Israel is handling this protest as an attack committed against the United States. The US State Department, however, does not view the protest as an attack. Asked yesterday by AP reporter Matt Lee for a comment, US State Department spokesman PJ Crowley stated clearly that the protest was not an attack on the US. Video link starting from minute 22:30:
Transcript:
Matt Lee, AP: Were you able to get an answer to my question yesterday about the protest at the U.S. ambassador’s residence in Tel Aviv?
MR. CROWLEY: Yes. A small number of people came to the residence. They tossed one teargas canister. We do not see this as an attack on the ambassador’s residence. (editor’s emphasis)
Why is Israel pursuing this case when it is clearly a dead end road? The US State Department has stated on record that the protest was simply that and not any sort of attack. Additionally, the judge presiding over the case said privately that the activist’s charges would not stand up in a trial. Does the ‘Jewish Unit’ of the General Security Service (GSS) have nothing better to do with its time than intimidate and harasses a handful of Israeli activists that believe the occupation is immoral?
Perhaps the GSS could investigate settlers from the extremist settlement of Yizhar who were throwing stones near Nablus last week. It is difficult not to see these events as a part of a greater strategy aimed at crushing leftist dissent in Israel society.