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PHRMG Hotline Update # 4/2001

Jerusalem, 11 November 2001

 CHILDREN ARE ALSO VICTIMS OF SETTLER VIOLENCE

 Since its inception in July 2001, the PHRMG Hotline has received and acted on many reports of settler violence against Palestinians. Unfortunately, young children are too often the victims and even the targets of such attacks. What follows are only some examples reported to the Hotline of children who have fallen victim to settler violence in recent months, where the parents have filed criminal complaints.

 Hebron Child Sustains Head Injury.  On 12 July 2001, 12-year-old Ahmed al-Khatib was walking home when a female settler hit him in the head, causing a deep cut.  The woman who hit the boy is notoriously aggressive and has participated in other similar attacks.  The Israeli police took the boy’s testimony when he was released from the hospital and took photos of his wounds.  The PHRMG is writing to the West Bank police to request information on the status of the case. 

Infant Killed, Two Children Injured in Hebron Attack.  On 19 July 2001, settlers opened fire on the car of the T’maizi family in Hebron.  Among the dead was Dia Marwan T’maizi (2 ½ months).  The four surviving passengers sustained injuries, including three-year-old Emira Wa’el T’maizi, and seventeen-year-old Hilmi Nijiib T’maizi. On 31 October 2001, the PHRMG wrote to Moshe Ariel, Chief of Investigations of the West Bank police, requesting information on the status of the case. No reply has been received to date. 

Armed Settlers Assault Palestinian in Nablus.  On 20 July 2001, a Palestinian man was driving with his 13-year-old son.  A group of settlers began throwing stones at the car as several other armed settlers looked on.  The man tried to escape the attack by driving down a side road, but he lost control and his car flipped over.

 Bethlehem Boy Run Over by Car.  On 8 November 2001, 5-year-old Adel al-Faroukh was playing on the sidewalk outside his house with other neighborhood children when a settler ran over him. Witnesses believe that the attack that occurred in Bethlehem, was purposeful. The child remains in al-Maqassed Hospital in Jerusalem, in serious condition, suffering from multiple leg fractures and skull injuries. Such hit-and-run “accidents” involving Palestinian children are, unfortunately, becoming increasingly common.

 On 10 November, the al-Faroukh family filed a criminal complaint against the settler, whom they could identify by appearance and believe that the police have picked him up. PHRMG staff visited Adel and his mother at the hospital today, and will follow up with the police to try to ensure that the settler is arrested and prosecuted. The al-Maqassed Hospital administration has a policy of encouraging victims of settler violence to file criminal complaints with the police and has agreed to distribute our Settler Watch Hotline information to such victims, as well as to post information about the Hotline throughout the hospital.

  AHMAD EBAYAT (Update # 3/2001) – PRECISION AND UPDATE

 The attack on Ahmad Ibrahim Ebayat on 16 October 2001 was carried out in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Talpiot, and the PHRMG has no indication that the perpetrators were settlers. However, due to its severity, the PHRMG decided to follow up on the case with the police, to try to ensure that it is adequately investigated and prosecuted.

 On 8 November 2001, Koby Zarihan, spokesperson for the Jerusalem District Police, wrote to the PHRMG advising that the police had transferred the case to the District Attorney-General, with a recommendation to prosecute one of the suspects. The letter further informed us that “the investigation of this regrettable incident is continuing and additional suspects may be found and charged.” The PHRMG will continue to monitor this case.

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