Palestinian/ Israeli update 5/11/2016..Israel seals off Palestinian territories on Nakba Day as Egypt opens Rafah for two days
With Israel’s help settler group builds office on seized land in al-Quds
Israel seals off Palestinian territories on Nakba Day
The Israeli military has enforced tough restrictions across the occupied territories as Palestinians mark the 68th anniversary of the Nakba Day while Israelis hold celebrations. This is the day when hundreds of thousands of Palestinian were expelled from their homes.
Egypt opens Gaza border crossing for 2 days
The Rafah border crossing will remain open for two days. The closure by Egyptian authorities has worsened the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip which has been under Israel’s all-out siege since 2007. Egypt has already destroyed tunnels linking Gaza to the outside world. Palestinians use the tunnel to bring in necessary supplies. Under President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Egypt has taken a tough line on the Gaza Strip whose one-point-six million population is facing numerous hardships due to the Israeli blockade.
Israel arrests award winning Palestinian academic
Racist Israeli Court Convicts Palestinian Boy of Attempted Murder
by Stephen Lendman
Ahmad Salih Manasra was aged-13 when accused of attempted murder involving an alleged stabbing attack.
Israel is a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It states adulthood begins at age 18. “(C)hildren are entitled to special care and assistance…including appropriate legal protection.”
Israel tries Palestinians aged 14 or older as adults, denying them legal protection international law requires.
Ahmad was aged 13 at the time of the alleged attack – seriously injured after an Israeli driver ran him over with his car, unaccountable attempted murder, no charges filed.
Video footage went viral, showing him lying helpless on the ground in pain, an Israeli bystander shouting: “Die, you son of a whore.” Another urged police to kill him. Others spat on him.
The incident claimed the life of Ahmad’s cousin, 15-year-old Hassan Manasra, murdered in cold blood by Israeli security forces.
Last November, leaked video of Ahmad’s interrogation showed him harshly treated, screamed at, intimidated, terrorized, accused of attempted murder, his legal rights as a child ignored.
Israel’s justice ministry wants legislation enacted, allowing (Palestinian) children young as 12 to be tried and imprisoned if convicted of murder, attempted murder or manslaughter.
Israel already treats Palestinian children like adults, denying them rights afforded Jews.
Last October, a Jerusalem district court charged Ahmad with two counts of attempted murder. He denied involvement in what happened.
Israeli law stipulates children under age 14 can’t be imprisoned. Trial proceedings were delayed until after Ahmad’s 14th birthday.
Palestinian Committee of Prisoners’ Affairs lawyer Tariq Barghouth called convicting him “contestable,” saying the ruling will likely be appealed, adding:
“We hope the Supreme Court will view this humanitarian case differently” from the district one, Ahmad’s wrongful conviction more evidence of “double standard” justice.
Sentencing hasn’t so far been announced. Ahmad faces up to 20 years in prison for a crime he insists he didn’t commit.
Guilt by accusation is automatic in how justice is dispensed for Palestinians. Institutionalized racism denies them all rights.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at [email protected].
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.
Source: http://blogdogcicle.blogspot.com/2016/05/palestinian-israeli-update_11.html
