Israel Matzav

Border police officer indicted for beating 'Palestinian'-American, victim's uncle calls it a 'cover-up'

A border police officer has been indicted for beating Tariq Abu Khder, the cousin of Mohammed Abu Khder who was set alight and murdered in the Jerusalem forest over the summer. The identity of the police officer remains under cover. Meanwhile, Abu Khder's uncle claims that indictment is an attempt at a cover-up.

The policeman, whose name remains under a gag order, was indicted at Jerusalem magistrate's court on Wednesday for using "excessive force" that could not be justified against Tariq Abu Khder at a July 3 demonstration in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Shuafat. 

According to a justice ministry statement, "evidence was found supporting the guilt of the police officer suspected of severe violent crimes, committed after the arrest of the minor, who was handcuffed at the time." 

Tariq Abu Khder, who was arrested first for attacking a police officer during Jerusalem's riots in early July, has denied taking part in the demonstration at all, saying he was "only an observer" but fled when police "began chasing suspects," as well as claiming that he "fell and was cuffed and beaten." 

A YouTube video showing Israeli border police beating and kicking a handcuffed semi-conscious figure on the ground before dragging him away sparked a US State Department call for a "speedy, transparent and credible investigation." 

An uncle of Tariq, who has since returned home to Florida, called the indictment a "cover up" of the beating and an Israeli attempt to appease the United States.

"If Tariq wasn't an American citizen we would have never seen an investigation," Yassin Abu Khder told AFP, noting that his nephew was attacked by a "group" of policemen who had also "attacked dozens of other kids."

"But we won't see any further indictment because those kids are not American citizens," he added.

We won't see any further indictments for a different reason. The border police has the largest percentage of 'minority group members' (i.e. Arabs) of any Israeli security force. I would bet dollars to doughnuts that the officer indicted was an Arab and that's why it is being kept under raps. You want us to indict a few more Arabs for beating those kids? Sure. Then you deal with the riots and the claims that it's all a cover-up.

Labels: Israeli border police, Palestinian riots, Shuafat

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 11:47 PM