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The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil,    but because of the people who don't do anything about it

Occupation magazine - Life under occupation Home page  back Print  Send To friend Jamal al-Dura calls on Israeli government to bring him his son Philip Weiss Mondoweiss May 24, 2013 Last weekend the Israeli government released a report on the killing of Muhammad al-Dura, 12, in Gaza in 2000 that has brought fierce criticism worldwide for its suggestion that the killing was staged and French television then promoted the hoax by airing 55 seconds of footage of what it claimed was a killing. In that report, the Israeli government hinted that young al-Dura is still alive. Well, the Guardian`s Harriet Sherwood has now gone to Gaza to interview Jamal al-Dura at the grave of his son. As you read these excerpts, bear in mind that the New York Times trumpeted the Israeli report under the headline, `Israeli Report Casting New Doubts on Shooting in Gaza.` The Times did not interview the boy`s father for that story. The Guardian: `Israel says my son isn`t dead. Can you imagine how this feels for a father who has lost his child? They have all the technology tools in the world. He`s not dead? Then bring him to me,` he said... The Israeli report – commissioned by the prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, who endorsed its conclusions – suggested that the entire event may have been staged as a propaganda exercise and that Muhammad was not killed or even injured. This was dismissed with weary incredulity by Jamal, Talal Abu Rahma, the cameraman who filmed the incident, and by France 2, the television station whose broadcast ricocheted around the world... It also asserted that `the boy labelled as Muhammad al-Dura in photos from the Shifa hospital autopsy, and the one borne aloft at what was allegedly Muhammad al-Dura`s funeral, has different physical characteristics than the boy seen crouching behind the barrel in the France 2 footage.` The Israeli committee did not contact Jamal, Abu Rahma or [French reporter Charles] Enderlin in the course of its eight-month review of the incident, although it included Abu Rahma`s affidavit in the appendices of its report. In a statement to the Guardian, the Israeli ministry of intelligence and international affairs said the committee `requested information and materials from France 2, of which Mr Enderlin and Mr Abu Rahma are employees, via the French ambassador to Israel. In addition, the committee conducted an extensive review of dozens of interviews, statements and written accounts regarding the incident given by Mr al-Dura, Mr Abu Rahma and Mr Enderlin from 2000 until today.` Enderlin said no request had ever been received through the French foreign ministry. `If they want to contact us, I am here in Jerusalem; I have an Israeli lawyer, they do not need to go through the French ambassador. We have said many times we are ready for any independent investigation following international standards.` All three said they were prepared to testify before an independent international commission of inquiry, and Jamal said he was willing to have his son`s body exhumed for forensic and DNA analysis. I wonder when the New York Times is going to sit down with Jamal al-Dura and Charles Enderlin. I believe its reporters could get access. rh Links to the latest articles in this section Occupation forces injure mourners following funeral of slain infant Mohammad Tamimi Nabi Saleh village assaulted - toddler shot in the head died in hospital Palestinians in the snow: thrown from home into the snow, throw snowballs and get arrested