The Human Rights Actions Network
www.derechos.org/human- rights/actions/
ACTION REQUEST
CHILD CONCERN Case ISR 171197.1CC The International Secretariat of OMCT has received new information on the following situation in Israel. Brief reminder of the situation: The International Secretariat was informed by reliable sources of the grave concerns over the apparent shooting of Ali Jawarish, 7 ( not as originally reported 9) including the alleged use of live ammunition, by an Israeli soldier, during clashes at Rachel's Tomb in Bethlehem on 11 November 1997. 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 was 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 had been taken first to Bethlehem hospital, transferred to Makassed Hospital in Jerusalem and then, because of faulty equipment, taken to Ramallah hospital. 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 was not known. New information: The International Secretariat has been informed that Ali Jawarish died on 19 November 1997. Israeli authorities have alleged that Ali Jawarish ran into the line of fire and have offered their regrets to the family, but they continue to defend the soldiers actions. The International Secretariat has no new information concerning the others children arrested. Action requested: Please contact the concerned Israel authorities urging them to: i. guarantee an impartial and exhaustive enquiry into Ali Jawarish's death, identify those responsible, bring them to trial and apply the penal, civil and/or administrative sanctions provided by legislation; ii. order the immediate release of the others children, if still detained, in the absence of valid legal charges, if such charges exist ensure that they are brought promptly before a court and guarantee their procedural rights; iii. guarantee Ali Jawarish's family the right to appropriate redress; 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 Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code number of this appeal in your reply Geneva 24 November 1997
