbey.
Their trial has been ongoing away from the media spotlight.
The submissibility of the defendants' confessions is an important question, as according to Shin Bet investigators, the confessions serve as the "golden evidence" in the case.
According to the defendants' families, the state has asked the court to recognize the "necessity investigations"—in which physical measures were used—as legal.
While the state's request does note that torture is forbidden and wrong in investigations in Israel, the prosecution has nevertheless asked the court to determine that the measures used in the interrogation of Ben-Uliel and the second defendant "are not improper measures or measures used unlawfully," as well as rule that "the torture was legally carried out," according to the suspects' families.
"Everything is done under secrecy; everything is done away from the public eye. Any citizen who would've seen this request would not have been able to fall asleep at night," sources from the second defendant's family told Ynet. "They're asking a court in Israel to recognize torture as legal. This is delusional, it's concerning and above all, it is patently illegal."
Dozens of hearings were held to examine the submissibility of the confessions, in which many Shin Bet and police officials testified about the manner of investigation and the special measures that were used.
During these discussions, the prosecution tried to convince the judges that despite the use of "the unusual measures" in the interrogation of the defendants, their confessions were given "willingly," according to the families.
"To show that torture is not so terrible, the prosecution dares to write to the court that while torturing, they stuck to the rules, used judgment, and the most outrageous thing—they write that everything has been done while 'maintaining the defendants' dignity as much as possible.' They were tortured while their dignity was maintained—that's what an official document by the State of Israel says in 2018. It's unbelievable," one relative said.
Families of main defendant Amiram Ben-Uliel and another suspect say state has asked the district court to recognize 'special measures' used in interrogations as lawful and submissible in court; 'They're asking a court in Israel to recognize torture as legal,' relative says.
Judges at the Lod District Court are due to determine Thursday whether the confessions extracted from the defendants in the Duma arson case were legally obtained in light of the use of "special measures" in the interrogation room.
The attack, which took place in late July 2015, claimed the lives of three members of the Dawabsheh family and left another seriously wounded. Two Jewish suspects were arrested and indicted in the case, Amiram Ben-Uliel and another suspect, who was a minor at the time of the attack.
Ben-Uliel was charged with three counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder, two counts of arson, and one count of conspiring to commit a nationalistically-motivated crime. The second suspect was charged with one count of conspiring to commit a nationalistically-motivated crime. He is also suspected of involvement in the arson at Dormition Abbey.
Their trial has been ongoing away from the media spotlight.
The submissibility of the defendants' confessions is an important question, as according to Shin Bet investigators, the confessions serve as the "golden evidence" in the case.
According to the defendants' families, the state has asked the court to recognize the "necessity investigations"—in which physical measures were used—as legal.
While the state's request does note that torture is forbidden and wrong in investigations in Israel, the prosecution has nevertheless asked the court to determine that the measures used in the interrogation of Ben-Uliel and the second defendant "are not improper measures or measures used unlawfully," as well as rule that "the torture was legally carried out," according to the suspects' families.
"Everything is done under secrecy; everything is done away from the public eye. Any citizen who would've seen this request would not have been able to fall asleep at night," sources from the second defendant's family told Ynet. "They're asking a court in Israel to recognize torture as legal. This is delusional, it's concerning and above all, it is patently illegal."
Dozens of hearings were held to examine the submissibility of the confessions, in which many Shin Bet and police officials testified about the manner of investigation and the special measures that were used.
During these discussions, the prosecution tried to convince the judges that despite the use of "the unusual measures" in the interrogation of the defendants, their confessions were given "willingly," according to the families.
"To show that torture is not so terrible, the prosecution dares to write to the court that while torturing, they stuck to the rules, used judgment, and the most outrageous thing—they write that everything has been done while 'maintaining the defendants' dignity as much as possible.' They were tortured while their dignity was maintained—that's what an official document by the State of Israel says in 2018. It's unbelievable," one relative said.
9 jan 2018
Child Ahmed Dawabsha returned from the school named after his brother Ali, in the village of Duma south of Nablus, full of happiness, after he excelled in his study, carrying his school certificate, with the features of happiness drawn on his face.
However, Ahmed did not find his parents at home to receive him and embrace or kiss him, as his parents and infant brother were burned by Israeli settlers almost three years ago.
Success dedication
Immediately after receiving his school certificate, Ahmed said he dedicates his success to the memory of his parents and brother, and all Palestinian martyrs and prisoners, expressing his pride for what he has achieved in his school.
Ahmed, the only survivor from the Dawabsha family, received his second-grade school certificate for the first semester of the school year, earning very good grades, and some of his grades were excellent. He carried his school certificate to his family’s house quickly, full of joy.
Tears of joy
Despite the loss of the family, Ahmed was received by a smile and joy upon his return from school, by his relatives, where tears of joy merged with grief, with his grandmother embracing and kissing him, congratulating him on his success, in an attempt to compensate him for his mother’s tenderness, who was killed by Israeli terrorist and criminal settlers, without being punished for their crime.
The Dawabsha family members are trying to help Ahmed overcome his psychological suffering and loss of parents’ care and compassion.
His uncle, Nasser Dawabsha, told the PIC: “We do our best so that he does not feel the absence of his parents. His mother was dreaming of seeing him as a successful doctor. She wanted his brother Ali to learn from him when he grows up, and we encourage him to realize his mother’s dream.”
He noted that Ahmed is learning English now and receives courses on explaining and exposing the crime of Israeli settlers who burned his family alive.
The joy of his colleagues
As for the joy of his colleagues, Khalid Mahmoud, from the second grade at the school, said Ahmed was happy to receive his certificate and quickly returned to his relatives (to tell them of his success).
He adds, “We used to play at school together, and now because of the school holidays, we go to Ahmed’s house and play together. He is happy with us, and sometimes he wishes if he could return to his home to find his mother who would embrace him like other mothers do to their children. He sometimes cries (when he remembers his parents).”
However, Ahmed did not find his parents at home to receive him and embrace or kiss him, as his parents and infant brother were burned by Israeli settlers almost three years ago.
Success dedication
Immediately after receiving his school certificate, Ahmed said he dedicates his success to the memory of his parents and brother, and all Palestinian martyrs and prisoners, expressing his pride for what he has achieved in his school.
Ahmed, the only survivor from the Dawabsha family, received his second-grade school certificate for the first semester of the school year, earning very good grades, and some of his grades were excellent. He carried his school certificate to his family’s house quickly, full of joy.
Tears of joy
Despite the loss of the family, Ahmed was received by a smile and joy upon his return from school, by his relatives, where tears of joy merged with grief, with his grandmother embracing and kissing him, congratulating him on his success, in an attempt to compensate him for his mother’s tenderness, who was killed by Israeli terrorist and criminal settlers, without being punished for their crime.
The Dawabsha family members are trying to help Ahmed overcome his psychological suffering and loss of parents’ care and compassion.
His uncle, Nasser Dawabsha, told the PIC: “We do our best so that he does not feel the absence of his parents. His mother was dreaming of seeing him as a successful doctor. She wanted his brother Ali to learn from him when he grows up, and we encourage him to realize his mother’s dream.”
He noted that Ahmed is learning English now and receives courses on explaining and exposing the crime of Israeli settlers who burned his family alive.
The joy of his colleagues
As for the joy of his colleagues, Khalid Mahmoud, from the second grade at the school, said Ahmed was happy to receive his certificate and quickly returned to his relatives (to tell them of his success).
He adds, “We used to play at school together, and now because of the school holidays, we go to Ahmed’s house and play together. He is happy with us, and sometimes he wishes if he could return to his home to find his mother who would embrace him like other mothers do to their children. He sometimes cries (when he remembers his parents).”
20 nov 2017
Lawyers representing five teenagers charged with incitement to violence and terrorism have the charges dropped over technical issue; judge doesn't rule out re-filing indictments after corrections are made.
The Jerusalem Magistrate's Court dismissed on Monday five indictments against teenagers who participated in what became known as the "wedding of hate."
Videos filmed at the Jerusalem wedding of Yakir and Ronny Ashbal in December 2015 show guests dancing while brandishing firearms and Molotov cocktails, and mocking the murder of Palestinian baby Ali Dawabshe—who was burned to death along with his parents in an arson attack at his home in Duma—by stabbing a photo of his with a knife and trying to set it on fire
A year ago, the Jerusalem District Attorney charged 13 of the wedding guests, including five minors, with incitement to violence and terrorism and the unlawful possession of weapons.
After the trial had begun, the minors' lawyers learned that when filing the indictments, the District Attorney's Office did not present an authorization from the attorney general—which is necessary for such indictments against minors—and asked to dismiss the case on those grounds.
The District Attorney's Office claimed they obtained this authorization, which was sent to them via email.
Judge Shimon Leybo determined there were flaws in the filing of the indictments and that the necessary authorization had not been obtained on time.
The judge did note he would not prevent the prosecution from re-filing the indictments after the necessary corrections are made.
Public Defense lawyer Moriya Sasson, who represents one of the defendants, said in response: "It turns out the filing of the indictment in this case was done in a flawed manner. The District Attorney's Office was more focused on public relations and their image than professional considerations."
Adv. Sinaia Harizi-Moses of the Honenu organization added, "I was happy to hear the court's decision, which brought justice where there was an attempt to allow the harming of minors in hindsight."
The Jerusalem Magistrate's Court dismissed on Monday five indictments against teenagers who participated in what became known as the "wedding of hate."
Videos filmed at the Jerusalem wedding of Yakir and Ronny Ashbal in December 2015 show guests dancing while brandishing firearms and Molotov cocktails, and mocking the murder of Palestinian baby Ali Dawabshe—who was burned to death along with his parents in an arson attack at his home in Duma—by stabbing a photo of his with a knife and trying to set it on fire
A year ago, the Jerusalem District Attorney charged 13 of the wedding guests, including five minors, with incitement to violence and terrorism and the unlawful possession of weapons.
After the trial had begun, the minors' lawyers learned that when filing the indictments, the District Attorney's Office did not present an authorization from the attorney general—which is necessary for such indictments against minors—and asked to dismiss the case on those grounds.
The District Attorney's Office claimed they obtained this authorization, which was sent to them via email.
Judge Shimon Leybo determined there were flaws in the filing of the indictments and that the necessary authorization had not been obtained on time.
The judge did note he would not prevent the prosecution from re-filing the indictments after the necessary corrections are made.
Public Defense lawyer Moriya Sasson, who represents one of the defendants, said in response: "It turns out the filing of the indictment in this case was done in a flawed manner. The District Attorney's Office was more focused on public relations and their image than professional considerations."
Adv. Sinaia Harizi-Moses of the Honenu organization added, "I was happy to hear the court's decision, which brought justice where there was an attempt to allow the harming of minors in hindsight."
11 sept 2017
Israeli former Chief of Israeli occupation forces, Moshe Ya’alon, called out the Israeli government and bore it the responsibility over the arson attack and subsequent murder of the Dawabsha family, near Douma town in the West Bank.
Ya’alon said, in a statement to Israeli radio, that Dawabsha family’s death was “on our hands”.
Ya’alon also said, according to Al Ray Palestinian News Agency, “When we evacuated Beit El homes years ago, the settlers threw stones at our soldiers, the Ministry of Education attacked us and demanded to attack the Supreme Court officials; therefore, it is not surprising that we have {those} who burn mosques and churches, cut down olive trees, and burn the whole family alive in Douma, don’t be shocked.”
The extremist Israeli settlers burnt Dawabsha family’s home in July 2015, resulted in killing the parents and their infant.
Ya’alon said, in a statement to Israeli radio, that Dawabsha family’s death was “on our hands”.
Ya’alon also said, according to Al Ray Palestinian News Agency, “When we evacuated Beit El homes years ago, the settlers threw stones at our soldiers, the Ministry of Education attacked us and demanded to attack the Supreme Court officials; therefore, it is not surprising that we have {those} who burn mosques and churches, cut down olive trees, and burn the whole family alive in Douma, don’t be shocked.”
The extremist Israeli settlers burnt Dawabsha family’s home in July 2015, resulted in killing the parents and their infant.
