Israeli Judge Clears Military for 2003 Killing of Rachel Corrie - Democracy Now! Headlines

An Israeli judge has cleared Israel’s military of responsibility for the killing of the U.S. peace activist Rachel Corrie. A 23-year-old college student, Corrie was crushed to death by an Israeli army bulldozer in Gaza nine years ago. She was standing in front of a Palestinian home to help prevent its demolition. Today’s ruling came in a wrongful death civil suit brought by Corrie’s family, with the judge rejecting any negligence on the part of the driver and finding that Corrie’s death resulted from "an accident she brought upon herself." Corrie family attorney Hussein Abu Hussein denounced the verdict.

Hussein Abu Hussein: "This verdict distorts the strong evidence presented in court and contradicts fundamental principles of international law with regard to protection of human right defenders. In denying justice in [the] Rachel Corrie killing, this verdict speaks to the systematic failure to hold the Israeli military accountable for continuing violation of basic human rights."

The ruling follows an earlier internal Israeli army investigation that also exonerated the bulldozer drivers. The Corrie family had been seeking a symbolic $1 in damages, as well as legal fees.

on Tuesday, August 28, 2012

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