Israeli Occupiers Jail Father of Child Filmed Protesting his Arrest, Illegal Settlers Beat 10-Year-Old Palestinian Girl

Israel jails father of child filmed protesting arrest

Published yesterday (updated) 19/08/2010 11:23

HEBRON (Ma'an) --

The father of a new-famous child who was filmed begging Israeli occupation soldiers to release his dad from detention has been sentenced by an Israeli occupation government court to three months in prison plus a fine, relatives said Wednesday.

Footage of Fadil Al-Ja'abari's four-year-old son Khalid sobbing at the sight of his father being dragged away sparked outrage. "You dog, give me my dad. I want daddy. I want daddy. Give me my dad," Khalid cried.

Fadil was charged with obstructing an arrest and striking an officer, both charges that he denied. Khalid's uncle was sentenced along with his father, also for three months, family members told Ma'an.

According to his grandmother, Khalid still asks when his father is coming home and has become agitated, fighting with his younger sister.

According to witnesses, the arrest came as Israel's Civil Administration began destroying what it described as an illegal water irrigation network in the Al-Baq'a village east of Hebron. Family members said they saw bulldozers overturning land.

Israeli officials say they did not destroy land. A spokesman for Israel's Civil Administration said inspectors destroyed pipes that were illegally set up and stealing water from other sources. The Civil Administration said the child was coached for the cameras.

Witnesses: Settlers beat 10-year-old Palestinian girl

Published Monday 16/08/2010 (updated) 19/08/2010 09:50

 HEBRON (Ma'an) --

Illegal Israeli settlers assaulted a 10-year-old Palestinian girl on Sunday evening and an Israeli military jeep struck an 8-year-old boy in Hebron, witnesses said.

Inas Mazen Qaaqour was beaten by residents of the illegal Tel Al-Rumeida settlement and treated at the Hebron Government Hospital where medics said she was bruised all over her body.

Sameh Al-Natsheh Jacob was taken to the same hospital, and medics described his condition as stable.

An Israeli military spokesman did not respond to several requests for comment.

The presence of settlements in the center of Hebron means that Palestinians and Israelis live closer in the city than anywhere else in the West Bank, sometimes on the same street.

The Israeli military controls 20 percent of the city including the Old City and the market area and imposes severe restrictions on Palestinians’ movement.

The Israeli rights group B’Tselem says settlers routinely abuse Palestinians in the city, sometimes using extreme violence. Filmed incidents include settlers shooting, stoning, and beating Palestinians with clubs.

The organization has reiterated Palestinian complaints that Israeli soldiers often witness these attacks but rarely intervene, and perpetrators are seldom prosecuted.