Israel Matzav

EU 'diplomats' become foreign provocateurs

On Friday, a group of IDF soldiers clashed with a group of foreign activists who were attempting to help 'Palestinians' rebuild a village that had been demolished on orders of the Supreme Court earlier this week. The activists included European 'diplomats' including one loud-mouthed French woman who accused the IDF of violating her 'human rights.'

Homes in the Palestinian Beduin community of Khirbet Al-Makhul were originally demolished earlier this week after the High Court of Justice ruled that they did not have proper building permits.

The IDF prevented activists from putting up new tents on Friday and confiscated equipment used to raise the makeshift settlement.

The IDF spokesman's office said that security forces encountered rock throwing and used riot dispersal methods in handling the incident. Three Palestinians were arrested and the area was declared a closed military zone.

A Reuters reporter saw soldiers throw sound grenades at a group of diplomats, aid workers and locals, and yank a French diplomat out of the truck before driving away with its contents.

"They dragged me out of the truck and forced me to the ground with no regard for my diplomatic immunity," French diplomat Marion Castaing said.

"This is how international law is being respected here," she said, covered with dust.

The IDF stated that "reports that foreign diplomats abused their diplomatic privileges are currently being reviewed, and if required, complaints will be filed with the relevant authorities."

Read the whole thing.

The picture above was released by the IDF after European media claimed that an IDF soldier pointed a gun at Castaing.


And how did Castaing wind up on the ground? Well she got there by herself but not until after - at the 0:53 mark of the videotape below - you'll see her land a punch to an IDF soldier's jaw.

Let's go to the videotape (from Iran's Press TV of all places).



On its official blog, the IDF has the following to say:

The photo used to spread this misinformation was taken as a screenshot from a video with footage clearly showing that Marion Castaing was neither physically dragged to the floor nor had guns pointed at her. Also, the photo clearly shows that the officer is holding his gun by the magazine, nowhere near the rifle’s grip.

Kind of reminds you of this scene, doesn't it?

Sorry folks, but diplomatic immunity doesn't give you the right to go around committing crimes in the host country. Ask Dominique Strauss-Kahn. It doesn't give you a license to interfere with the host country's army or law enforcement, and you do so at your own risk. I'd bet on an attempt to have Castaing declared persona non grata and deported back to France. Good riddance.

In case you missed it in the video, here's the screen shot of the punch:

Labels: building permits, diplomatic immunity, European anti-Semitism, European Union, France, IDF, Supreme Court

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 11:32 PM