Israel declares shooting of American an "act of war"

[azurnoir]

Bethlehem – Ma’an – Israel has declared the shooting of unarmed American demonstrator Tristan Anderson in the West Bank to be an “act of war” in a bid to avoid compensating his family.

The Israeli Ministry of Defense sent a letter containing this declaration to the Anderson family’s lawyers, according to attorney Leah Tsemel who is perusing a civil suit against the Israeli government.


Anderson was critically injured on 13 March 2009 when Israeli soldiers shot him in the forehead with a high velocity tear gas canister during a demonstration against the separation wall in the West Bank village of Ni’lin. He remains unconscious in Tel Aviv’s Tel Hashomer Hospital, where he recently underwent another surgery to reattach part of his scull that was removed during life-saving surgery five months ago. Prospects for his recovery remain unclear.

Tsemel, the civil suit attorney told Ma’an that the “act of war” designation automatically releases the government from paying compensation under a recently-amended tort law. Israel makes this designation “all the time,” in tort cases involving Palestinian victims, she said.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=219888

[sakabatou]

1. ::facebludgeon::

[no_hypocrisy]

2. I don't think "Act of War" is recognized as a defense to this tort.

No more than "shit happens".

[Howardx]

3. israel declares war on the US?

you'd think this would be bigger news

[azurnoir]

4. I've been looking for other sources

you know those that some would call "more reliable" JPost or something and will keep checking

otherwise this is more news of the embarrassing at least for Israel

[shaayecanaan]

9. The ISM has confirmed the report...

http://palsolidarity.org/

For Immediate Release

18 August 2009: Israel declares the shooting of American activist, Tristan Anderson to be an “act of war.”

Tristan Anderson, an American national, was critically injured on 13 March 2009 when he was shot with a high velocity tear-gas projectile during an unarmed demonstration against the Wall in the West Bank village of Ni’lin (report and video: http://palsolidarity.org/2009/03/5324).

[azurnoir]

5. also I don't think this is a declaration of war with America

so much a statement that an American citizen was participating in a an "act of war" against Israel, but what the real rollover is here is that Israel has by implication declared that all civil protest in the West Bank is an "act of war"

[LeftishBrit]

6. All excellent points!

They haven't declared war on America, and would never be that suicidal and stupid; but if the report is accurate (which as you say IS an 'if') then it reflects an increasingly autocratic attitude to protest.

[Scurrilous]

7. In another case:

Israel pays NIS 3.25 million to protester shot by Border Police - 7/28/2009

<snip>

"The Defense Ministry has recently paid NIS 3.25 million in compensation to Limor Goldstein, 31, who was shot in the head by Border Policemen during an anti-separation fence protest in the West Bank town of Bil'in in 2006.

Goldstein filed a lawsuit against the state over disabilities incurred when a rubber bullet pierced his brain and traveled to his eye socket, his neck and his shoulder.

The lawsuit ended in a deal between the complainant and the state, which was authorized by the Tel Aviv district court. Under the terms of the deal, the state would pay Goldstein NIS 3.25 million while refraining from admitting any responsibility for the event or mentioning the extent of the damage, while Goldstein would be forbidden from filing any lawsuits on the matter in the future.

In the lawsuit, filed in 2007, Goldstein argued that he had suffered physical, psychological and neurological disabilities which posed an obstacle in his ability to earn a living as a lawyer. As part of the lawsuit, Goldstein presented a videotape of the moment in which he was hit by the rubber bullet.

The state reached an agreement with the complainant before having filed a defense with the court, thereby avoiding taking a stance on its culpability in the incident. Signing a deal also allowed the state to circumvent any judgments on it in similar cases."

more

[azurnoir]

8. Killing Peter to save Paul?

Guess they saw this one coming

[Kurska]

10. Um, what? That headline is horrible, out of context and just wrong.

Israel is trying to say that what they did was a military action and thus they don't have to pay the family for the damages.

Just like how russia isn't expected to pay for the damages they did in georgia, but thats just my take on it.