Israel refuses to pay medical bills for American-Jewish protester who lost eye
Emily Henochowicz was wounded by a tear gas canister in a demonstration following Israel's Gaza flotilla raid.
By Avi Issacharoff Tags: Israel news West Bank East Jerusalem Emily HenochowiczThe Israeli government is refusing to pay the cost of medical care for an American-Jewish activist who lost an eye when Border Police officers fired a tear gas canister at her during a demonstration.
Emily Henochowicz, who studying at the Bezalel Academy of Art in Jerusalem and also holds Israeli citizenship, took part in a protest on May 31, shortly after Israel killed nine pro-Palestinian activists in a raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla.
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Emily Henochowicz after losing an eye at a protest at the Qalandiyah checkpoint − she was struck by a teargas grenade. |
| Photo by: Daniel Bar-On |
Dozens of activists took part in the protest against the Israeli blockade of Gaza next to the Qalandia checkpoint, south of Ramallah.
According to the IDF, demonstrators began to throw stones at the Border Police, after which the army responded by firing tear gas canisters.
According to Henochowicz, one policeman shot a canister directly at her face, shattering her jaw and causing her to lose her left eye. A Haaretz reporter witnessed the incident.
Following her her treatment at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem, Henochowicz's father, who had traveled from the U.S., was handed a bill for NIS 14,000. Under advice from his lawyer, Michael Sfard, he asked the Defense Ministry cover the expense, but officials refused.
In justifying the refusal, the Defense Ministry claimed the tear gas was not fired directly at Henochowicz.
"The canister ricocheted at her after it rebound off a concrete barrier and changed direction - it was not shot directly at her," the ministry said in a statement drafted by lawyer Sharon Zimmerman. The statement also accused Henochowicz of putting herself at risk by voluntarily participating in a breach of the peace.
In response, Sfard said that as police were still investigating the incident, it was impossible for the Defense Ministry to judge exactly what occurred.
"Either way, even if wounding of my client was the result of negligence and not criminal intent -even then the State of Israel has a moral, ethical and legal obligation to pay for her treatment," Sfard wrote.
The Defense Ministry responded: "From our reports, we know that the Border Police acted in accordance with the law at the violent demonstration at Qalandia, and that the shooting of tear gas canisters at demonstrators was justified. Of course, we regret that Emily Henochowicz was wounded in her eye. But under such circumstances, the Defense Ministry does not cover the expenses of medical treatment."
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Like Southern whites, you see, this young Jewish woman has betrayed the race, she has gone over the the other side, she is a race betrayer who must be taught a lesson, made an example of. The rabid invective they employ to discredit her is typical and waas heard throughout the south when whites of conscience bucked the goad of racism and were attacked as this young woman is. Symptoms of a disesed and racist mind set. The evidence is here for all to read. They are delighted with what happened to her and hope it will dissuade other Jews from demonstrated for justice and keeping them within the racist corral of their tribal minds.
I just read your article until I came to the words "Aid Flotilla" and finished. Aren't you ashamed of yourself still calling this bluff "aid flotilla"? Disgusting. With the newspaper like that Israel does not need any enemy (and you even don't publish criticism, I know). Garbage.
If Israel do this in front of the world to it's own citizen, what are capable of doing in the secrecy of war to the so called "terrorist" ?. The people of israel do not get it. The word start to see israel as on of the most violent countries in the world. Like it or not, call me "anti-semite" or not, is the way the world see israel right now. If this happen in Iran what you will say ?. Just in case: I'm not pro Iran neither pro Israel.
They did not explain her the possible dangers. May I suggest that Palestinians terrorist request from foreign participants in violent demonstrations, to sign a form - as a precondition to participation in protests- , in which they acknowledge the fact that demonstrations may be harmful for your health due to: frying stones, knives, molotov bottles, home-made explosives, smoke grenades, tear gas, and the sad but serious possibility that some of the protesters or soldiers may be smoking cigarettes, whence inducing protestants to passive smoking hazards.
you really have no clue. "Terrorist" has nothing to do with what was going on there.
It is my belief that we all share the same DNA. That in all camps, the same proportions of good, bad, smart and obtuse people exist. Where does the hate comes from? People see different things. Israelis see a country trying to survive terror. Peace activists see Arabs being enslaved. Everyone has his own version of the truth. And maybe in some sense the Arabs are right, and in another sense Israel is right. The Arabs simply live here, and as all human beings have a right to normal life. Jews have this land as their historical home. Both are right in some sense. However, life as it is, forces us to take sides. Henochowicz took her side, and the soldier took his side. And in this case the soldier is right. Henochowicz participated in a protest, which is one of many very violent protests, throwing stones and molotov bottles. She could protest peacefully by talk-backing for example, she could send Op. Eds. to newspapers. Such violent protests have a "modus vivendi" of their own. Soldiers expect mototov bottles and stones, and protesters know tear gas will come. I am sorry for her injury, but at a certain age you are supposed to know what you do, and with whom.
Fantastic Israel ! A new business in place, health care industry : " Brake up faces and let them pay medical bills ". Bravo !
And what does he has to say?
I feel for Israelis for having to live under the Israeli government.
Whereas Emily's loss is unfortunate the israeli government bears NO responsibilty for this incident. Emily was not mature enoughhateful stupid demonstration . If that is indeed the case then either she or parents SHOULD be HELD ACCOUNTABLE.. "Dont go near fire if you dont want be burned!"
The girl shoud have an insurance to cover those kind of events. Israel is a dengerous place to be, beeing around ,when arabs demonstrate. is even more dengerous. No one wants to face the consequenses, every body think that the world is perfectly predictable, just look at the BP oil spil!
And that, boys and girls, is why you should have insurance while traveling to a foreign destination.
No Life, health or travel insurance policy in North America would cover treatment of injuries recieved while participating in war, protests,while committing a criminal or dissobedience act and confrontation with Law enforcement.
The protesters began throwing rocks .... if one of those rocks took out the eye of a soldier then would the protesters foot the bill??? Not likely.
When you join a mob that engages in violence, don't complain when you are hurt.
that the IDF did not kill her like they did with Corrie, Hurndal, Miller and the youngh palestinian child caught in the cross fire. But to expect Israel to pay for her medical bills? They needed to make yet another example of her like the others, like the did with the 9 Turks they killed on the flotilla.
All things are simple in the life of a "man" who has reduced all things to Israel=mordor.
??!!??
It doesn't matter what the motive of the guard was thats another matter but we should not forget the fact she chose to go along to this demonstration at a military checkpoint. Most people understand you approach a military zone you risk putting yourself in harms way especially when the stones were being thrown. If she was throwing stones herself she deserves very little sympathy but lets say she was not throwing stones, she could have left the demonstrators throwing the things that would be the logical thing to do for somebody concerned with their safety but she decided to stay with the rest of the crowd and she ended up getting shot intentionally or not. She has to accept some share of the blame in that she decided to go along her motives for going do not matter she decided to go and as a result must accept that whilst she is a victim she is not an innocent victim. Reason for being there, motive of the border guard each issues in their own right but in this case she is the one responsible for what happened.
This poor woman will even keep paying her tax dollars to Israel for more weapons to use on others. Thanks to the puppets sitting in Washington DC.
from the next round of aid and loan guarantees to Israel.
They are used to get money not to give.
I hope she and her parents can now recognise the real face of zionism as reperesneted by this racist regime. Her parents should consider themselves lucky that their daughter did end up like Rachel Corrie and the others that were killed or maimed byu the IDF. Once again, israel chooses to make an example of her, to have her serve as a lesson that this is what happens to Jews who protest with those arubushim. Pay for the lost eye? An eye for an eye? But morality, ethical consideratins? Not when you cross the tribal boundaries. Then you must pay, but dont look for morlaity from this hapless society. it has lost its moral compass a long time ago and only knows how to behave with brutality and call it mistake.
If you participate in a violent protest - you are inviteing injury upon yourself.
that's what Israel has been doing since 1948.
Treatment of this poor american woman whould not be too expensive . Just use a few of the billion of dollars that the americans give to israel
She harms Israel. And now she crys wolf. Israel should not pay 1 shekel.
are all jews supposed to support israel? is it democracy or theocracy state?
It's about her acting in a way harmful for the country then asking for compensations for injuries from the same country's defense forces. It doesn't really matter for the purpose of this claim she was a Jew, Muslim, Christian, or whovever. Keep in mind she joined this protest voluntarily, nobody kept a gun to her head.
Israel harms Israel.
hopefully, she gained a brain in this process. Why in the world would the IDF or Israel pay her expenses when she CHOSE to partake of activities that COST Israel to quell?! If Israel forced her to participate in this and she got injured then fine, she should get her medical expenses covered but she chose to engage in stupidity and it cost her an eye. Like I said, hopefully she gained some brains as a result and will know better next time.
well. civilized and democratic people do not say this!
When a man with a gun comes and tells you to do something you'd better do it, right?
I'll tell you about the activities that cost Israel, Jennifer. The building of the wall in an area that doesn't belong to it, the implantation of the most marginal Jews in Israel into East Jerusalem, where they evict and replace families who were already refugees when they were housed there by the UNRWA when Jordan ruled it. The protection of both the wall and the Kach settlers is done full-time by the police, our police, paid for from our pockets to defend US, which of course they cannot do because they're over-extended. There's no money for the poor within Israel proper, because it needs to be spent on expansion into places that don't by rights belong to us. Think about it.
Hey it is called consequences. If you play with fire you just might get burned.
.... but a fool learns in no other. I carefully told my own kids to walk away from a riot, no matter what my sympathies on the issue.
Following the logic used by thei woman if IDF solder will be wounded by the stones thrown at them by protesters (they never deny they aim stones at solders) IDF can sue them? the government can go after the organization behind the attacks to recover the money incurred by IDF for medical services caused by that protest organization? BTW, actins of this demostration cause IDF a monetary loss: who's paying for the cost of ammunition used in this insident? That gas canister is not free...
the IDF pays for the soldier's care as a veteran.
but to show an absurdity of this claim. If we'd agree with this woman claim we have to agree to apologize and pay compensation to turkish flotilla participants, they were also civilians from what they called peaceful action suffered from IDF attack. BTW, it's not IDF pays, but taxpayers of Israel, do not forget it.
but to show an absurdity of this claim. If we'd agree with this woman claim we have to agree to apologize and pay compensation to turkish flotilla participants, they were also civilians from what they called peaceful action suffered from IDF attack. BTW, it's not IDF pays, but taxpayers of Israel, do not forget it.
Not a penny should go to her or to her family....Thank god she left the country one less trouble maker to deal with !
A person of conscience who stood for what is right and lost an eye for it. To add insult to injury the criminal IDF is now refusing to pay her medical bill. I see some of the posts here disapprove of her participating in the demonstration to which I say "you are blind ones"
She's as much as a hero as Rachel Corrie or that man who urinated on the electrically-charged subway rail in NY and died. Heros aren't opportunists looking to spice up their lives through empowering people who bring misery unto themselves and intentionally drawing in military presence. Heros are people who make real changes with responsible composure. I'm sorry she lost an eye but I'm perplexed by her stupidity and self righteousness. I only have so much sympathy to doll out. She deserves none.
Participating in a protest is a right in a democracy. Injury to a civilian by the military personnel is the responsibility of the military and the victim should be compensated for medical and other expenses resulting from the incident.
it can more accurately be described as the "Least Repressive, Most Benevolent Dictatorship, Posing as a Democracy, in the Middle East".
The key is peaceful protest, when you throw stones, or rocks at soldiers you now have a hostile protest an the soldiers used the force needed to quell the attack. This little rich American Jewish girl was a part of the angry mob. Be it she threw stones or guilt by assosciation you need to consider the type of people you protest with.
Chutzpa. She hooked up with an anti-Semitic group that is alligned with terrorists, and got hurt in the process. Let ISM pick up her bills.
One of the founders of ISM, whom I know, is an Israeli Jew. The group ally themselves with Palestinians not "terrorists".
One of the founders of ISM, whom I know, is an Israeli Jew
Yes, believe it or not. Read on "victims' syndrom".
How could she lose a third eye? Let her father submit a claim to the insurance company. The company will deny payment because she engaged in risky behavior.
US juries tend to award enormous sums as damages. This is one of the weak points in the American justice system. The result is that when sued for damages, whether justified or not, the side tend to come to some out-of-court settlement: the plaintiff for fear s/he will lose the case, and the sued for fear that if it loses, the payment will be enormous. The injured woman is an art student, which means she will barely make a living. This is her chance to get settled for life. Don't miss it, dummy.
Other witnesses say the cannister bounced off a wall. This is far more likely. The left always expects total safety for themselves when engaging in violence against others. Babies.
Solders started to shoot tear gas canisters AFTER demonstrators started to throw stones (this part is not under dispute as there were many eyewitnesses). So on one side, we have people intentionally aiming to hit others with stones, and on the other side we have people trying to disperse this violent crowd with tear gas and accidentally hitting someone directly with tear gas canister.
Why was she a Jew supporting Israel's enemy. In fact she was blind spiritually before she lost her physical sight. She should ask God for forgiveness. 2C 6:14-16 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
I "see" the haters of Jews and Israel so I need my eyes. She does not. She lost one eye but in reality does not need the other one either nor her heart. She would fit well in Obama's administration.
Heartless, extremists like you who forbid anyone who disagrees to peacefully protest and mock the wounded are the reason why Israel's image in the world is destroyed a little bit more every day. YOU are putting Israel at risk.
civilized people do not say this.
O Allegra, lawyeress, sitting in comfort in Pacheco-land in your north tel aviv air conditioning, why don't you shut up and share your expensive apartment with 25 impoverished sudanese from south tel aviv?
...and then wants Israel to pay when things backfire on her.
She was in Palestinian territory. The IDF had nothing to do there, they should be busy protecting the country instead of helping extremist settler maintain their illegal occupation of the West Bank.
The IDF had nothing to do there, they should be busy protecting the country instead of helping extremist settler maintain their illegal occupation of the West Bank.
The woman CHOSE to take part in a demonstration and she may or may not have been one of the stone throwers but she decided to stick around when she cold have left anytime. Firing tear gas is not an exact science I am sure he had no intent on hitting this woman in the face with his gas canister. She put herself in harms way intentionally, her cause doesn't matter, how badly she was injured doesn't matter. The only thing that does matter is her decision to go and take part in that demonstration and either throwing stones or sticking around when the stones were being thrown - every action has a reaction she lost an eye for her stupidity. Whilst I think nobody in Israel has anything to apologize for in this case as she was jewish even if she did bring it on herself through stupidity the government should as a GOODWILL GESTURE agree to pay her medical bills on the condition she is barred from coming from Israel for a certain number of years.
woman in the face!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There is no logical reason why he would fire this thing in her face and considering he had already fired other gas canisters and not hit anybody then its unlikely he would single out this woman to fire a gas canister at. Firing these things is not an art form and accidents can sometimes happen. Assuming though for a minute that there was 100% no doubt this was an accident and he didn't aim at her who is really responsible a guard trying to break up a crowd throwing stones ( stones can kill or take peoples eyes out ) so he wanted to break up this crowd and he decided to use tear gas which is used in riot control worldwide. so if it was an accident whose responsible for what happened a woman who approached a check point with a crowd of people throwing stones? The guard trying to break up the crowd with gas and accidently hitting her in the eye. As I say we must all take personal responsibility for our actions she knew full well that approaching a checkpoint with a crowd of demonstrators is not exactly going for a walk in the park it was stupid at best. Also lets assume for a moment that he did fire intentionally a criminal offense for which he would be punished but she is still not blameless she decided to come along to this. It doesn't matter if he is guilty or inocent she must accept her share of the blame she is not an innocent victim she is a victim who intentionally put herself into a potentially situation.
" lets asume for a moment that he did fire intenioally a criminal offence for which he would be punished" Yea right in Israel he'll probably get a medal. What logical reason was there for shooting Tom Hurndal in the head or James Miller in the throat. Let me give you a hint . In the words of the soldier who killed Tom Hurndal " to teach him a leson". Have you read any accounts of what happend . She was singled out because she was holding a Turkish flagg.You take blame the victim to a whole new level.
her brother Hans Scholl and Christopher Probst paid for standing up aigainst what they believe was wrong. I'm not saying Israel is Natzi Germany but several unarmed civillian protesters have recently been killed by Israel..The soldier that killed Tom Hurndall [recently released from prison] confessed he wanted to teach him a lesson. In the case of James Miller Israel tried to cover up his murder by saying the Palastinians shot him. In the case of Emily according to a sweedish wittnes the soldier fired directly at her face probably probably because she was holding a Turkish flagg. Unbelievable peopple on this board who say she got what she deserved, they should be ashamed of themselves.
if you go to protest you expose yourself to all probabilities. Israel has no responsibility or even the right to accept any bill for payments. if you can't accept resposibility for what ever occurs, then stay home!! who sent for you?
why does it cost 14,000 shekel? it's critical surgery.
If you play with fire you might get burned. Some people learn this when they are 3 years old, others when they are 20 something.
for the gas canister that hit her...
How didn't i think about it before.
This poor girl loves Israel and knew that what they did with the flotilla was wrong, so she was protesting it. She did not deserve to be scarred for life. Lately, Israel has been going to far when trying to "defend" itself and the victims just keep on piling up. Israel must stop defending its soldiers when they do something so blatantly wrong as was the case here.
Im israeli and I was detained in spain, I saw how the spanish police tortured a comrade from Venezuela arrested in a protest against immigrant`s prisons, if the police torture israelis here in Spain, we can't say anything because we came from a country with the same brutal policies, so because we are israelis we must tolerate such things abroad just because the israeli goverment allow to itś police forces to shoot or do everything with foreigns too?, as israeli I have not example to quote here.
The Border Guard who did this should be charged with assault causing bodily harm and sued directly for Ms. Henochowicz's medical bills. It's absolutely undefendable for that uniformed twit to have done that.
I thought that people who were accused of a crime got a trial before they were convicted and hanged. What are you, a one person lynch mob?
Don't represent youself as the Jewish homeland any more, because many real Jews who love their tradition feel that Israel has come as far away from the meaning of Torah as could be imagined. This is shamefull stupid and heartless, and your country is becoming a creepier every day. - American Jew
Just be a Jew. When you add the "American" part, you separate yourselves from us over here. This is the Jewish homeland, not the American-Jewish homeland. If you were really a Jew you would understand that this girl is out of her mind.
careful don't bite your tongue, b/c Israel will sure not pay for that ...
spot on...as an American Jew, it is so easy to hold Israel up to a higher standard than any other country in the world, given Israel's circumstances...self hatred anyone?...
This is what happens when you live in exile-get yourself to Israel - put up with the Arab acts of terrorism Israelies have to live with - THEN COMMENT
and Israel continues to disregard American blood like they did with USS liberty ...
If this tear gas canister hit her and she did not fire it at herself then it is a given that the party who fired it either did it deliberately or negligently. In either case she would be entitled to collect damages including the cost of medical treatment and compensation for her losses, disfigurement plus pain and suffering.
So let's get this straight. An anti-Israel woman inveigles herself into Israel under the guise of an overseas Jewish student, and spend her time here demonstrating against the security of the Jewish State, even participating in a violent demonstration against Israel's interception of a terrorist loaded ship sponsored by the IHH a terrorist organization. Israel, instead of jailing her for her activities, provides medical treatment and allows her to return to her parents instead of jailing her for criminal activity and misrepresenting herself when she received her visa. Now she is suing to recover her medical costs. It seems we have a new definition here of hutzpah.
Well that would be in interesting court case. Prove it then. Your kid does the left wing feel good thing and joins a demonstation of her own free will, Gets herself hurt as a result of joining the demonstration, and sonehow it is somneone elses obligation to pay her medical; bill because of her misguided and over zealous actions. When will people today accept responsibility for their own personal stuipidity?
Sarcastic. Israeli are master in DENIAL. Also, Israeli doesn't pay they only TAKE!
You can't have it both ways. Emily, be a Jew, not an American-Jew.
"You're either with us or against us" who do you think you are, George Bush?? LOL She is an American Jew. If it wasn't for American Jews, Israel today would not even exist. Be thankful for American jews adn pay the bill Israel!!! Stop always taking, give back for a change!!!
armand, Israel exists because of the people that have defended it and some who have died for it.
Fine - if you force us to choose, how many of us do you think would give up American citizenship? How many have? How many would want to join with people like you? Does that mean we can stop paying for you?
Israel exists thanks to US support and US financial aid, don't you ever forget it!!!
What she got was totally self-inflicted!
Obadiah 1:15 "As you have done to israel, so it will be done to you." Interesting, that line of scripture could mean the same for gentiles and Jews. Protestors beware!
On the one side you get silly people saying that it's her fault for showing up; well she was legally protesting. On the other side you get people like the nutty lady who says that the rejection of the claim by the Defense Ministry is a sign of Dictatorship. The Hospital sent the bill to the Father - nothing unusual there. He asked the Defense Minsitry to pay - makes sense. The Defense Ministry rejected the claim saying it was an accident - pretty typical of Defense Ministries and Police Depts everywhere - they don't want to open up a precedent; and they don't want to admit guilt. Next step - it will go the the courts - either the Insurance Company or the Father will probably bring action, and there it will be settled -and then we'll see.
Of course, I sympathize with this young woman who has lost an eye. I am sure she thought she was doing the moral thing when demonstrating in a crowd that was throwing stones at soldiers. [Never underestimate how dangerous flying stones can be, by the way]. She, as most others around the world, jumped to a predetermined conclusion that Israel was guilty and demonstrated side by side with angry Arabs who would love to see the demise of the state. Fine. But anybody doing so in a manner that is violent--and throwing stones IS NOT PEACEFUL protest--should be aware of the possible consequences. If Israel pays her now, it will be a precedent, putting an end to crowd control. I wish this girl a quick recovery. Losing an eye when one is an artist, especially, is truly sad.
There are eyewitnesses to this action including a reporter and a ricochet unlikely to do this much damage. The policeman should either be retrained or put on trail but a proper investigation could decide this easily enough but the question is will the Gov. try an cover it up.
I don't believe that for a second. Maybe they regret the inconvenience it is causing them, but overall they are very pleased with the message they sent.
This was attempted murder, as when the reporter Tristan Anderson was shot with a canister. The IDF should be sued for attempted murder of a US citizen, through the international courts if needs be.
Protesting Israel is a serious terrorist act. No one can protest such a secular, free and democratic state as Israel. She's just so lucky that she wasn't shot dead like the ones in Mavi Marmara. Yes, in conclusion, in Israel's democracy the whole world should obey its opression. Is this what government expects?
can you are a fool.
So are you to your previous post to Armand.
Is there no end to this hatred and madness that has turned Jew against Jew, Israeli against Israeli, Palestinian against Palestinian, Arab against Arab and countries against countries. Let logic prevail for a change!
It was an IDF canister, fired by IDF personnel . So it doesn'' t matter if the canister wounded Emily Henochowicz on purpose or not . If I cuase an accident with my car, I have to pay wether I cuased the accident intended or not. If I caused the accident intended it is not just a civil cause but aswell a case for a criminal court.
event that obstructed public order.
Well Muskie the difference between your car and what hapopoened is your car was no doubt being legally driven in accordance with the various laws, . If you have an accident your insuracne covers you for your stupid actrions of causing an accident. Now we go to Israel where a demand was made of teh protesteers to disperse. They did not, they threw rocks, at that point their demonstation became illegal . Force was used by teh IDF to disperse the protesters. tear cgas canister was fired, ricochet off cement and strikes here. Poor girl, its awful, but she did not disperse when asked, stayed and protested after teh demostration turned illegal. Why is it again that someone else is responsible for her bad judgment. Let them sue if they got that sort of money let them poay the bill. What foregin jews and visitors dont understand is in ISrael demostrations can turn ugly and lethal very quickly. Stones can kill and main as quickly as a bullet, and when teh cops and military tell you to disperse, you had better do so because force will be used. In ISrael they dont screw aroubnd, and human rights are things reserved for terrorists apparently . I would wager this girl will never again go to a demostration... p[erhaps she has learned her lesson. After all she can protest all she wants with teh other imbeciles here on the talkbacvk pages
To use your car analogy... She was willfully particpating in a voluntary breach of the peace, a violation of the law... So its like I was speeding and you accidentally crashed your car into me... I WOULD be paying for that... I should not have been there in the first place... Now if she showed she was standing on the side watching and this happened its a different story. But I agree with Israel here
When someone participates in behaviour that goes beyond simple freedom of speech, as in throwing of stones at police, they are exposed to injury without compensation unless the authorities are guilty of egregious wrongs. If in fact this was a direct shot at Emily's face, then compensation must be paid and the perpetrator prosecuted. If the State's explanation is accurate, Emily, I'm afraid, should not be reimbursed. The state should not in any way support, directly or indirectly, criminal behaviour of a mob and if Emily is part of the mob then, I'm afraid that she should be treated as part of an uncivil mob. The truth of the matter is that the mob should be handed the bill of policing and Emily should pay her fair share. There is nothing wrong with Emily expressing her views in a civil and peaceful protest but when those around her cross the line into uncivil behaviour, then she should leave or suffer the consequences of association with a criminal group. Any lack of knowledge that those around her have crossed the line has to be her problem. Its a risk one takes when one gets involved in this kind of protest. It is entirely forseeable that violence would be resorted to in protest. It has become a blueprint for inducing an Israeli response and Pals are entirely happy to elicit it despite the damage it does to individuals. That is the risk that Emily assumed and unfortunately the risk materialized.
Your understanding of the law is lacking.... to say the least
So for exemple you get a burglar breaking in your house gives you the right to shoot him dead. Maybe US law allows that . In the Netherlands( where I live ) you will go to court for manslaughter. The matter is, that the canister was fired by IDF so they responsible for the consequences and firing these canisters of which IDF knows that they can cause severly wounded people and even dead ( which happened in the past ) they freely take the risk of these possible severe consequences . Someones reactions always have to be proportionate. The IDF soldier was not confronted with a deadly threat , so his reaction was out of proportion. period what ever miss eliah ( * elise * 28.07.10 * 15:13 ) and you has to say about that. And indeed I am a lawyer.
Peaceful protests are an integral part of any democracy. In fact, they are even more necessary in Israel, which lacks the normal checks and balances to keep a government from being abusive. Was this woman being peaceful or was she being violent? From all accounts, she was injured by the IDF while participating in peaceful protest. Is Israel a dictatorship in which some right wing authority figure makes judgements which are absolute? America should pay the medical costs and just take it out of Israels allowance.
You left out eh part of the peacweful demonstration where they were throwing rocks peacefully of course. The IDF is an agent of teh state and thus immune from prosecution . On many levels. Once a lawful demand was made to disperse (and it was made read other newspapers articles for this) she failed to disperse, the rocks kept coming. She did not have to throw one, she refused to disperse as did teh rest of the mob, and Police/IDF took action to disperse the crowd using non lethal means. This girl obviously felt that the call to disperse did not apply to her only other which is teh usual BS that such left wing troublemakers believe. her sene of entitlement to demonstarte was offended by teh call to disperse. She stayed and lost her eye because of her decision. Now how stupoid is that. She is responsible for her own actions. If she was underage where were her parents. If she was of legal age, she had to of known better .
Throwing rocks is not a peaceful way of protesting !
You are usually right, but this time the bill should be paid by Israel. Why should America deduct anything from zero, which is how much aid we should be giving to the Jewish State? When will the world stand up to this madness? American has been shamfully purchased already!
azbob spoken like a true antisemite
America should pay the medical costs and just take it out of Israels allowance.
Did anyone see her throwing rocks? NO. Stop denying what happened to the poor girl... but you are so good at it.
Aren't you tired of saying 'anti semite' all the time. Its old and tiresome. Aren't you tired of falsely victimizing yourselves? Try and accept critisism of your country (as most people do of their own country) and stop calling eveyone that disagrees with you an anti-semite.
I don't know where they were when they handed out brains, but the ones making this decision were obviously out to lunch just then. They really need to make this woman any more of a martyr then she already is. Cast iron idiocy.
Why can't they take the moral high ground and just pay the bill. They receive billions from the US government ( US TAX PAYERS) as AID and millions in loan guarantees and priceless amounts of diplomatic cover and they can't pay that little amount of money. I am not asking to admit guilt just take care of your friends citizens. If that happened to an Israeli citizen in America that citizen would receive millions of dollars in a settlement. Now that's justice.
"The canister ricocheted" or "the shooting of tear gas canisters at demonstrators was justified" I would rather doubt the ricochet hypothesis - it still had enough force to shatter her jaw!
Well now Shimon is a balistic exzpert today. A tear gas cannister has both mass and velocity. These cannisters weigh arrpox half a kilo and travel with a velocity of approx 700 feet per second. Even a ricochet has enough velocity and inertia left that when it strikes an object that is soft such as a face, damage will result.. Doubt all you want Shimon, but do your research firts before opening your pie hole and spouting your opinion. Effective range of such canisters is well over 200 yards. If she were at the end of teh trajectory she might have had bruises, she was not. The crowd was throwing stones, and frankly in teh 1980 during protests they would skip live rounds off the poavement. Today they use less lethat force. She was stupid, did not sdisperse when told to, stayed for teh fireworks show and caught a canister in teh head. YOu really cant have pity for people who dont obey the rule of law when asked to disperse. her bad judgment put her there, and got her eye taken out. It is no one elses fault. There is a reason teargas rounds have a warning on them, and this warning reads, may cause injury . even a ricochet only loses some forwards momentum and velocity, not all of it as clearly demostarted in teh protest.
ans shooting it t the wall near her, because both are clear cases of criminal negligence (at least) causing bodily harm, because the manufacturer of these tear gas rounds instructs that to avoid risk of injury, they are to be fired on an overhead lob so that those they are directed at can see where they will hit, and have time to clear that spot. That would make the armies 'defence' actually an admission of guilt.
Devoid of any morals, this is how the state of Israel behaves!
Please name any country that does. Most travelers from N. America and EU carry own emergency travel insurance that should be used for this purpose. However, if you argue on political grounds who should pay for the incident, this young woman was taking part in a protest that obviously resulted in some confrontation with police and thus she is responsible for the outcome. Recently, we had a G-20 meeting in Toronto that resulted in 900 arrests and dozens injured. If a foreigner was among the injured I highly doubt that Canada would pick up the medical expenses.
Its just that Israel needs to be dragged screaming and kicking to the Courts. Turkey demanded an apology and compensation, Israel balked, now it seems Israel is prepared to pay the compensation but reticent about the public apology.
it actually happens. Where did you come across information that ...Israel is prepared to pay... ? The official line has been no payment and no apology and rightly so.
in either case. We are dealing with a mixed band of peaceful protestors and hooligans. All the Israeli authorities can do is respond to violence, which the did in both cases. The truth of the matter is the ships should have been seized as security for the costs of enforcing the embargo and the protestors whom Emily was associated with should have been required to pay the costs of policing their protest. Had that protest been peaceful, then of course Israel should bear the costs of policing and the same should be true of the flottila. Had it been a smbolic protest in aid of the Pals, despite the fact that I think the Pals are basically a criminal organization, Israel should bear the costs of enforcing its very justified blockade of non-humanitarian goods. The bottom line is that even if politics overwhelm justice, and those politics cause Israel to pay compensation to any persons participating in civil disturbance, paying is not the right thing to do. On the contrary, those who participate should pay.
"I think the Pals are basically a criminal organization" At last the mask falls away! You think an entire race of people are ALL criminals. This is why there will never be peace. You cannot even see the Pals as human beings.
Is this not one of the first concepts a parent teaches their child?
israel is the only purported democracy where peaceful protest is met with "fire"
Since when is it considered peaceful when the protestors are throwing rocks?
if she plays the game, she has to stand the consequences
And what "game" were the sailors on the USS Liberty "playing" when Israel tried to sink the ship? What "game" was Corrie playing. The world knows what "game" Israel is playing: the victim card; the bait and switch card; the freeze and build card; the BIbi deceit card; and finally, the buy and direct the US Foreign policy card. It has all the cards and knows how to play its game, alright.
azbob, i am amazed at your inability to think.
I really feel frightened when I see what israel is slowly turning into. Is this soldier, who desobeyed rules of engagement and shot a young woman in the face, the new Israeli hero? How come he is not already in prison? How come Tsahal let such people who shoot at peaceful protestors, run free?
Tell us Allgra where specifically did you get teh notion a soldier broke teh rules of engagement. You sound realkly smnart, what specifica article or insights do you have. Crowd arrives to protest, crowd throw stones. Police block demonstartors. Police demand crowd disperse. Criowd thumbs noses at Police request. Army open fire with tear gas cannisters. Girls gets injured because she did not follow instructions to disperse. Whose fault. The stupid little left wing bitch that decided her sense of entitlement would be offended. After all for foreginers its fun to be a demiostrator there are usually no consequences. She misjudged and got herself hurt. Hopefully she will take better care of her good eye that is left. I bet she will disperse the next time she is asked
how much does an operation of that magnitude cost in the states these days?
then she was entitled to demonstrate.Even if the canister bounced off a wall,the IDF should have considered ALL possible ramifications before firing into or at or very near a crowd.If they fired intentionally at the wall it would be unpredictable where it would end up.If fired into crowd...well it should be fired NEAR or BEFORE the people. We should pay WITHOUT HESITATION,not refuse because she disagreed with our actions/policies. In future BEFORE starting action,the IDF should have an observer with a video camera,and use UNEDITED EVIDENCE.We cannot be perfect every time ,but this was horrible and we should foot the bill.If we can hospitalize our enemies(I'm not critizising that) then we should treat our own people decently too.For too long have people who dont toe the right wing line been marginalised.
Israeli soldier shooting straight in the face of a young American Jew... Are the USA giving so much money to the Israeli government to achieve such hideous result and violation of the Law? SHAME on the Israeli government.
Allegra. If you had bothered to read the article before posting, you would see that it's mostly likely that the canister hit something, rebounded, and hit this woman. Soldiers tend to follow orders and rules: if it had been a rule to fire tear-gas canisters directly into protesters' faces, this would be far from the isolated incident it actually is. Israel has nothing to be shamed of. But I wonder what the organizers of these protests really think they will achieve. Will Israel disappear because they march? Of course not.
what you describe as chutzpah? Are you still under the misapprehension that people admire you for it? If so, you're as mistaken about that as about so much else.
That is what trials are for. Is Israel at war with the USA and American Jews?
A) The IDF is not a "freier" (=gullible dimwit) who saddles every humanitarian claim stam... B) The IDF denies culpability, because the cannister, altho' admittedly lobbed by a soldier, definitely ricochetted from somewhere else altogether... Conclusion: Only fate and the G*ds and the tragically eyeless lady are to blame...
Sever all ties with Israel. The IDF won't pursue it through the courts in the United states because of the negative publicity of shooting an American and then forcing her to pay for the medical treatment that saved her life will attract. Call their bluff.
Firstly the IDF wont pursue it through the courts as it is the Defence Ministry who has sent her the bill. Secondly the negative publicity you mention swings both ways. Wikileaks have this week told the world about what has been going on by the US and British forces in Afghanistan. A leading international lawyer told Channel 4 news that there is "prima-facie" evidence of "war crimes". Tell me Chris what exactly is the difference between the US, UK and Israel armed forces?
May God help us.
She was their responsibility.
It's the cost of liberating the "oppressed" Palestinians right? Ask Abbas to fit the bill...
The money is not the issue - the issue is the collapse of Israel's moral authority, eroding day by day. Consequences will be severe as the welfare provider (US) eventually walks away and Israel becomes increasingly economically isolated. There is a price - and eventually it WILL be paid.
Insurance do not pay for casualties during war.
That is what trials are for.
As far as I remeber israel is refusing to "Grant" Palestinians a state. Israel is an occupying power. Lets add to the fact that the qalandia checkpoint is in the the Jerusalem municipal zone!
I didn't know US citizens are the new enemies of IDF.
The US congress is first as they are totally blinded by contributions and votes.
Anybody that does not see eye-to-eye with Israeli policies, gets-it-in-the-eye...
Every time I travel to Israel my insurance informs me that I am not covered while there because Israel is considered to be in a state of war
A common practice whereby an insurance company seeks reimbursement for a loss it paid for which a third party is liable. Shooting people in the face for protesting is not a humane practice. It may only be common in the Occupied Territories. Not even Blackwater-Xe routinely does it. Maybe the soldier can prove it was an accident?
Mark of Lewiston argues that shooting people in the face for protesting is not a humane practice. He goes on to say 'It may only be common in the Occupied Territories'. Have you thought this through, Mark? If this were a common practice, how come we've only ever heard of this one incident? Accidents like this happened from time to time in Northern Ireland, but nobody made much of a fuss. Israel IS extremely humane in how it treats its enemies. If you want to make this sort of accusation, you would do well to find evidence to back up your wild assertions.
Let's talk about the protester who had her hed crushed by a bulldozer. That is certainly the more humane way to go. What a disgusting abyss Israeli morality has sunk into!
Come to Israel...get citizenship, take advantage of all the benefits this gives you (education, health etc.), then go participate with the ISM, a group that openly condones violence against the State, protesting the State's right to screen incoming vessels operated by the IHH - a group the US recognized as having clear connections with terrorist organizations and then be upset that she got hurt and doesn't want to pay her 3k bill. This is insane. Why doesn't Israel pay? For the same reason they don't pay for Ismail Haniya's Jenny Craig diet!
Excusers for right wing Israel always claim IHH is on the US terror list, it's not.....although your pals are trying to get it on it, just to prove their point, even if very unfair. If Israel acts sanely, does not attack Gaza and kill over 1300 CIVILIANS, 330+ CHILDREN, then demonstrations would not be needed. More Americans are seeing the truth, from the internet if nothing else, and we are getting so tired of giving away our money to a country that insults us and interferrs in OUR politics !
I didn't say they were on the list. I said the US recognizes they they have "clear terrorist links." This is typical ignorant radical left behavior. Read for God's sake. And yes ANY civilian death is a tragedy. But defense isn't about a math equation. It's about keeping your citizen alive at whatever costs...PERIOD. And I would hope the US would act the same if it started raining Katyushas near my home.
What can I say, Maybe we're returning the favor.
If her insurance or her parents insurance company pays a single dime, they can sue on her behalf. A common practice in the US. It won't even be her choice if the company decides Israel should pay. It would be an interesting case.
the insurance company could file a civil claim against him.
Israel will not risk the bad press that any court case would ensue. NIS14,000 is not worth risking further alienation of the people who pays the bills.
Insurance doesn't cover willing participants of violent demonstrations (and Arab participants of this demonstration were throwing stones, as they usually do in such demonstrations).
for putting herself in a dangerous situation. My travel insurance does not cover dangerous sports, alpinism, travelling to countries in war, participating in manifestations. It could well be the American insurance company put similar clauses in their contracts.
That is a court function; to sort out the facts at trial. It might name the soldier or the State of Israel, if the State is stonewalling. And some insurance companies have pretty good lawyers on retainer. It might be cheaper to pay than to defend, depending on where the action is brought. If they forum shop it right, they can stack the deck against anybody. Insurance companies can be a sleazy as any government.
Israel seems to be TOTALLY numb to the increasing isolation and degradation it is causing itself in the world.... under its current government.
It depends if the insurance is individual or group or whether it is from an insurance company of is part of a self-insured ERISA plan and it would also depend on how the analyst wrote the limitation. It would also depend on if the coverage was provided through US or Israeli laws. Serge has a point, too. There can be tons of stuff to sort out.. Haaretz hasn't yet got all the facts.
The army injures the girl and then blames her for being there. Breaching the peace is not just cause to have a tear gas canister shot in someone's face. Just what the army needs - more bad P.R.
Standard Israeli practice is to blame the victim, go look at some of the talkbacks pertaining Cast Lead.
They were violently demonstrating and subdued with tear gas. The Israeli emergency hospital system took care of her but hospitals are not part of universal care and you need to get the authorization from a primary doctor for hospital care, take it to the hospital registrar and usually, they healthcare system pays for it or most of it depending what is included in the healthbasket. She doesn't have to sue the IDF to pay the hospital bill if she is indeed an Israeli citizen. As an Israeli citizan she should know this. She is not being honest, and this is just about politics, not paying hospital bills.
We have a right to throw rocks, burn cars or shoot Jews wherever we find them and you Right Wing Nuts have no business even trying to stop us. The girl should be given millions $ for this atrocity.
You are about as atrocious an idiot as I have ever had the sad occasion to read about. Shame on you and may YOU get what you wish for others in your miserable post.
Let's think what would happen if I went to Afghanistan and violently protested against the innocent Afghan civilians being killed on a daily basis by American troops. I'm sure that the US soldiers would present me with flowers and carry me around on their shoulders. right?
No..the American soldiers would not present you with flowers...But at the same time they would not shoot at you and cost you your eye. And if they did, you would have the right to sue them, and recover all your losses. Not like your barbaric country.
Under the UCMJ, the soldier would be indicted if the investigation (mandatory) did not prove it was an accident.
Thousands of innocent Afghans have been killed by US troops. Remind me how many have been indicted? Zero
What's your point? We're talking about peaceful protests. US soldiers don't use lethal force against unarmed civilians in either Iraq or Afghanistan during peace rallies. Israel is the only country that employs that kind of force during protests. By the way, why are you an ethnically purged jew?
Thousands of innocent Palestinians have been killed by Israeli troops. Remind me how many have been indicted?
Thousands upon thousands...of innocent Palestinians have been used as shields, tortured, displaced and murdered by the Israeli army since its inception . How many of them have been indicted? -1
according to the leaked us afghan docs released, a US patrol vehicle steps on a IED and they run back to base shooting random along the highway. Result? 15 killed, 52 wounded. So much for not using lethal force against civilians....
Severe brutality, even against Jews. This is Israel and the IDF under Netanyahu and Lovely man, alias Lieberman. Poor Emily will spend her life half blind!
Any civilized country would provide medical care for a person in need brutality needs to stop now we are all human with different believes. Life can only go on if there is piece. I feel very sorry for this lady as a human being I do not care about religion. Back in the 80’s I had allot of Jewish friends in the UK we never new that so much hate exist in the M.E.
Is a country like the UK who sent its army half way around the world to destroy 2 countries and kill thousands of innocent civilians, civilized?
It just wants her to pay for that care, after it has been delivered.
Two wrongs don't make a right! The commentator was objecting to Israeli action, shooting a protestor in the face. What the UK did many years ago has nothing to do, and certainly does not justify this brutal Israeli action?
Israel just wants her to pay for the care it gave her. It injured her and she also has had tens of thousands of dollars of medical bills after in the U.S.
I'm talking about what is going now in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Blame other more when you are blamed!
Please don't expect us to believe your propaganda. They gave her medical care. She should, however, pay for it
What hypocrisy. Look at how the Shia are treated in Bahrein.
50 Afghan civilians were killed last week by a NATO airstrike. Where is the outrage? Why this obsession with Israel? If people are so concerned about civilian suffering why don't they raise their voices. Or maybe what really interests them is slamming Israel.
We lionize our 'heros' who get wounded 'in the line of duty'. The President, Prime Minister, and others line up to be at the bedside of soldiers who were part of killings and over-zealous operations. Yet when one of our own gets caught on the 'other side', with THEM, and is wounded by soldiers, we leave her out to dry. In doing so, we have abandoned our values, principles, and anything that resembles national solidarity in favor of fairy tales, where we have mock heros and mock villains. Now we have a travesty of real Zionism.
Totally agree - PM et al are great in fire fighting screw ups. From my point of view we have absentee leadership and the ship seems to be flying on auto pilot and headed for crash !
No. Sfard is not know for his "pro-bono" cases. He is known for conducting anti-Israel "lawfare" against Israel which involves bringing law suits in an attempt to de-legitimize Israel.
must be worth more han that if he really is such a "good and in great demand" lawyer
AMAZING!!!