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Radi Alwahash. (Physicians for Human Rights) Last update - 21:15 16/08/2007 Balad MK blames Barak for death of Palestinian at roadblock By Lily Galili and Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondents Tags: Bethlehem, checkpoint  MK Said Nafa (Balad) on Thursday held Defense Minister Ehud Barak personally responsible for the death of Radi Alwahash, an 18-year-old Palestinian who died roughly six weeks ago at an Israel Defense Forces checkpoint. Alwahash was involved in a traffic accident which left him in a critical condition, and it took an hour and a half to transfer him from Bethlehem to hospital in Jerusalem. Physicians for Human Rights filed a criminal complaint on Wednesday with the Tel Aviv police against the Civil Administration's health coordinator, Dalia Basa, accusing her of negligent homicide. This is the first such complaint, though numerous Palestinians have died due to roadblock delays. Advertisement After the complaint was reported in Haaretz on Thursday, Nafa sent a letter to Barak stating, "The responsibility for this killing lies solely on your soldiers, as head of the establishment... what happened is not only a criminal crime. It is a crime against humanity." MK Nafa also wrote that he expects the defense minister to provide a response on steps he intends to take to ensure these "crimes" are not repeated. Abdelhalim Ja'afra, director of emergency services for the Bethlehem area, showed Haaretz a thick file containing records of roadblocks and ambulances. Each patient's name and address are inscribed in hand-written columns, along with the time of the call and the time of going to and from the roadblock. The file notes that an Israel Defense Forces doctor and Magen David Adom emergency service staff worked tirelessly to save the life of the young Palestinian, who had been run over right after completing his last matriculation exam. An army helicopter was called, before it was decided that an ambulance would be quicker. But Alwahash died in the ambulance, which was denied permission to cross into Israel. The chronology what happened in the hour and a half between the moment Alwahash was run over until he died is also included in a comprehensive report compiled by PHR on the entrance to Israel of ambulances from the West Bank. The incident occurred on June 29. The report states that at around 9 P.M., Mohammed Abu-Ajaima, the Red Crescent liaison officer, was informed of the accident and dispatched an ambulance to the scene, which met the army ambulance and the IDF doctor, who began life-saving procedures on Alwahash. An MDA ambulance also arrived on the scene and and at 9:46 P.M., it began to transport Alwahash to the roadblock on the way to the hospital. According to testimony in the PHR report and conversations with Bethlehem Red Crescent personnel, Basa called the Red Crescent emergency line twice. The first time, the police complaint states, she wanted to know why the injured man had not been evacuated in a Red Crescent ambulance. The second time, she shouted at the liaison officer that she would appoint an investigative committee to find out why the Red Crescent personnel had refused to evacuate Alwahash. Despite the Red Crescent officer's explanations, she is quoted as saying, "My dear Abu-Ajaima, the injured man is prevented for security reasons from entering Israel." Abu-Ajaima responded that Alwahash was being treated by MDA, and Basa would be responsible if anything happened to him. The police complaint states that at this point, Basa answered, "My dear Abu-Ajaima, my name is Dalia Basa and I am not afraid of you or bigger people than you." The police complaint states that Basa claimed she had instructed MDA not to transfer Alwahash to Jerusalem, and had ordered Abu-Ajaima to send a Red Crescent ambulance to pick up the injured man. Mohammed Abu-Riyan, a medic and ambulance driver, set out for the roadblock. "I found the patient in critical condition, with the MDA treating him as best it could," he told Haaretz this week at the Red Crescent offices. "I was told I had to rush him to the trauma unit at Hadassah [University] Hospital in Ein Karem. But the MDA man took me aside and told me that the soldiers and Dalia did not agree, and he could not be brought into Israel." At 10:25 P.M., Alwahash died in the MDA ambulance. The Civil Administration and the Defense Ministry have so far not elucidated the nature of Alwahash's "security past." The Civil Administration responded: "The Civil Administration is unaware at this time of an official complaint against the health coordinator, Dalia Basa. The Civil Administration is aware of the tendentious claims against Basa by the Physicians for Human Rights, both in this and in other cases, and rejects them. The circumstances of the case have been checked following the organization's inquiry of the Civil Administration, and Basa's actions were found to be blameless." The Civil Administration accused PHR of damaging Basa's good name and "releasing false information." An aide to Barak, attorney Ruth Bar, told Haaretz that the case was still under investigation. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Google N for Nakba Israeli town sues Google over claim it was built on ruins of Palestinian village. A Belgian treat U.S. Jew says he was kicked out of a Bruges cafe because he was wearing a skullcap.   1.   What a load of garbage 18:35  |  Gee 16/08/07   2.   Ambulances used by terrorists 18:53  |  Adam 16/08/07   3.   Gee, do your homework 19:07  |  mordecai 16/08/07   4.   Info on Israeli action against crimes in our name 19:16  |  www.yeshgvul.org.il 16/08/07   5.   mordecai 19:20  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 16/08/07   6.   Mordecai,your Neturei Karta school has failed you 19:20  |  Absolute Sweden 16/08/07   7.   yeshgvul 19:26  |  Angelique 16/08/07   8.   He deserved to die because he is Palestinian? 20:12  |  Omar 16/08/07   9.   The criminals responsible for this crime should be prosecuted! 20:20  |  lakshmi 16/08/07   10.   @8, omar, why pals couldnot built a hospital in 20:39  |  vladimir 16/08/07   11.   To Bee Gee #1 - Palestinian was not foreigner! 20:43  |  Isaac Hassen 16/08/07   12.   Response to #4 #8 #9 #11 21:05  |  Sylvia 16/08/07   13.   Margie, you are hopeless... 21:10  |  Ibrahim 16/08/07   14.   Issac Hassen 21:15  |  Brad 16/08/07   15.   A tough situation 21:21  |  Dave from Chicago 16/08/07   16.   Israel proclaimes itself the "most moral state in the world" 21:26  |  Natallie Durson 16/08/07   17.   Same old crap, PA won`t take responsibility, just blames the Jews 21:27  |  Dr. L. Brnd 16/08/07   18.   not so nice a post now - Yeshgvul 21:28  |  Dave from Chicago 16/08/07   19.   Omar 21:38  |  Edifice 16/08/07   20.   BARAK IS JEW, HE IS AN ASSASSIN`S 21:54  |  Dr. Julian Darwish 16/08/07   21.   Death of Palestinian 22:06  |  David Salinger 16/08/07   22.   Death at Roadblock 22:12  |  RH 16/08/07   23.   you guys need to read more closely 22:23  |  LinkMan 16/08/07   24.   Bombs & Bullets First, All Else Second 22:33  |  J of Hollywood 16/08/07   25.   Ibrahim 22:57  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 16/08/07   26.   USA Jews who stand by us day by day 23:10  |  Israelit 16/08/07   27.   To all that condemn us 23:23  |  Gee 16/08/07   28.   margie in tel aviv #5 - Israeli apologist - it`s all security 23:36  |  dana 16/08/07   29.   medical treatment 23:40  |  jorge grosz 16/08/07   30.   roadblock 23:42  |  jehuda 16/08/07   31.   #13 23:51  |  Moshe 16/08/07   32.   IDF "crimes 23:54  |  Palestinian Brit 16/08/07   33.   PA Emergency hospital in East Jerusalem 00:01  |  Palestinian Brit 17/08/07   34.   Ibrahim #13 Share with us why Israel has a security problem 00:03  |  Gil 17/08/07   35.   No excuse, Margie 00:06  |  Palestinian Brit 17/08/07   36.   Why didn`t Palestinains take Radi to their hospital 00:12  |  Kipperraes 17/08/07   37.   Why didn`t Palestinains take Radi to their hospital 00:12  |  Kipperraes 17/08/07   38.   Dr L Brnd 00:28  |  Mordecai 17/08/07   39.   Lesson to be learned 00:45  |  Chick 17/08/07   40.   Gee 00:49  |  Amir 17/08/07   41.   two points 01:01  |  Schtarker Yid 17/08/07   42.   Sylvia, how dare you accuse Magen David Adom of aiding terrorists 01:14  |  Fred Farkelsteinman 17/08/07   43.   Ibrahim # 13 01:17  |  twogunz 17/08/07   44.   Natalie 16 01:21  |  TWogunz 17/08/07   45.   Gee # 27 01:24  |  Twogunz 17/08/07   46.   are you people stupid? 01:40  |  logic 17/08/07   47.   As blameless as a racist murderer! 01:41  |  anti-racist 17/08/07   48.   Margie, you seem to have your signals crossed 06:08  |  Johnboy 17/08/07   49.   Pal Brit that`s sanctimonious bs 07:24  |  Margie 17/08/07   50.   Johnboy 07:29  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 17/08/07   51.   `security risks` Pal Brit says 07:38  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 17/08/07   52.   Nada 07:45  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 17/08/07   53.   Disturbing 00:26  |  me 18/08/07   54.   # 50 margie 02:08  |  Axel 18/08/07   55.   # 49 margie 02:17  |  Axel 18/08/07   56.   The "Terrorist Ambulance" Excuse 15:47  |  Pete 12/02/08

Today Online Bradley Burston: Sderot as Stalingrad, Hamas as Samson Responses: 86 Ahmed Yousef: Palestinian revenge was inevitable Responses: 82 Israeli town sues Google over claim it was built on Arab village Responses: 128 Minister: No freeze on Jewish house building in E. J'lem Responses: 23 Krakow church holds service slamming 'kikes who spit on us' Responses: 103 Rosner's Domain Amb. Ayalon: Why does Obama think talking to "Hitler" can succeed? Democratic policy unity is a mirage (WTR) Poll: Is it legitimate to cut electricity to Gaza? Think Clinton won the Jewish vote in California? Think again Factor: How's McCain better than Obama More Headlines 16:21 Merkel to PM: Gazans suffering due to Qassam fire 16:34 Sheetrit announces plans for first new Arab city since 1948 16:25 Peres: If we're fired upon, we must hit back without hesitation 14:47 Former U.S. VP Al Gore among recipients of 2008 Dan David Prize 14:06 Top reservists: Roadblocks in W. Bank do more harm than good 16:56 Hoenlein says 'concerned' by atmosphere surrounding Obama campaign 16:46 Asian eateries cut menu over plans to rid kitchens of foreign chefs 12:46 Minister: No freeze on Jewish construction in E. J'lem 12:48 Krakow church holds service against 'kikes who spit on us' 14:13 IDF arrests W. Bank money changers, confiscates funds destined for terror groups 13:11 Barak: Ankara can wield positive influence on Damascus 10:52 Danes seize suspects over plot against 'anti-Mohammed' cartoonists 06:28 Police arrest 5 Palestinians who petitioned against IAA digs under their homes Previous Editions Select Day 11 feb 10 feb 08 feb 07 feb 06 feb 05 feb 04 feb 03 feb 01 feb 31 jan 30 jan 29 jan

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