Interior Ministry's Oz police unit accused of beating U.S. immigrants
Their lawyer: Police yelled at them, 'Afro-Americans, kushim [darkies], we don’t need you here.'
By Bradley BurstonThe Interior Ministry's controversial Oz immigration police unit has been accused of beating and verbally abusing members of an African-American family from Kansas City whose members converted to Judaism several years ago, and are living in Ashkelon pending a decision on their citizenship request.
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An Oz official questioning a foreign worker in Tel Aviv. |
| Photo by: Nir Kafri |
Kristien Garrett, 24, who is seven months pregnant, was taken by ambulance to Ashkelon's Barzilai Hospital after the Oz unit operation. During the operation, several officers detained her husband Sean, telling family members that his name did not appear "in the system" of the ministry's Population Registry.
Witnesses said Kristien Garrett's one-year-old daughter and Garrett's mother Trina Woodcox were struck a number of times as the officers moved to detain Garrett's husband. Sean Garrett was allegedly handcuffed, beaten repeatedly and subjected to racial slurs while in custody; he was later released when ministry officials determined that his visa was valid.
The Oz unit, which spearheads a high-profile Interior Ministry campaign to track and expel foreign nationals who lack valid permits to remain in Israel, admitted to having detained a family member in error, but denied allegations of use of physical force. It countered that family members had attacked them with "cursing and swearing."
The family had come to Israel at the invitation of the Interior Ministry, which asked to interview them prior to a final decision on their request for immigrant status. Ministry officials held a hearing on their case last month, a step in the process toward receiving citizenship.
When Woodcox, who held the family's documents, asked to accompany Sean Garrett in the police van, "officers grabbed her by her hair and her head, and pulled her by her leg," dragging her out of the vehicle, Kristien Garrett told Haaretz Thursday, after her release from the hospital.
The officer with her mother "turned around and started hitting me and my child in the face," she said. Her husband tried to help her, "but two other officers jumped on him, handcuffed him, and beat him up while the other officer was hitting me and my daughter."
Neighbors left their houses to come to the family's aid. "Everything was just a big frenzy," Garrett said. "One of the neighbors came and took my daughter away from me, so that she wouldn't be hit any more. The police officer was kicking me and hit me in my stomach, and I hit him back, to get him off of me."
Another neighbor called an ambulance. Kristien Garrett was taken to Barzilai with cramps, and hospitalized overnight. She has now been discharged on bed rest.
The lawyer for the family, Nicole Maor of the Israel Religious Action Center, said that they had been subjected to racial abuse by the police officers, who reportedly yelled at them: “Afro-Americans, kushim [darkies], we don’t need you here.”
Family members said the officer who had struck Kristien Garrett later returned and apologized to Sean for beating his wife. "He said that he had never hit a woman before, and that he felt bad for the mistake that had been made," Woodcox said.
Oz unit official Yehuda Ben-Ezra denied that the officers had used physical force against the family, saying that his inspectors had filed a police complaint alleging that the family had attacked them with profanity.
Questioned regarding Garrett's hospitalization, Ben-Ezra told Army Radio, "The woman is not in the hospital because of violence by inspectors. Really not." Pressed by news anchor Yael Dan, Ben-Ezra said "I have no idea why she was hospitalized - why she went to the hospital."
"You mean there was no violence there?" Dan asked.
"Not on the part of my inspectors. On the part of the residents, yes. On the part of my inspectors, truly no."
The morning after the incident, Trina Woodcox went to the Ashkelon police station to file a complaint against the police, but was rebuffed.
"They called her a liar, and said that they couldn't accept her complaint," said Maor.
Wilcox wrote Kansas City Reform Rabbi Arthur Nemitoff, who had converted the family to Judaism, "My heart is breaking right now.
"We have so much love for Israel. But it seems like Israel does not love us back."
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I am acquainted with the Woodcox family through our synagogue in Kansas City. My and many hearts from here go out to them. The one issue that that seems to tie many of Israel's internal and external struggles together yet seems to not be discussed or acted on is that Israel has no written explicit constitution as required by its Declaration of Independence to be completed by Oct. 1, 1948. Result: The Basic Laws, other legislation, and case law are used by the courts as a constitution. Until Israel successfully writes and ratifies a constitution guaranteeing the equal rights of all people within its borders and creating a complete and thorough firewall between religion and state, Israel cannot achieve peace within it borders and people, nor has the credibility to achieve the same with its neighbors. There must be protections along the lines of the US Constitution and Bill of Rights such as: Kinesset (or Government) shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation. In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence. In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of Israel, than according to the rules of the common law. Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. The powers not delegated to the National Government by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it are reserved to the people. Absent such a framework, the situation will not get better.
has not learnt one lesson from History. In fact they are no better than the SS at selection in Auschwitz
There's your first mistake.
and American Mainstream Media will always lead Americans astray. You don't think we read that Israel is a racist state, populated by European "jews" who displaced and murdered the Palestinians, do you?
These men should be arrested, stupid, racist idiots, what is going on over there!!!!
Cush was the eldest son of Ham and was the brother of Canaan (who settled in the land of Israel before the Hebrews arrived). The Kushim are the dark people of Africa. How curious that the Ethiopian Jews are of the same pigmentation and are not ridiculed for their skin color because of their Jewishness. Maybe the Oz police just didn't pay attention during their high school history classes. At least one of them came to his senses and apologized.
I'm an African-American Jew who has lived in Israel over 10 years.I'm not going to say we have a perfect society,but for an African -american Jewish family to be treated this way is beyond the pale! Anyone who has spent any time with Ethiopians knows that they too have been called Kushi in a way that meant nigger and if you speak to Sephardim,especially Moroccans they were also subjected to the slur. When I first came to Israel in 1979,there were hardly any Blacks in the country and now there are plenty.Many of us are African-American Jews who want to be no where else but in our homeland.I know this terrible event may sour this family's feelings toward the country,but I hope they will be able to live there lives in Israel without fear and bitterness.
bradley burston is spreading rumours again, i see.
Oz and Shas in control of Interior Ministry are an extension of Ovadia Yosef school of thought. He equated Gentiles to donkeys that have no other purpose but to be servants..
As a woman, married to a jewish man, I have to say that if Ovadia Yosef continues his version of Gentiles being no more than donkey's, that he is not serving G-d by making this statement. Rather he is serving the demi-God. Ovadia Yosef should be very, very careful. We are all G-d's creation. The jews have a special (or had?) situation with G-d. He thought that it would be through the Jews that they would show their obedience and live by his way! I do not think G-d would be impressed by Ovadia Yosef today. Yosef, I say to you, be afraid of your G-d - you should be trembling right now.
First they beat Arabs. Then it was easy for police and soldiers to beat protesters against Oslo during Rabin's time and vcover i up. Then teenagers at Arnona, although now with camera phones and internet its harder to cover up. By now they are used to beating people up and getting away with it.
I wish I could apologize to you personally on behalf of my people, my govt, and its band of thugs, the Oz unit. I wish you a speedy recovery and the best of luck with Kristien's pregnancy. We want you and all the Reform Jews in America to come. We need you to come help us put an end to the madness which has changed our society into something that I no longer recognize as the land of my birth. Shabbat Shalom.
Oz police unit accused of beating U.S. immigrants. Just another happy day in Israel.
Unfortunately this is not unusual behavior for police in any country, Europe, America, the Jewish State. It takes a lot of courage for a gang of armed police to beat up a one year old child and its pregnant mother in front of the child's handcuffed father. The sad part is that the police almost always get away with it.
Nice to see that Israel's racism and brutality doesn't just extend to Palestinians
Be brave, make a stand, this is the moment.
Russians in Israel are very racist as they are in Russia .Israel is a small speck of land and I think its reached its population max and they still bring in more and more and take away more jobs more causes for frustration and anger what number are they trying to achieve for Israel ? 8 million , 10 million 15 or 20 ?
If true
It is a shame for the decent Jewish Israelis that this has happened. I hope that they get into the streets to protest this.
All Palestinian refugees should convert to Judaism, then they can make aliyah and reclaim their homes. Since Palestinians are Semites, they should have no difficulty in fitting in with all the other Semites. And then if anybody messed with them, they could yell: "Anti-Semitism" and be taken seriously.
They would if they could, most Arabs are very envious of Israeli success, and would convert if they thought they would be accepted, Palestinians especially. But they wouldn't be accepted.
and tesco, both massive companies founded by jews starting in britain but with a world wide presence, famed for their honesty, integrity, scrupulous character, fairness to all and sundry, ethical probity, and monumental justice, would give them a job and a life. believe me, as you should believe everything you read in the papers.
So far, all I have heard is the voice of the 1960's hippies and pot-heads screaming about how the police slapped them around for spitting on them. No proof, just allegations. Show me the pictures of the bruises and the cuts and the scrapes.
"Ignore the man behind the curtain!" - The Wizard of Oz
Very sad story this should not happen to anybody who makes alyia.
The real problem are the illegal immigrants who lounge around on the beaches in Eilat and Tel Aviv with no actual home to go to. Why aren't police checking their papers?
Israel is an apartheid state + a TERROR state & & the only democratic country in the region ,,,,can u believe that ,-) ?
HOW PROUD SHOULD WE BE
they were mislead by the one sided American Media.
you all don't want black jews?
Wasn't he Jewish enough for you?
Im so sorry you had to go through this. I myself made aliyah in 2006. There have been a lot of really bad things I've seen since I've gotten here, but no worse than in any other country except for the fact that we're all Jews screwing over other Jews. I'm sorry for experience, and maybe it's the government part of Israel who doesn't love you (or any of its citizens for that matter) but it's definitly not the people of Israel!!! Stay strong and I support you :)
the Jews screwing over the Arabs. Oh, yeah, there's that.
Israel does not have black role models in high places or on TV, it's something the country needs to address. The only black people I see here are cleaners or security guards.
...the Falashim were brought in, to do menial work.
Shouldn't these people get their citizenship immediately after making aliyah? They may be converts, but they are Jews. I know that the rabbinate doesn't recognize Reform conversions, but the State of Israel does. Now we have religious zealots hijacking even the police. Of course, once you realize Eli Yishai is Interior Minister everything falls into place. Shameful. Truly is. These people have proven their love for Israel and Judaism, and they are treated like this. This unit should be dismantled. Reeks of religious police.
Instead of talking about anit-semites, why don't we take care of this problem? Talking about what is good or not good for the Jews, when we allow this kind of behavior by people in authority is like arguing about the phone bill instead of calling the fire dept when the house is burning!!!
Your racist ways and racist laws, make you more than a terrorist state.
People from different nationality tells me that Jews are very racist and wants to dominate the world, I always defend you because you are God's chosen people. Please do not give the world another reason to hate you more. God is humble, and he created everybody from different races.
tell us that we're the chosen people, what they don't say is what we've been chosen for. I suspect that we've chosen by G-d as a warning to others.
Well, it appears that G_d didn't choose very wisely... And out of curiosity... chosen for what? Being a thorn in everyone's backside?
Part of every man for himself
As stated on Facebook: And the State of Israel claims to be a democracy? Isn't the term "Jewish democracy" an oxymoron? How can any State be a democracy with an established elite group of people holding superior positions over all others?
Is this not the same treatment almost every non jew in Israel has experienced. It seems racism is alive and doing very well. Funny how it's ok when the boot is on the other foot
What is happening to you Israel!!??
... except their mask is falling away. Many of us always knew it was a nasty sovietised apartheid, terrorist state.
the greater vision of a pure Jewish State means that the Jew will be white or olive skinned. Nothing changes really latest thinking is that Jesus was black.
I'm willing to bet there isn't a single tsabar (native Israeli) who knows that word.
that Kushim carries the same racist weight as "darkies" in the U.S. (A little outdated and not so likely to be heard today in the U.S., but that doesn't change anything.)
Kushim was the epithet used...darkies, I assume it's just a translation...or a Hebrew version of the n-word.
it was a bad translation for the article of the word Kushim It actually means "niger" which every tsabar ("idiot") knows.
The word he used in Hebrew was "cushim." Darkies was a poor translation of an equally despicable Hebrew word.
When it's in the service of a racist, fascist ideology masquerading as a unifying religious tradition, it destroys both that tradition and those upon whom that "education" is inflicted. Shameful.
Do you read? Did you read the word Cushies? Since you claim to live in Israel I would think you know that the word Cushies is a derogatory name for people with black skin. sThe word "darkies" was in parentheses sto make it clear to the average intelligence that Cushies is equivalent to Darkies.
Slapping around a one year old child, kicking and punching a pregnant woman and repeatedly beating the husband and father just for accepting an invitation from the Interior Ministry. Sick, Sicker, Sickest! Well done boys you've won bronze, silver and gold in the ‘How to turn the stomach of the whole world Championships’. What do you think? I’m just curious
Many Israelis are fighting Oz and its policies. You simply don't know about rllies and political movements and just use it to express hatred towards Israel
Israel is not a racist state, not at all ...
They are invaders. Anything that happens to them is a matter of Justice. "They exist to serve us" said Rabbi Ovadia Yosef
Project Israel is based on Jewish supremacy, pure racism - and increasingly, fascism. The incident is nothing but a symptom of a serious and incurable illness. The Garretts should hurry back to Kansas.
better help them emigrate back to KC. Fail.
why move to Israel? you can be jewish and live well in many places in the world, their country of origin is alright. why move to a place where you are likely to be discriminated? these people unfortunately read too much of the emigration propaganda encouraging you to come and support the growth of the jewish population.it is an undesrtandable policy considering the decreasing numbers of jews but your society does not seem "open" (maybe i ma wrong but this is my impression) . I feel sad for them. it must have been a traumatic experience. how can those animals behave like this in front of a child. my goodness...
I know this family personally and know how deeply their goal of living as Jews in Israel is - this just makes me so sad.
This is NOT the way we treat olim. In a time when we are locked in a demographic war within Israel to maintain its Jewish majority, stories like this do not encourage aaliyah.
It is very disappointing that Jews who suffered so much discrimination over the centuries should have officials in their state who can treat people with such indignity. It makes one despair for humanity !
Oink, Mr. Policeman.
You're bang on with that one Ariel I'm in full agreement. Nasty bastards!
Wow!! The voice of the 1960's in hippie America.
I thought I wanted to make Aliyah, but where's the sense of brotherhood ? Ican see police beatings here in LA. Why uproot to see the same shit there ?
I met this guy here last year who made Aliyah from Oakland, California. I couldn't believe the things he said so cavalierly about African Americans. I dropped him as even an acquaintance then and there. It's really bad here and some of the worst perps are Americans and Russians.
Israel is racist. Not like South Africa, but in its own special disgusting way. Arabs are hated, kept out of good jobs, hassled at the borders. Now these "nice" black people. No one who has lived in Israel and had non-jewish friends can be vaguely surprised at this. And .. trust the police to lie about incidents like this. Beating/mistreating Arabs and minorities is part of their job.
An officer appologised for beating the woman, his superior declare that they didn't!! A bunch of liers and racist people they are, probably followers of rav Ovadia. Did you remember the officer beating and cursing soccer supporters in various occasions? In beating civils they are very good, in preventing crime they dissapears. No one will stop them in a country like ours.
It is apparent what Oz and his thugs are, but are they decent enough to know what they are? Do they have jackboots, brown shirts and wear blue armbands bearing a white circle with blue Magan David inside? Are Israelis aware of what their country is becoming? Do they care?
stronghold of the 20th century and all its evil.
In the US any cop who used such language would be discharged and his department would be sued for millions.
I guess the story of Ruth and Naomi is just forgotten folklore. Welcome to Israel--no schwartzen need apply.
It's interesting to note that there are not a single comment here. I guess one can only ask why?
This black American family should have thought twice before converting to Judaism and moving to Israel. Hopefully this act of supreme racism will deter other blacks from this stupid and dangerous path. Hopefully it will also make members of the Black Caucus in the Congress think again about their blind support for Israel.
Jan, keep your odious opinion to yourself. Every country has racists. Plus, wait for the police to provide their side of the story. Israel has many Jews of many races.
The Black Caucus is bought and paid for.
Not bloody likely. You are, after all, talking about The Best Congress Money Can Buy™. The highest bidder these last thirty-five years just happens to have been Israel. they'll keep following the money like hungry dogs on the scent of a wonderful meal until there's nothing left of either America OR Israel.
How can there be Jews of many races if Jews are already a race? Oh, that's right, Judaism is a religion, not a race. Or is Judaism a race? I guess it just depends on the situaiton, right?
... it's the role they play for Yishai's interior ministry...
The officer meant it when he said Israel does not want you. He was telling the truth. Come back to the real Zion: USA.
Racism was not going to only be perpetrated against Arabs in Israeli society. Racism is like a virus that once a people is infected it spreads with little to counter its effects. Only education, becoming familiar with "the other", and opening your heart to empathy and compassion can combat racism. Such tools and inclination for understanding "the other" are not found in Israeli society--although, one could say that someone who is truly "Jewish" should be taught such morals and abilities. But Israel has strayed so far from its Jewishness in the treatment of its neighbors and its own citizens that the country is now Jewish in name only.
Racism was not going to only be perpetrated against Arabs in Israeli society. Racism is like a virus that once a people is infected it spreads with little to counter its effects. Only education, becoming familiar with "the other", and opening your heart to empathy and compassion can combat racism. Such tools and inclination for understanding "the other" are not found in Israeli society--although, one could say that someone who is truly "Jewish" should be taught such morals and abilities. But Israel has strayed so far from its Jewishness in the treatment of its neighbors and its own citizens that the country is now Jewish in name only.
well well well...into the heart of darkness. How can you explain this savagery.?
I feel bad for the recent legal immigrants to Israel. It appears that the jewish faith is predicated on skin colour.
I agree. You can only be a real Jew if you are white.
Wishful thinking. We are living through one of the most shameful periods of the Israeli history. All these eli yishais and liebermans represent us. Are they the true face of Israel?
yes
Investigate thoroughly. If the police were not at fault, bring charges against the family, If the police were at fault, arrest and try the officers and fire the draft dodger Yishai. Send him back to his tent where he can protect the people of Israel with Torah Study.
Place these fascists in jail. Their actions run contrary to everything Israel should be standing for.
These people are Israel in a nutshell.
This incident must be properly investigated. A blanket denial is unacceptable. This is a serious allegation and must be taken seriously. It is never appropriate to strike with violent intent a woman or child regardless of any verbal incitement. The fact that neighbors (third party/independent corroborators) became involved and that they called the ambulance lends a great amount of credibility to these allegations. The agents involved should immediately be placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation. The racial overtones are despicable and need to be addressed substantially and without prevarication.
They thought life would be better there? Who mislead you!? Come back home. You dont need that! They will put you in harms way as a 5th column.
they were moving to a racist state.
The immigration police is a pack of thugs, pure and simple.
Every single country in the world wants to get rid of their illegal immigrant problem. No country in the western democratic world hires a gestapo to do it. Eli Yishai should be forced to resign and a minister with brains should take his place. ...and his entire OZ unit needs to be beamed back to the dark ages.
I am sure if they had been Palestinian , their relatives would now ne burying them .........so much for Humanity , it does not exist anymore .........