An Israeli judge has cleared Israel’s military of responsibility
for the killing of the U.S. peace activist Rachel Corrie. A 23-year-
old college student, Corrie was crushed to death by an Israeli army
bulldozer in Gaza nine years ago. She was standing in front of a
Palestinian home to help prevent its demolition. Today’s ruling came
in a wrongful death civil suit brought by Corrie’s family, with the
judge rejecting any negligence on the part of the driver and finding
that Corrie’s death resulted from "an accident she brought upon
herself." Corrie family attorney Hussein Abu Hussein denounced the
verdict.
Hussein Abu Hussein: "This verdict distorts the strong evidence
presented in court and contradicts fundamental principles of
international law with regard to protection of human right defenders.
In denying justice in [the] Rachel Corrie killing, this verdict speaks
to the systematic failure to hold the Israeli military accountable for
continuing violation of basic human rights."
The ruling follows an earlier internal Israeli army investigation
that also exonerated the bulldozer drivers. The Corrie family had been
seeking a symbolic $1 in damages, as well as legal fees.
http://www.rachelcorrie.org/