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Israeli
Killer Soldier Charged with |
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By
Stephen Lendman |
| Israeli soldiers and police kill Palestinians routinely with impunity.
Israel placed a gag order on the identity of the soldier responsible for murdering a Palestinian victim lying helplessly wounded on the ground, claiming “he deserved to die.” Justice demands first degree murder charges. Just societies accept no less. Soldier X was charged with manslaughter. Regime officials and IDF commanders never face charges for their highest of high crimes, soldiers only rarely, hand-slap punishments only, not imprisonments doing hard time. When proceedings end, expect soldier X to get a light sentence, later reduced ahead of releasing him quietly, mocking judicial fairness. In contrast, Palestinian children convicted of stone-throwing, based on circumstantial or no evidence, face possible years in prison during their crucial formative years. Graphic video evidence and eyewitnesses revealed cold-blooded murder. A contrived narrative claims negligent homicide at worst, self-defense more likely from the nonexistent danger of a seriously wounded Palestinian victim lying helpless on the ground unable to harm anyone. It’s unknown so far if Israeli authorities intend keeping soldier X in custody throughout his trial proceedings, or if, more likely, they’ll release him on whatever arrangements are made. An autopsy on Palestinian victim Abd al-Fattah al-Sharif will be performed this Sunday. Israel’s High Court rejected a family appeal to allow a Palestinian doctor to participate in the procedure - only to be present while it’s ongoing, justices ruled, an offer family members rejected. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Rupert Colville expressed concern about an “extrajudicial execution of a Palestinian man,” not at all a lone incident. Numerous other disturbing ones involving soldiers killing Palestinians demand investigations and accountability, he stressed. Human rights groups repeatedly criticize Israeli lawlessness and brutality, crimes occurring daily. Guilty parties virtually always go unpunished or face meaningless wrist-slaps at most. Israel considers extrajudicial killings all in a day’s work. Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III." http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com. Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network. |
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