The ease in which non violent protesters in the territories are killed and injured is revolting. I stood last night in front of the Defense Ministry to point a finger at the man responsible, Ehud Barak, for the death of Jawahar. I joined the chants, “Ehud Barak, Defense Minister, how many female protesters have you killed so far?” The words were not easy to say. I felt uncomfortable. But I said them. And then I said “Democracy is not built on the bodies of protesters”, and it rang true just as well.
And then I saw the police brutality saved for left wingers. I’ve been to my share of demos. When I was a teenager demonstrating against religious coercion, I never saw such force. When I was a student on strike at Tel Aviv University, I never saw such force. When I witnessed the disengagement from Gaza in Gush Katif, I never saw such force. What I did see was the disrespect, maybe even the hate, in the eyes of the policemen.
Below is an unedited video of the footage I took with my pocket camera last night. After 30 seconds, the blocking of the road begins, and some of the arrests start at 5:00. At 9:57 a violent arrest takes place.
For more coverage of the death of Jahawer Abu Rahmah:
Female protestor killed by Israeli forces in Bil’in
Images: Funeral of Jawaher Abu Rahmah
Ynet reporter slurs non-violent movement
In saying ‘I didn’t know,’ Israelis enable army’s killing of Palestinians
