|
|
JEWISH ROGUE STATE ACTS WITH IMPUNITY
Israelis
target,
Israeli
Bulldozer Kills U.S. Protester GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip—An American woman in Gaza to protest Israeli operations was killed Sunday when she was run over by an Israeli bulldozer, witnesses and hospital officials said. Rachel Corrie, 23, a college student from Olympia, Wash., had been trying to stop the bulldozer from tearing down a building in the Rafah refugee camp, witnesses said. She was taken to Najar hospital in Rafah, where she died, said Dr. Ali Moussa, a hospital administrator. The killing of the student by the Israelis —the first of a foreign activist in 29 months of fighting— came as President Bush announced his "road map" for peace in the Middle East. An Israeli official tried to put his government's spin on the killing. "This is a regrettable accident," said Capt. Jacob Dallal, an army spokesman. "We are dealing with a group of protesters who were acting very irresponsibly, putting everyone in danger." Meanwhile, U.S. State Department spokesman Lou Fintor issued a perfunctory statement that the United States "deeply regrets this tragic death of an American citizen" and sent official condolences to Corrie's family. "We again call on the Israeli defense forces to undertake all possible measures to avoid harm to civilians," Fintor's statement said. In the past the Israelis have routinely ignored similar U.S. complaints. Corrie was with a group of four Americans and four Britons who were trying to stop Israeli troops from destroying a building belonging to Palestinian Dr. Samir Masri. For months Israel has been tearing down houses of Palestinians with the pretext that they are suspected of militant Islamic activity. "Rachel was alone in front of the house as we were trying to get them to stop," one witness said. "She waved for the bulldozer to stop. She fell down and the bulldozer kept going. It had completely run over her and then it reversed and ran back over her." Corrie was wearing a brightly colored jacket when the bulldozer hit her. Several Palestinians gathered at the site, and troops opened fire, killing two Palestinians, other witnesses said. The army had no comment on the report. Corrie was the
first member of the Palestinian-backed "International A student at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Corrie would have graduated this year. Her killing should be a message to President Bush, who is "providing Israel with tanks and bulldozers, and now they have killed one of his own people," said Mansour Abed Allah, 29, a Palestinian human rights worker who witnessed Corrie's death.
|
| |
