By Michaela Whitton at theantimedia.org
Palestine — A video has emerged showing Israeli soldiers goading each other to shoot at Palestinian protesters. In the commentary — reminiscent of teenagers playing a video game — the soldiers are heard laughing and praising each other on their aim as they target the young Palestinian men.
Since the start of October, the wave of unrest has seen more than 20 Israelis killed and 158 Palestinians. Thousands have been injured or arrested.
The video was released by Palestinian activists after it was reportedly dropped by Israeli soldiers during clashes near the city of Ramallah. The Palestinians say the damning footage refutes claims that the Israeli military only open fire when Palestinians pose an immediate threat.
Filmed from inside an armoured vehicle and translated from Hebrew by an Israeli activist, the soldiers are heard egging each other on and gloating, as they use the protesters as target practice. As the conversation between the two officers develops, the soldiers choose who to aim at by describing the protesters by what they are wearing and what they are doing.
“Yes! He took it in the ass,” one is heard saying as the Palestinian falls to the ground. “Right in the ass!”
“Well done!” the other replies as the young man is carried from the scene.
“What a hit! Beautiful!” another says, during the sequence of shots which shows a number of Palestinians being injured by the sniper as they hurl stones with slingshots and roll burning tires. “He’s down. He fell. Well done!”another gloats.
In a later scene, a soldier asks: “Did you hit him?” The other replies: “Of course I did, bro.”
“Well done, excellent work. It hit.” Congratulations are repeated throughout the three-minute video as the same scene repeats itself numerous times. Often the officer checks that the victim is injured or limping and waits for him to be evacuated from the area.
The final scenes show a discussion taking place in Arabic inside the military jeep. While the authenticity of the video has not been confirmed, Ma’an news has confirmed that the Israeli army will be looking into the allegations.
Before I write anything I have to say that I am a jew living in Tel-Aviv.
Some Questions:
* Do protesters in your country throw rocks at the police/army? if so, what is the reaction?
* if out of a thousand stabbing incidents 150 stabbers has been shot to death, are they counted as victims of violence as much as the murdered?
* Beside Israel, is there another place in the mid-east where an Arab man can throw rocks at the police and still come home in one piece?
* the fact that the IDF (in which I have served for more then 3 years) is taking footage of this and investigating the case is something that I am proud of. Any army in the world can learn from the IDF how to try and minimize Civilian Casualties.
Don’t be a bigot, I am aware that my little country can do better in treating the Palestinians with respect and rights, but as much as I am a man of the ‘Peace Camp’ – the ones who didn’t vote for Bibi – at the moment the Palestinians respect for us can’t be worse.
Two days ago a women was stabbed to death in front of her children, yesterday a pregnant women got stabbed as well and now in the hospital. both of the attackers were children.
I wish for peace in my land, but as wars come through lies – peace will come through truth, so please don’t help the bad guys – ON BOTH SIDES – by spreading incomplete truth.
Jah Bless
* Do protesters in your country throw rocks at the police/army? if so, what is the reaction?
– I am from Poland and yes they throw rocks during mass protests. They go to jail for that.
* if out of a thousand stabbing incidents 150 stabbers has been shot to death, are they counted as victims of violence as much as the murdered?
– for now we have no muslims to stab us. But they rapeing our neighbours.
* Beside Israel, is there another place in the mid-east where an Arab man can throw rocks at the police and still come home in one piece?
– Germany Sweden England, Finland, Denmark, basicly all western EU
* the fact that the IDF (in which I have served for more then 3 years) is taking footage of this and investigating the case is something that I am proud of. Any army in the world can learn from the IDF how to try and minimize Civilian Casualties.
– You basicly kill only civilians. You try to force multikulti to Europe while building giant wall around your country. You are all hypocrites. Also you are manipulateing the history, trying to make us, Polish people the aggressors during the WW2.
FAKE! This is patched. A multi-edit to become what you want people to believe. Also, these are NOT IDF!
Oded, you are an idiot.
Oded.
1. Yes, it happens. Water cannons and teargas.
2. No.
3. Thought Israel was supposed to be a “civilized western” country.
4. Proud of my military service as well. We however, don’t open fire on against rock throwing kids. Neither do we build on occupied land. Oh wait, we don’t occupy land in the first place..
Bonus. Neither do we sell, use or help building weapons that are on the Geneva black list.. You know, cluster bombs etc..
what do you want idf get killed so it may look like fair with that goddamn rock throwing terrorist