Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., December 12, 2008 Kislev 15, 5769 | | Israel Time: 03:16 (EST+7)   Back to Homepage web haaretz.com Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate GA 2008 Travel Week's End Anglo File

After controversial release, settler who shot 2 Palestinians to be charged today By Jonathan Lis and Ofra Edelman The West Bank settler who was caught on film shooting at Palestinians last week was indicted in Jerusalem's Magistrate's court yesterday. Ze'ev Braude, 51, of Kiryat Arba, is alleged to have shot two Palestinians at close range during the evacuation of a disputed house in Hebron. Advertisement The Magistrate has moved to release Braude with restrictions while the State Prosecutor's Office appealed to the Jerusalem District Court against the release. The appeal will be heard this morning. Braude was released from police custody just hours before the indictment was announced. The indictment came after Braude's release because the presiding judge refused to extend his remand until an appeal was served. In her decision to release Braude, Magistrate Malka Aviv criticized police forces for not having arrested the Palestinians documented on the same video hurling stones at Braude. "The police are bound by the conception that is portrayed in the media," said Aviv. She described Braude as a "respectable citizen" with no criminal record, who "happened" to find himself in a violent incident. "It was clear from the film I saw that the lynch was carried out on the suspect?.who was lying on the ground helpless, while more Palestinians gathered?to kick and beat him," she wrote. Braude, a Kiryat Arba resident, turned himself in to police last week after an activist with the B'Tselem human rights group caught him on film shooting at Palestinians at short range and hitting two. One of the prosecution attorneys asked the magistrate after the hearing to reconsider her decision to release the defendant, in view of the case's high profile. "I don't conduct the hearing according to the media's reactions, not even the international media's," she replied. During the evacuation of the house in Hebron, Braude approached the Matriya family residence, drew his gun and shouted at the family members to go inside, the indictment says. Hosni Matriya, 44, went up to Braude and told to leave. Braude struck him and aimed his gun at him, said the indictment. Hosni's father, Abed el-Hai, 67, walked up and asked Braude to leave. Braude pushed el-Hai. Other family members came to help push Braude away and he fired at them. The first bullet passed close to one man's head and the second one hit Hosni's chest. A third bullet hit el-Hai's arm. El-Hai and two family members attacked Braude and stopped him from again firing his gun. They held him until Kiryat Arba residents arrived and took him away, the indictment says. Hosni, who was shot in the chest, is awaiting surgery to take out shrapnel that remains around the wound. El-Hai, whose arm was broken, has been operated on twice and his arm has been set with screws. The prosecution said that the evidence proves that "Braude initiated the incident at the plaintiff's house, which was out of his way. During the argument with the plaintiffs he struck his fist into the face of one of them. At this stage none of the plaintiffs was acting violently. The father of the family wrestled with him to stop the shooting - during the wrestling the defendant shot him as well." Jamal Abu Safan, a relative of the injured Palestinian, told Haaretz that the court's decision shows "how racist Israel and its justice system are." He demanded that an independent body investigate the case. Braude's lawyer, attorney Ariel Atari, responded that the Palestinian claiming to have been injured can be viewed in the video getting up after allegedly being shot and continuing to hurl stones and strike Braude. Avi Issacharoff contributed to the story. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Off with your seat! Likud committee bumps Feiglin down to 36th on party ticket. Trotting for the Globe Israeli animated feature 'Waltz with Bashir' nominated for Golden Globe award.

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