U.S. demands IDF probe how American lost eye at West Bank protest

[Scurrilous]

Source: Haaretz

Emily Henochowicz, 21, an art student in New York, came to Israel six weeks ago as an exchange student at Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Jerusalem.

<snip>

"The United States embassy has demanded an investigation into how an American citizen lost her eye last week at the Qalandiyah checkpoint after being struck by a tear gas grenade.

Emily Henochowicz, 21, an art student in New York, came to Israel six weeks ago as an exchange student at Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Jerusalem. She has participated in a number of protests in the West Bank. Last Monday, after the takeover of the Mavi Marmara, Henochowicz took part in a demonstration at the Qalandiyah checkpoint together with a few dozen protesters. Border Policemen fired tear gas grenades to disperse the protest, one of which struck Henochowicz in the face. She was taken to Hadassah University Hospital, Ein Karem, where she underwent surgery. In addition to losing her left eye, Henochowicz is suffering from fractures to her face. She returned to the United States on Saturday night for continued treatment.

Henochowicz's father, a doctor, is originally from Israel and she also has Israeli citizenship.

The U.S. embassy has been in continuous touch with the family. Haaretz has learned that the embassy conveyed a demand that Israel investigate the incident. A Swedish activist, Soren Johanssen who was reportedly standing near Henochowicz, was quoted as saying: "They fired many canisters at us in rapid succession. One landed on either side of Emily, then the third one hit her in the face."

Another protester, Jonathan Pollak, was quoted as saying that Border Policemen had intentionally aimed at the demonstrators."

Read more: http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/u-s-demands-idf-probe-how-american-lost-eye-at-west-bank-protest-1.294566

[movonne]

1. and how about the dead american...

[Libertas1776]

6. Tsk tsk tsk

he only had dual citizenship with Turkey. This young lady has it with Israel. And we all know which passport holder gets the preferential treatment by the US State Department.:eyes: *sigh

[The abyss]

12. That American

Was born Furkan Dogan in Troy, New York.

He was executed while aboard the Mavi Marmara. Shot by pirates operating on the high seas.
http://abcnews.go.com/WN/Media/american-killed-gaza-aid-flotilla/story?id=10814848

[Hempathy]

2. Hamas did it.

duh.

[bahrbearian]

3. Either that or they were asking for It.

[yava]

7. Pardon bahrbearian: who was asking for it?

Please elaborate

[awoke_in_2003]

11. i think bahrbearian...

was being sarcastic.

[w4rma]

4. Cops the world over are power-corrupted and need to be watched extremely closely. (nt)

[SILVER__FOX52]

5. Most cops are young fools.

They are given specific or tacit permission for acts likes these by their superiors. We have the same problems here in the USA.

[mbperrin]

8. It was self-defense! She looked at them WITH HER EYE, using it

as a weapon. Poor guys had no choice but to respond in self-defense. Now they can get their medals, too!

[ShamelessHussy]

9. what about losing your life?

probably too sensitive a topic, eh... or i just hate 'jews' :shrug:

[CHIMO]

10. US Student Loses Eye After Israel Fires on West Bank Protest

JONATHAN POLLAK: Hi.

This took place the same day the flotilla was attacked, the next morning. And with the shock of realizing what happened, a spontaneous demonstration took place near the Qalandia checkpoint south of Ramallah. At its biggest stage, there were maybe about a hundred people there. And at the stage that Emily was hit, there were no more than twenty people. There were clashes, but they were definitely not out of control. There were maybe five youth throwing stones at over twenty border police officers, who were shooting tear-gas projectiles towards them from a very short distance, from a distance of maybe ten to fifteen meters, about thirty feet. And these distances, they don’t have to shoot projectiles; they can throw hand grenades that cause—that only disperse tear gas and cannot cause any damage.

At some point, they started shooting these tear-gas projectiles directly towards demonstrators in all directions. We started moving away. Emily was standing maybe ten meters away from where the clashes were taking place. And in these instances, these projectiles are very accurate. The border police officer that shot her shot her intentionally. She was holding—she was holding a flag and was very clearly not a threat to anyone, when she was shot or at any other stage. The projectile hit her in the face directly and caused the very serious injuries that you described before.
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/6/3/emily