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| Israeli military closes inquiry into death of Bassem Abu Rahmeh | Israeli military closes inquiry into death of Bassem Abu Rahmeh |
| (7 days later) | |
| Israeli military investigators have closed their inquiry into the death of a Palestinian protester without charges, citing a lack of evidence despite the fact that the incident was recorded by three separate cameras. | Israeli military investigators have closed their inquiry into the death of a Palestinian protester without charges, citing a lack of evidence despite the fact that the incident was recorded by three separate cameras. |
| Bassem Abu Rahmeh, 30, died after being hit in the chest by a teargas grenade fired by an Israeli soldier during a protest against the separation barrier in the West Bank village of Bil'in in April 2009. His death, and the village's struggle against the barrier, featured in the Oscar-nominated documentary Five Broken Cameras. | Bassem Abu Rahmeh, 30, died after being hit in the chest by a teargas grenade fired by an Israeli soldier during a protest against the separation barrier in the West Bank village of Bil'in in April 2009. His death, and the village's struggle against the barrier, featured in the Oscar-nominated documentary Five Broken Cameras. |
| Abu Rahmeh's mother, the Bil'in village council, and the Israeli human rights organisations B'Tselem and Yesh Din filed a petition against the Israeli military over his death. The military advocate general opened an investigation three years ago. | Abu Rahmeh's mother, the Bil'in village council, and the Israeli human rights organisations B'Tselem and Yesh Din filed a petition against the Israeli military over his death. The military advocate general opened an investigation three years ago. |
| The state of Israel said that, following a "comprehensive and rigorous" inquiry, investigators had concluded "there is not enough evidence needed for criminal proceedings for adopting legal measures against any of the soldiers involved in the incident". | The state of Israel said that, following a "comprehensive and rigorous" inquiry, investigators had concluded "there is not enough evidence needed for criminal proceedings for adopting legal measures against any of the soldiers involved in the incident". |
| According to B'Tselem and Yesh Din, expert analysis of the video footage "determined that the grenade was fired directly at Abu Rahmeh, in complete contravention of open-fire regulations". They accused military investigators of "foot-dragging and procrastination". | According to B'Tselem and Yesh Din, expert analysis of the video footage "determined that the grenade was fired directly at Abu Rahmeh, in complete contravention of open-fire regulations". They accused military investigators of "foot-dragging and procrastination". |
| The two organisations said the videos of the incident showed that Abu Rahmeh was on the Palestinian side of the barrier, did not act violently and did not endanger the soldiers. He was taken to hospital where he died of his injuries. | The two organisations said the videos of the incident showed that Abu Rahmeh was on the Palestinian side of the barrier, did not act violently and did not endanger the soldiers. He was taken to hospital where he died of his injuries. |
| Bil'in was the scene of weekly protests against the separation barrier, which cut off the village from swaths of its farmland. Israeli soldiers routinely fired teargas grenades and rubber bullets at the protesters, some of whom threw stones during the demonstrations. At the time of Abu Rahmeh's death, Palestinian activists said he was the 18th person to be killed in demonstrations against the barrier since 2004. | Bil'in was the scene of weekly protests against the separation barrier, which cut off the village from swaths of its farmland. Israeli soldiers routinely fired teargas grenades and rubber bullets at the protesters, some of whom threw stones during the demonstrations. At the time of Abu Rahmeh's death, Palestinian activists said he was the 18th person to be killed in demonstrations against the barrier since 2004. |
| Emily Schaeffer of Yesh Din said: "Despite three separate videos that recorded the killing of Bassem, the [military prosecutor] and police have failed to find the factors that caused the death of an unarmed demonstrator. The conduct of the law enforcement bodies in this case is further proof of the feebleness of the authorities in cases of Palestinian casualties. Moreover, it seems that there might be no intention of finding out the truth or prosecuting the offenders even in extreme cases such as this, in which there is clear cut and unambiguous evidence." | Emily Schaeffer of Yesh Din said: "Despite three separate videos that recorded the killing of Bassem, the [military prosecutor] and police have failed to find the factors that caused the death of an unarmed demonstrator. The conduct of the law enforcement bodies in this case is further proof of the feebleness of the authorities in cases of Palestinian casualties. Moreover, it seems that there might be no intention of finding out the truth or prosecuting the offenders even in extreme cases such as this, in which there is clear cut and unambiguous evidence." |
| An Israeli Defence Forces official told Haaretz that the investigation was "comprehensive and included testimonies from several eye-witnesses and the examination by experts of forensic findings and video footage documenting the incident". | An Israeli Defence Forces official told Haaretz that the investigation was "comprehensive and included testimonies from several eye-witnesses and the examination by experts of forensic findings and video footage documenting the incident". |
| B'Tselem and Yesh Din said they would continue their efforts "to bring the parties responsible for [Abu Rahmeh's] death to justice". | B'Tselem and Yesh Din said they would continue their efforts "to bring the parties responsible for [Abu Rahmeh's] death to justice". |
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