Son of Palestinian peace activist admits to attempted terror attack
Mohanned Abu-Awwad says he was acting on behalf of Fatah, and the attack was filmed with a B'Tselem camera.
By Avi Issacharoff Tags: B'Tselem Israel newsThe son of prominent Palestinian peace activist confessed Thursday he participated in an attempted terror attack against Israel Defense Forces last month which was documented with a camera belonging to Human rights organization B'Tselem.
On January 21 Israel security forces arrested three West Bank Palestinians suspected of involvement with terrorist activity, one of whom was Mohanned Abu-Awwad, 21, whose father, Khaled Abu-Awwad, serves as the General Manager of the Israeli-Palestinian Bereaved Families Forum.
The three residents of Beit Ommar, north of Hebron, were detained in a joint operation led by members of both IDF and Shin Bet units.
Mohanned was detained several hours after a failed attempt to detonate an explosive device near a gas tank at the entrance to the village.
Mohanned, who admitted he and the others were acting on behalf of a Fatah division, said that a second man who was arrested with him was documenting the attempted attack using a B'Tselem video camera, which was given to them in order to film human rights violations in the village.
In response, B'Tselem issued a statement and said that "after a strenuous investigation of the Shin Bet allegations it seems the claim that one of the suspects used a B'Tselem camera is unfounded."
"The suspects were arrested during the act, and the camera which they supposedly had at the time of the arrest was actually in the family home," the statement said.
Khaled Abu-Awwad has been known in recent years as a prominent peace activist, who advocates dialogue between Palestinians and Israelis despite the fact hat he had lost a brother to IDF fire.
Why Facebook Connect?
Comment on Haaretz.com articles with your Facebook login, and share your thoughts on your own wall.
- Latest
- Most Viewed
- Most Rated
- Open all
Everybody knows Muhanad Abu-Awad has done nothing. Even if he did photograph a mischievous activity near the empty tower where soldiers used to dwell and from where they would harass the villagers for years. Muhanad, whose uncle Youssef was murdered by a soldier at a checkpoint, whose other uncle was shot (age 13) by a settler - none of whome were ever brought to tiral - whose brother was shot in the belly by soldiers sho patrolled the village - those too were never brought to tiral - spent most of his young life in dialogue with ISraeli youth. And that is why he was arrested and blamed for whatever it is he is blamed for. Israel is hunting down Palestinian peace and human rights activists and non-violent resistents to the occupation. And Muhanad should be admired as every Resistence combatant is admired , even more so for he has never wearied of looking for grains of humanity among the occupiers.
If Kach can be banned for simply speaking the truth, B'tselem should be banned for facilitating terrorism. At least their offices should be searched, their computers and donation lists checked - I am sure they are getting money from groups financing terror.
B'SHELEM CAUGHT OUT !!!!! Guilty by thier own agents admission.Now many lies to cover up. ??Where was the camara bought from? Who developed the incriminating pictures?? What are the security services going to do? Is the groveling cowardly defence minister to busy buying houses and real estate instead of defence of Israel?? Did B"Shelem donate the money also to the leftest Ehud Barak to busy him and not interfere with terrorists.?? Why does the leftest Haaretz not push for the truth???
with his background could he have been involved with the killings in Dubi
camera can't be in two places at once, and if the second man was arrested, the camera was sure to have accompanied him. any questions? lol, every camera has a model and serial number that'll be indicated somewhere in the records of the purchase transaction. no doubt, b'tselem has records of its cameras and where each one went.
As soon as I put on a uniform I am no longer a target of terrorists rather I am a target of resistants fighters. Not making the distinction cheapens the crime.
It fullfilled it's mission, in a surprising way
It should be easy enough to see if the camera were used by examining the footage within it. I suppose that B'Tselem is embarrassed to find out that it is being used by Arabs to record their terrorism instead of intimidating Israelis. It's also interesting how quickly they were able to establish where the camera was. I hope the police got to the camera before B'Tselem
son of an activist huh? nice job of parenting there buddy...
Earth to B'Tselem, the terrorist admitted he used a camera given by you. Israel needs to target the organizations that are financing this pro terrorst B'Tselem organization.