Israel: Shooting of 9 year old child

Child Concern
Case ISR 171197 CC

The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT
intervention in the following situation in Israel.

Brief description of the situation:

The International Secretariat has been informed by reliable sources of
the grave concerns over the apparent shooting of Ali Jawarish, 9,
including the alleged use of live ammunition, by an Israeli soldier,
during clashes at Rachel's Tomb in Bethlehem on 11 November 1997.

According to information received, On 11th November, a Jewish
religious ceremony, at which the  Israeli Defence Minister Mr
Mordechai was present, took place to mark the completion of building
work on the Tomb. The building work apparently restricts the main road
into Bethlehem. 

According to eye-witnesses, during the ceremony several dozen
Palestinian children and youths came from the nearby Aida refugee camp
and began throwing stones and burning tires.. Three soldiers then
apparently went to stop the children, and began to arrest the
children. It is then alleged that one of the soldiers opened fire on
the group from a distance of 15 meters hitting Ali Jawarish in the
head. According to an eye-witness, none of the soldiers attempted to
assist Ali Jawarish, who was lying in the road. 

Following the events, Ali Jawarish was taken first to Bethlehem
hospital, transferred to Makassed Hospital in Jerusalem and then,
because of faulty equipment, taken to Ramallah hospital. His condition
is apparently critical. 

According to the Israeli Army Radio News, the army officers have
claimed that the bullet was a rubber-coated metal bullet. Ramallah
hospital doctors who treated the child, have countered these claims,
stating their belief that  the child was shot with live ammunition.
The number of children detained by the authorities during the
demonstration is not known.

The International Secretariat is gravely concerned over the continued
use of excessive force by the Israeli soldiers in the Occupied
Palestinian Territories. 

Action requested:

Please contact the concerned Israel authorities urging them to:

i.	take appropriate measures to guarantee the physical and
psychological integrity of Ali Jawarish and the detained children;

ii.	order the immediate release of the children, if still detained, in
the absence of valid legal charges, should such charges exist ensure
that they a brought promptly before a court and guarantee their
procedural rights; 

iii.	guarantee an impartial and exhaustive enquiry into the facts,
identify those responsible, bring them to trial and apply the penal,
civil and/or administrative sanctions provided by legislation;

iv.	bring an immediate halt to the excessive use of force by Israeli
soldiers in the occupied Palestinian soldiers, particularly with
regards to children;

v.	guarantee at all times respect for human rights and fundamental
freedoms according to national law and international standards in
particular the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Addresses :

Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, Office of the Prime Minister, 3 Kaplan Street,
Jerusalem 91919, State of Israel. Telex : 25279 mpres il. Fax : + 972
369 17 915

Minister of Justice, Ministry of Justice, 29 Salah al-Din Street,
Jerusalem 91029, State of Israel.  Fax : + 972 2 62 85 438

Mr. Yitzhak Mordachai, Minister of Defense, Ministry of Defense 3
Kline Street, Jerusalem, State of Israel.  Fax : 03 691 69 40 or 03
697 72 85.

Minister of Police, Ministry of Police, PO Box 18182, 3 Sheikh Jarrah,
Kiryat Hamemshala, Jerusalem 91181, State of Israel. Fax : + 972 2
5826 769

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