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.
Fascinating… This time Israel not only jumped the shark, the shark had a laser gun and was tie-dyed.
Fine with me if they want to expose themselves, but how dumb are they? It’s like a bad reality TV show (with sadly real-world consequences).
I honestly never thought that Israel could surprise me anymore with their depravity but they have reached new lows. It is a reflection of the walls closing in, there is less and less wiggle room and in their desperation they are making serious strategic & tactical mistakes that will come back to haunt them, along with all their fabrications and lies. Do I dare say that I see a light at the end of the tunnel?
Great reply from Jamal. Habeas corpus call to Israel. The whole thing is so surreal. All to punish Enderlin for ‘betraying’ his religion and dissing Israel. He had to be silenced. They are so driven and so vicious.
This is the ultimate pr nightmare for Israel. The jewish state murders a child and it is filmed.
“How dumb are they?” Just as power corrupts, hubris breeds stupidity. The key to fighting corruption and stupidity is accountability. The NYTimes reported Israel’s report credulously, and is paying the price of loss of credibility, which can’t continue indefinitely. Pamela, you and the others on Mondoweiss are a voice of accountability in the wilderness of Israel’s soul. Louder, please.