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News :: Israel / Palestine |
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Rachel Corrie's Memorial Service Interrupted By Israeli Army |
Current rating: -1 |
by Chris McGreal, The Guardian (England)
(No verified email address) |
19 Mar 2003
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Israeli forces fired teargas and stun grenades yesterday in an attempt to break up a memorial service for Rachel Corrie, the American peace activist killed by an army bulldozer in Gaza on Sunday. Witnesses including several dozen foreigners and Palestinian supporters say Israeli armoured vehicles tried to disperse the gathering at the spot in Rafah refugee camp where Ms Corrie was crushed to death |
Activist's memorial service disrupted
Chris McGreal in Jerusalem
Wednesday March 19, 2003
The Guardian
Israeli forces fired teargas and stun grenades yesterday in an attempt to break up a memorial service for Rachel Corrie, the American peace activist killed by an army bulldozer in Gaza on Sunday.
Witnesses including several dozen foreigners and Palestinian supporters say Israeli armoured vehicles tried to disperse the gathering at the spot in Rafah refugee camp where Ms Corrie was crushed to death.
The 23 year-old activist with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) was trying to prevent the destruction of Palestinian homes by the Israelis when she was hit by the bulldozer.
Joe Smith, a young activist from Kansas City, said about 100 people were gathered to lay carnations and erect a small memorial when the first armoured personnel carrier appeared.
"They started firing teargas and blowing smoke, then they fired sound grenades. After a while it got hectic so we sat down. Then the tank came over and shot in the air," he said. "It scared a lot of Palestinians, especially the shooting made a lot of them run and the teargas freaked people out. But most of us stayed."
Another witness said the army failed to break up the service.
"People were laying carnations at the spot where Rachel was killed when a tank came and fired teargas right on them. Then a core group of the peace activists took an ISM cloth banner to the fence and pinned it up.
"The tank chased after them trying to stop them with teargas but the wind was against the army," she said.
Tensions rose further when a convoy of vehicles, including the bulldozer that killed Ms Corrie, passed the area.
"I don't think it was deliberate but it was pretty insensitive," said Mr Smith.
"I think they had been destroying some buildings elsewhere and had to pass by to get back to their base."
The army said it was investigating the incident. |
See also:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,917178,00.html
http://www.ucimc.org/newswire/display/10276/index.php
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Parents Of Rachel Corrie Demand Investigation |
by Oread Daily
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
19 Mar 2003
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The parents of American peace activist killed by an Israeli bulldozer are calling for an investigation of the incident by U.S. authorities. The parents of 23-year-old Rachel Corrie, joined by Rep. Brian Baird, D-Wash., said it was important for the United States to hold Israel to the same standards it would hold a U.S. soldier to in similar circumstances. "We do not allow our soldiers to fire on unarmed citizens," Baird said Wednesday. "I don't think you are a good friend if you don't look closely at mistakes." Baird accused the driver of bulldozer of intentionally running over Corrie as she stood in his path Sunday to try to prevent the demolition of a Palestinian home in the Rafah refugee camp. "It seems the bulldozer willingly pushed forward," Baird said, citing eyewitness accounts from peace activists. "It doesn't seem to be an accident or a mistake." Corrie's parents, Craig and Cynthia Corrie of Charlotte, N.C., called on Israel to "cease harassment" of protesters such as their daughter, who oppose illegal demolitions of Palestinian homes. Craig Corrie said he hopes the soldier who caused his daughter's death understands "as a human being" what he has done. "If he had understanding (of his actions) and a long life, that would be the worst thing for him," Corrie said. "I can't understand (what happened). I won't understand."
However, as if to add insult to injury Israeli forces fired teargas and stun grenades yesterday in an attempt to break up a memorial service for Corrie. Witnesses including several dozen foreigners and Palestinian supporters say Israeli armored vehicles tried to disperse the gathering at the spot in Rafah refugee camp where Corrie was crushed to death. Joe Smith, a young activist from Kansas City, said about 100 people were gathered to lay carnations and erect a small memorial when the first armored personnel carrier appeared. "They started firing teargas and blowing smoke, then they fired sound grenades. After a while it got hectic so we sat down. Then the tank came over and shot in the air," he said. "It scared a lot of Palestinians, especially the shooting made a lot of them run and the teargas freaked people out. But most of us stayed." Another witness said the army failed to break up the service. "People were laying carnations at the spot where Rachel was killed when a tank came and fired teargas right on them. Then a core group of the peace activists took an ISM cloth banner to the fence and pinned it up. "The tank chased after them trying to stop them with teargas but the wind was against the army," she said. Tensions rose further when a convoy of vehicles, including the bulldozer that killed Corrie, passed the area. "I don't think it was deliberate but it was pretty insensitive," said Smith. "I think they had been destroying some buildings elsewhere and had to pass by to get back to their base." The Israeli army said it was investigating the incident.
Corrie's parents said no one from the Israeli government had contacted them, although they have heard from dozens of Israeli citizens since their daughter's death. "There are Israelis who feel devastated about what happened," said Cynthia Corrie. "There's been a great outpouring of sympathy."
Sources: WXXA (Albany, NY), Haaretz, Guardian
The Oread Daily provides daily (Monday-Friday) progressive, left, anti-racist, anarchist, commie, activist, environmental, Marxist, revolutionary, etc. news and information from around the US and around the world.
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Re: Rachel Corrie's Memorial Service Interrupted By Israeli Army |
by Jack Ryan
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: -4
21 Mar 2003
Modified: 12:32:07 AM |
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Corrie,
First let me say that I am so truly sorry for your loss. By now, you are inevitably asking your selves why your daughter hated the country in which she grew up in so much. You are probably blaming yourselfs for her death.
I saw a picture of your daughter burning the flag in USA Today two days ago. It made me sad, that such a lovely young lady was so filled with hatred against the country that raised her and gave her nothing but opportunity to believe and act on whatever she may be passionate about. I wish she would have gotten out of the way of the machine which took her life.
You know that her senseless act, is now being used as a propaganda chip. How senseless, and how sad for the kids who blow themselves up to kill the children of other kids who have known nothing but war.
This insanity will stop.
Once again, I sincerely pray that your daughter is with God right now and I pray for a just peace in the Middle East. |
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Re: Rachel Corrie's Memorial Service Interrupted By Israeli Army |
by Anwar Ul Haque, MD
AllahoAkbar (nospam) medscape.com (unverified) |
Current rating: 6
01 May 2003
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The entire world belongs to the God Who has created it. Burnining the flag of a country does not mean hating the people. It could be a way of protest against a system. The USA is not a free country. Period. When it can't provide the justice to its own citizens what to talk about others. Everyone knows that Zionists orchestrated the World Trade Center attack in order to create a justification fro attack on Afghanistan. Prior to Rachel Corrie, Israel had attacked USS Liberty killing many USA naval officer. But the President of USA and the Secreretary did nothing to save the American Citizens. Right now Bush and Blair are acting as servants of the worst State Terrorist i.e. Sharon. Rachel is a great woman. She is alive and receiving food from the God as told to us in Quran by the God that one who gives her/hsi life for the God sake is alive in phyiscal sense.
Anwar |
