Soldier 'tried to cover up killing of British activist'

[Resistance]

By Inigo Gilmore in Jerusalem | The Telegraph

The Israeli soldier accused of killing Tom Hurndall, the British peace activist who died last week, tried to cover up his crime by asking for his commander's permission to shoot an "armed man" moments after he had already fired the fatal shot.

Details of the alleged attempt to cover up the killing are contained in the indictment against the soldier, which has been obtained by The Telegraph. It shows that Sgt Idier Wahid Taysir apparently went to great lengths to cover his tracks, firstly in the moments after the shooting and later by persuading another soldier to lie to army investigators.

The indictment is based on the apparent confession of Sgt Taysir, from the Bedouin unit in Rafah. In it, he changed earlier statements and admitted that he shot Mr Hurndall. This has opened the way for a groundbreaking military trial which could have major implications for the Israeli Defence Force.

A second soldier from his unit will also face charges after he allegedly gave false statements to try to conceal the incident.

[Resistance]

1. The Case That Wouldn't Close

good article by Sheila Samples


Hurndall joined the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) peace organization just a week prior to the attack. According to his mother, Jocelyn, entries in his journal indicate that it was obvious from his arrival that it was open season on international peace activists.

What is going on here? Why is there a blanket of silence from countries whose citizens are slain in broad daylight in defiance of international law, backed up with crime-scene photographs and legions of eye-witnesses? Since when does the United States government refuse to investigate the obvious cold-blooded murder of its citizens -- refuse to respond to parents who seek their help? Why are there no bellows of outrage from the British government, not only for Tom Hurndall, but for 54-year-old Iain Hook, who headed the UN program to rebuild Jenin and was shot in the back and killed in November 2002?

In May 2003, just four months before he succumbed to lukemia, Said met with Rachel Corrie's parents during one of his cross-country lecture jaunts. They told him that, upon returning to the US with their daughter's body, they immediately sought out their US senators, Democrats Patty Murray and Mary Cantwell, and told them their story. After receiving expressions of shock, outrage, and anger as well as promises of investigations, the two legislators returned to Washington. The Corries never heard from them again. The promised investigation simply didn't materialize.

Yet, the Hurndalls refuse to remain silent. They refused to accept an initial IDF report exonerating Israeli soldiers from blame. The case of Tom Hurndall became the case that wouldn't close. After relentless campaigning and exerting pressure upon both Britain and Israel, and after launching a months-long investigation on their own, which yielded 14 eye-witnesses, photographs and ballistic evidence, Israel arrested a soldier just one day before Turndall died, charged him with aggravated assault, and promised a "vigorous" investigation.

[madrchsod]

2. some things can`t

be ignored or swept away. someone has to be held in account for these murders.

[Resistance]

3. at least

there was enough pressure to investigate the Hurndall case.

Over in the U.S. the Corrie plea for an investigation has been entirely ignored.