This video depicts harrassment of a Palestinian family by Jewish settlers in Hebron. It’s the second video released recently by the Israeli human rights organisation, B’T selem (the first can be viewed here) and the exposure has prompted a response from Defence Minister Amir Peretz, who said the footage “shames Israel” and has ordered an immediate investigation.
Sabbah describes what’s happening:
“Simply, the Jewish settler kids are harassing the Palestinian family and throwing “things” on her house while the soldiers doing nothing to stop that and are preventing her from getting out to reach to her small brother down the street who can not get home because the settlers are harassing him.”
The camera moves around so much because the soldier is attempting to stop the filming.
Peretz is currently engaged in a war of words with Minister for Strategic Affairs Avigdor Lieberman. Lieberman and members of the ultra-nationalist racist party he leads, Yisrael Beitenu, are outraged that Peretz has appointed an Israeli Arab, Raleb Majadele, as science and technology minister. The BBC reports that Mr. Majadele is the first Arab Muslim in Israel’s cabinet and is replacing “Ophir Pines-Paz who quit last October in protest at the addition of ultra-nationalist party Yisrael Beitenu to the coalition.”
Mr. Peretz (according to YNet):
“It appears that the decision to appoint Raleb Majadele as a minister in the State of Israel is bringing about many disproportional reactions, which deviate from any rule of public discourse. I believe that if the State of Israel is in danger, it is the danger concealed in a racist party like Israel Our Home, because it appears that this move is causing some discomfort to them, as well as a deep crisis.
They will have to decide. As far as we are concerned, we will not respond to these sayings. Avigdor Lieberman must make many moves in order to prove that he has contributed anything to the State of Israel and to security, and his contribution in other areas is well known.
As the days pass and the reactions from the racist party grow, looking for a way to deviate the main argument, we must unite around this decision, and I am positive that the Labor Party will provide the required baking.”
According to the BBC, the comments have prompted other lawmakers to call on Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to expel Yisrael Beitenu from the coalition government that he leads.