Israeli Court Rejects Responsibility for Death of American Activist

Posted on Aug 28, 2012

AP/HO, International Solidarity Movement

Rachel Corrie uses a loudspeaker as she stands between an Israeli buldozer and a Palestinian physician’s house in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah in 2003.

“She did not distance herself from the area, as any thinking person would have done,” said a judge in Haifa, Israel, ruling against the family of Rachel Corrie, the American activist who was crushed while standing between an Israeli bulldozer and a Palestinian home in 2003.

Corrie’s family sued the Israeli government for a symbolic $1 in damages, but Judge Oded Gershon said her death was an accident.

BBC:

Judge Oded Gershon, presiding at the court in the town of Haifa, said Ms Corrie had been protecting terrorists in a designated combat zone.

He said the bulldozer driver had not seen her, adding the soldiers had done their utmost to keep people away from the site. “She [Corrie] did not distance herself from the area, as any thinking person would have done.”

Read more

The Israeli government disputes that the young activist, who is pictured wearing a bright orange jacket, was visible to the bulldozer driver.

Corrie’s parents said they would appeal the decision.

—Posted by Peter Z. Scheer.

More Below the Ad

New and Improved Comments

If you have trouble leaving a comment, review this help page. Still having problems? Let us know. If you find yourself moderated, take a moment to review our comment policy.