Leftist jailed for 1 month for assaulting police in West Bank

"Yesha Human Rights Organisation"... You can't both have a "Yesha" and Human Rights.

The judge writes, "Wild behavior from the right or the left is inconceivable" Quelle joke! Settlers are ONLY about wild behavior.

The judge speaks of 'preventing' the police from carryimg out their duties but makes no mention of the use of physical force against said police. She also fines the defendant $750,000. Funny, but I have never heard of a similar fine being placed upon settlers for any actions whatsoever. And their are many stories about settlers using actual physical violence against police. Also, there is a story in this same newspaper where the prosecutors have declined to prosecute the police who filmed themselves beating and humiliating Palestinians. A kangaroo system of justice is a kind way of describing the legal system of Israel.

I have just seen the video on U-tube. How anyone can talk about justice or be proud of the IDF is beyond me. If this is an example of the most moral army in the world then God help the Palestinians and God help the Israelis too.

Today's Haaretz also reports that "State won't prosecute officers filmed beating Palestinians" because " "the beating in the case was extremely slight and did not cause any actual damage." Does this standard apply to Mr. Nawi?

I have been to the area of South Hebron Hills where Nawi was arrested. The settlers there routinely attack local villagers, including children on their way to school. They are never arrested or punished in any way. Instead, they are allowed to continue building - even housing that is officially considered illegal by Israeli authorities. Meanwhile, the local Palestinian population are denied proper water supplies, electricity and the chance to build even basic structures. The name of the game in this part of the West Bank is ethnic cleansing, pure and simple. And what do the Israeli authorities manage to do? Punish an activist for resistance. A tragic reflection of a truly warped society hell-bent on evil.

Question: Why only one month? Assaulting a police officr is a serious offence, in my opinion, and deserves more than only 1 month in jail! The fines imposed on Nawi are also rediculously low. There has to be respect for the law and for those who enforce the law, otherwise CHAOS.

Eilata Ziskind is a credit to the Israeli judiciary. An intensely intelligent and beautiful woman. A bit to the left but honest. G-d bless her.

Certainly no one can have a problem with the judge's pronouncement (as long as the same treatment is given to settlers protesting illegal settlements being torn down). If, however, one group is allowed such behavior while the other gets a month in jail, one can't help but suspect a politically inspired imbalance of treatment here. In some countries equal administration of justice without fear or favor is considered good form -evidently not in Israel.

Tens of thousands of people world-wide, mainly in the US, signed a petition in support of Ezra Nawi. 1-month, 3-year ban, and 750K is NOT a light sentence. Jewish Voice for Peace, among other groups, have rallied behind him - he got a feature in the New York Times. This judge made a mistake and I would expect to see this as another nail in the growing abandonment of Israel by the international community. Keep calling occupation and abuse "democracy" and the punishment of those who resist as criminals and Israel will find herself a nation of a few million so brainwashed they don't realize what happened to them when everyone turns on us or just cause.

Read http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1094150.html which states, "The policemen claimed Nawi raised his hand against one of them; Ezra denies this, and anyone who knows him believes him. He is a man committed, in every fiber of his being, to non-violent protest." That article did mention the facts that Nawi has prior convictions for sexually assaulting a minor, illegal use of weapons and drug offenses, and that Nawi has repeatedly threatened police.