Produced by:
KBOO
Program::
Air date:
Fri, 05/30/2014 - 9:30am to 10:00am
Craig Corrie on appeal of lawsuit to Israel's High Court
Nine years after filing a civil suit against the State of Israel for the wrongful death of American peace activist Rachel Corrie, her family had their appeal heard before the Israeli Supreme Court on May 21st in Jerusalem.
After the appeal hearing in Israel, the late Rachel Corrie’s father Craig Corrie joined us by phone from Haifa, outside the courthouse.
The appeal challenged the Haifa District Court’s August 2012 ruling which concluded that the Israeli military was not responsible for Rachel’s death and that it conducted a credible investigation.
The Corrie family appeal focuses on serious flaws in the lower court verdict which they say ignored facts and misapplied legal norms.
Rachel, a 23-year-old human rights defender from Olympia, Washington, was crushed to death March 16, 2003, by an Israeli military bulldozer while nonviolently protesting demolition of Palestinian civilian homes in Rafah, Gaza.
The following day, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon promised President George W. Bush a “thorough, credible, and transparent” investigation into Rachel’s killing.
In 2004, Secretary of State Colin Powell’s Chief of Staff informed the Corrie family of the U.S. Government’s position that the Israeli investigation did not meet these standards and advised them to “use the Israeli court system.” The Corries filed suit in 2005, charging the State of Israel and its Ministry of Defense with responsibility for Rachel’s killing.
Testimony in the civil trial began in 2010, and included military witnesses who testified that they saw protesters in the area; and the on-site commander asked to stop operations due to their presence, but was ordered by higher-ups to continue the demolition of the Palestinian home that Rachel was standing in front of.
At the trial, an Israeli colonel testified that there are no civilians in war, and the lead military police investigator, himself, stated his belief that the Israeli military was at war with all in Gaza, including peace activists.
Testimony also revealed serious flaws in the military’s investigation into Rachel’s killing.
Investigators failed to question key military witnesses, including those recording communications; failed to secure the military video, allowing it to be taken for nearly a week by senior commanders with only segments submitted to court; failed to address conflicting testimony given by soldiers; and ignored statements in the military log confirming a “shoot to kill” order.
After the appeal hearing in Israel, the late Rachel Corrie’s father Craig Corrie joined us by phone from Haifa, outside the courthouse.
The appeal challenged the Haifa District Court’s August 2012 ruling which concluded that the Israeli military was not responsible for Rachel’s death and that it conducted a credible investigation.
The Corrie family appeal focuses on serious flaws in the lower court verdict which they say ignored facts and misapplied legal norms.
Rachel, a 23-year-old human rights defender from Olympia, Washington, was crushed to death March 16, 2003, by an Israeli military bulldozer while nonviolently protesting demolition of Palestinian civilian homes in Rafah, Gaza.
The following day, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon promised President George W. Bush a “thorough, credible, and transparent” investigation into Rachel’s killing.
In 2004, Secretary of State Colin Powell’s Chief of Staff informed the Corrie family of the U.S. Government’s position that the Israeli investigation did not meet these standards and advised them to “use the Israeli court system.” The Corries filed suit in 2005, charging the State of Israel and its Ministry of Defense with responsibility for Rachel’s killing.
Testimony in the civil trial began in 2010, and included military witnesses who testified that they saw protesters in the area; and the on-site commander asked to stop operations due to their presence, but was ordered by higher-ups to continue the demolition of the Palestinian home that Rachel was standing in front of.
At the trial, an Israeli colonel testified that there are no civilians in war, and the lead military police investigator, himself, stated his belief that the Israeli military was at war with all in Gaza, including peace activists.
Testimony also revealed serious flaws in the military’s investigation into Rachel’s killing.
Investigators failed to question key military witnesses, including those recording communications; failed to secure the military video, allowing it to be taken for nearly a week by senior commanders with only segments submitted to court; failed to address conflicting testimony given by soldiers; and ignored statements in the military log confirming a “shoot to kill” order.
- KBOO
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