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Tuesday 06 Oct 2015 - 13:23 Makkah mean time-23-12-1436
(Image from Electronic Intifada)
West Bank, (IINA) - The routine brutality of Israeli troops was captured in a recent video from the occupied West Bank village of Nabi Saleh as it showed 12-year-old Mohammad Tamimi being violently arrested by a heavily armed soldier, Electronic Intifada reported.
The widely shared images illustrate the stark imbalance between Israel and the Palestinians.
Predictably, Israel and its supporters have tried to blame Mohammad’s family and neighbors for what he endured. Miri Regev, Israel’s openly racist culture minister, has even argued that the women who came to the boy’s aid should have been shot.
During the last few weeks, the Israeli government has approved tougher penalties for stone throwers. It has also broadened rules allowing soldiers to fire at protesters.
Until now, soldiers were supposedly, permitted to open fire only if they were in danger. Because of the new changes, they will be able to shoot at protesters if anyone in the vicinity is considered a risk.
In an interview with the Electronic Intifada, The father of the boy Bassem Tamimi pointed out that throwing stones is a tactic that has long been used by Palestinians living under Israeli occupation. Many Palestinians view throwing stones at the Israeli military as a form of unarmed resistance.
“Yes, we use stones to protect our land and our kids,” he said. “It is part of our way of struggle.”
Contrary to the impression conveyed by pro-Israel publications, it is not the youth of Nabi Saleh who provoke violence. Rather, the main source of violence is the Israeli occupation.
On the day of his son’s arrest in September, Israeli troops fired “rubber bullets, tear gas everywhere,” said Bassem. Those weapons have caused death and injuries to many Palestinians.
Bassem was arrested by Israeli forces in 2011. Following a trial in a military court, he was convicted of organizing protests that Israel views as illegal and of encouraging young people to throw stones.
In the few decades since the Oslo accords, Israel has stepped up its colonization of the West Bank, subjected Gaza to a siege and periodic bombing, and exacerbated its discrimination against Palestinian citizens.
SM/IINA
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