Israel troops face shooting trial

Col Borberg was holding Mr Abu Rahma's arm as the soldier opened fire.

An Israeli commander and sergeant face trial for "unworthy conduct" over the shooting of a bound Palestinian prisoner, Israeli officials say.

Col Omri Borberg was filmed holding the prisoner as a soldier under his command fired a rubber bullet at his feet.

Israel's military advocate general says the incident in the West Bank in July represents a "severe moral failure".

(This happens when the state illegally occupies its neighbour for six decades, preaches a racist and supremacist doctrine, teaches a Revisionist version of history which breeds hatred and misunderstanding, and pursues a policy of slowly and gradually eliminating another People.)

Israeli human rights group B'Tselem had said the military would be shamed if it failed to punish anyone.

(Because when this happens off-camera, most often the perpetrators are not punished, or are lightly or symbolically punished at best.)

According to an army statement released on Wednesday, Col Borberg had resigned his post as battalion commander but remained free to serve elsewhere in the military.

(Of course. The IDF doesn't condemn the action, simply the fact that he was caught.)

On Thursday, the Israeli media reported that the soldiers would be accused of "inappropriate conduct" over the incident rather than face criminal prosecution.

(Reinforcing the fact that Israel could care less about such crimes.)

B'Tselem criticised the military, saying: "An army that treats the shooting of a bound detainee, from zero range as 'inappropriate conduct' is disgracing the values it claims to hold."

The group had helped publicise the incident, which was filmed by a Palestinian civilian in the West Bank village of Nilin.

Nilin has been the scene of frequently violent protests (violent in the government's repression, that is ...) against Israel's plans to pass its West Bank barrier (30-foot high concrete Apartheid Wall within the 'green line') through the village, cutting Palestinian residents off from the land they own.

Grave and wrong

The prisoner in the film was identified as Ashraf Abu Rahma, a demonstrator accused of throwing stones at Israeli forces.

He appears in the video bound and blindfolded with a group of Israeli soldiers. One of the soldiers is seen taking aim at his feet with a rifle. Mr Abu Rahma is next seen on the ground, writhing in pain.

He was treated on the scene for injuries to his foot.

Israeli media earlier reported that Col Borberg failed a lie-detector test about his claim not to have ordered the soldier to shoot.

According to an Israeli army investigation, Col Borberg said he told the soldier only to motion with his rifle to frighten Mr Abu Rahma.

Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak had described the incident as "grave and wrong", while the army said it contradicted its values.

 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7547003.stm

Contradicted what values? These ones?

IDF soldiers use Nablus youths as ‘human shield’
 https://israel.indymedia.org/newswire/display/6373/index.php

IDF Condemned for Use of Human Shields
 https://israel.indymedia.org/newswire/display/7688/index.php

Award-Winning Palestinian Journalist Brutalized by Israeli Shin Bet
 https://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/07/402401.html

Israel shaken by troops' tales of brutality against Palestinians
 http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/oct/21/israel

10-year-old subjected to torture by Israeli soldiers
 http://www.uruknet.de/?p=m45397&hd=&size=1&l=e

Palestinians Catch Settler-Extremist Attack On Film
 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/06/400996.html

In Bid to Provoke Gaza War, Settler-Extremists Fake Kidnapping
 https://israel.indymedia.org/newswire/display/9236/index.php

Israeli Soldiers Filmed Shooting Bound Palestinian Detainee
 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/07/404435.html