B’Tselem
26.6.2008
On Friday, 20 June 2008, around 6:20 P.M., Nasser a-Nawaj’ah, coordinator of B’Tselem’s “Shooting Back” project in the Southern Hebron Hills, filmed three settlers abusing Palestinian shepherds, shouting at them and pushing them and trying to scatter their flock. The incident took place southwest of the Susiya settlement. A-Nawaj’ah also filmed soldiers in two army jeeps nearby who did not protect the shepherds from their assailants.
A few minutes after a-Nawaj’ah began to film the incident, the soldiers declared the area a closed military area and moved him away. He continued to film the incident from a distance. One of the soldiers followed him, cursed him and B’Tselem, and threatened that he would come to his house later. The soldier continued even after a-Nawaj’ah explained that he was permitted by law to film.
When a-Nawaj’ah tried to leave in his car, the two jeeps blocked his way. Three soldiers got out and came towards him, an officer among them. A-Nawaj’ah filmed the soldiers approaching and when they reached his car, one soldier grabbed the camera from his hands and passed it to another soldier. A third soldier removed the cassette from the camera. One of the soldiers then punched a-Nawaj’ah on the side of the head and several minutes later, the three drove off. A-Nawaj’ah searched the area and found the empty camera lying on the road behind his car.
The report doesn’t say if this is a first-time incident. One week earlier, on 12 June, BBC News published a video obtained from B’Tselem and the “Shooting Back” project. Were the soldiers issued new orders as a result?