Soldier taking bike
Photo: B'Tselem
Border Policemen who threw girl's bike won't stand criminal trial
Despite Police Investigation Unit statement saying footage 'appears to show abnormal and unprofessional conduct,' matter will not be investigated as criminal; possible disciplinary action to be examined.
The Police Investigation Unit released a statement on Monday saying that the two Israel Border policemen filmed in Hebron taking a bicycle from an 8-year-old Palestinian girl and throwing it into the bushes
will not be brought before a criminal hearing.
It also said that the matter would be transferred for examination for possible disciplinary action within the police.
The statement made by the Police Investigation Unit said, “The investigative department for police and the State Attorney’s Office have decided to transfer the matter of the policemen who were filmed taking a bike from an 8-year-old girl in Hebron to the Command Disciplinary Department for professional officials authorized to examine such matters in the Israel Police.”
Soldier throws bike into bushes (צילום: בצלם)
“Following the conclusion of the investigation,” the statement continued, “it was decided that the evidence seems to indicate abnormal and unprofessional conduct by the policemen. However, having examined all the circumstances surrounding the incident, it has been determined that there is no room for continuing to look into the matter through criminal channels.”
Incident of soldiers taking girl's bike (Photo: B'Tselem)
At the end of July Anwar Burqan, from the a-Salaimeh neighborhood in Hebron, near the Cave of the Patriarchs, was playing with her younger siblings in the street when she entered a road not far from her home which Palestinians are barred from entering.
Photo: B'Tselem
Raed Abu Ramileh, who lives nearby, documented the incident for B'Tselem. Two-and-a-half weeks ago the two border policemen were investigated by the Police Investigation Unit under caution on suspicion of abusing their power. The Border Police also announced the suspension of soldier filmed throwing the bike.
The lawyers representing the two soldiers commented on the footage saying: “What is seen in the video appears to be the mistreatment of a defenseless girl but is actually a case of protecting the girl who asked to cross into the Jewish quarter in the city. When the policemen realized that she was endangering herself and that they were not succeeding in communicating with her in her language, they took the bike from her to prevent the danger.”
