Palestinians subjected to new Israeli technique called ‘the lottery’
If the story is true, it is deplorable, and I hope they punish the culprit severely. But it is quite unclear if it is true, because Palestinians kill each other regularly, for suspected collaboration, in feuds, or by accident from shooting in the air, and try to blame it on the Israelis whenever they can. B'tselem is an Israeli organization that dedicates itself to to Palestinian rights at the hands of the Israelis (the corresponding Palestinian organization would be ________?), but I would have a lot more respect for them if they also cared about Palestinian rights at the hands of other Palestinians. Their official position is that that is none of their business. So Arafat et. al. have basically had carte blanche in the territories.
Meanwhile, here's a story from the other side, of an old Israeli man killed while doing charity work. Let's not hold our breath waiting for a Palestinian investigation, shall we?
Elderly man stoned to death in Jordan Valley
By MATTHEW GUTMAN
After an arduous 12-hour search of the Jordan Valley using jeeps, helicopters, and dogs, security forces on Thursday discovered the mutilated and charred remains of Massoud Mahlouf Elon, 72, of Menahemya. Police believe he was killed by Palestinian terrorists.
"We have reason to believe that this murder was carried out for nationalistic reasons, though the investigation is still pending," said Judea and Samaria Police spokeswoman Galit Vinegrad.
Elon's family first reported his disappearance near midnight Wednesday to Tiberias police. Before dawn on Thursday, police began a feverish search of the area, which Elon regularly visited to distribute clothing among Beduin children.
With foreign media reports trickling in of an Israeli killed by Palestinians, police almost immediately suspected foul play and by Thursday morning Al-Aksa Martyrs Brigades began circulating leaflets taking responsibility for the murder. The leaflets claimed the group had avenged the IDF's killing of one of its members in the nearby Palestinian village of Tammun.
At the same time, the pan-Arab satellite station, Al-Jazeera, began reporting that Palestinians had shot and killed an Israeli and showed a blurred image of what was supposed to be an Israeli ID card.
Hundreds of police officers and volunteers fanned out across the Jordan Valley. By 1 p.m. an IAF helicopter located a charred car in Wadi el-Nakeb, a few kilometers from the Jordan Valley settlement of Bekaot. Search teams arrived at Elon's car to find his body almost completely incinerated and his face bashed beyond recognition, making it difficult for police to identify him. Witnesses said it appeared he had been stoned to death.
Police sources said that while Elon had reported his entrance to the Jordan Valley with the IDF, he did not have a two-way radio or a cellular phone and was unable to call for help.
Elon had roamed the area for years selling used clothes to local Beduin at low prices, said police. His son, Ya'acov, denied this, saying his father traveled the area in order to donate the clothes to locals.
"I begged him not to travel there," he added.
Both agreed that Elon enjoyed very friendly relations with the local Beduin, but according to police sources, Elon was an easy target. The amiable septuagenarian was known to have very poor eyesight. "Ultimately there is very little we can do to protect people who insist on traveling in dangerous areas. The Jordan Valley is very large and nearly empty, but the danger is not always far off," said Vinegrad.
Police and the IDF warn that Israelis should not travel in Arab areas without prior coordination with the IDF.
It was the first case of a terrorist murder in the area since a Palestinian infiltrated the settlement of Hamra in August, killing a woman and badly injuring her husband, before being killed himself by soldiers.
Elon's funeral will take place Friday at 10 a.m. at Tiberias Cemetery.
jpost.com |
