 |
 |
 |
|
|
Palestinian children shout anti-Israeli slogans as they wave Palestinian and UN flags during the funeral procession of Mohammed Bilalo, 11, in Jenin on Saturday. (AP)
|
|
|
|
|
|
| By Ellis Shuman November 26, 2002 |
|
| |
Eight-year-old Jihad Fakeh was shot and killed by Israeli troops operating in Nablus on Monday afternoon. Palestinian sources said that a group of children had hurled stones at an army jeep. The army said soldiers were responding to two Molotov cocktails thrown at troops. An investigative report published in Hizbullah's weekly journal in Lebanon exposed new evidence of Palestinian children's growing involvement in terrorist activities.
According to Palestinian reports, seven people, including two adults, were wounded, two of them seriously, by Israeli forces operating in Nablus's casbah area.
|
|
|
|
"We traded stones and rocks for hand grenades"
young resident of Jenin
|
|
The international media reported, "Israeli soldiers fired at crowds of children throwing stones as they returned from school," and noted that the city was under an army-imposed curfew.
A military spokesman said the soldiers returned fire after two unidentified "explosive devices" as well as several firebombs were thrown at them as they sat in a jeep, the New York Times reported. At least one witness said that Fakeh was not among the stone throwers, and that he had been hit more than 100 meters from the army jeep.
Fakeh is not the first Palestinian child to be killed "during clashes" in the West Bank. On Friday, Mohammed Bilalo, 11, was killed during clashes between Palestinian gunmen and Israeli troops operating in Jenin. Palestinian doctors claimed Bilalo was killed by Israeli gunfire. The army issued a report confirming that soldiers had mistakenly shot and killed UNRWA official Iain John Hook, but made no mention of Bilalo's death. Palestinian sources said six additional children were wounded in other incidents in Jenin that day.
Palestinian children assume integral role in Intifada
In a report issued by the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs at the beginning of October, Justin Weiner wrote that Palestinian "children and teenagers have assumed an integral role" in the Intifada. "Knowing that Israeli soldiers are ordered not to shoot live ammunition at children, and face disciplinary procedures or court martial for breaches, Palestinian snipers hide among youngsters or use them as human shields," the report said.
According to the report, Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat's deputy, Abu Mazen, admitted to a Kuwaiti newspaper in June that Palestinian children were being paid for pipe bombs thrown at Israeli soldiers. In addition, teenagers were being actively recruited to blow themselves up and become "martyrs" for the Palestinian cause. The Palestinian Journalists' Association warned its members that they would be punished if they photographed armed children, the report said.
Palestinian children have been at the forefront of demonstrations and funerals and have often been seen in combat uniforms, brandishing assault rifles and fake explosives belts. Palestinian television frequently broadcasts commercials calling on children to follow the path to martyrdom, Palestinian Media Watch reports. And Palestinian textbooks continue to glorify jihad and deny the possibility of coexistence with Israel, according to the Center for Monitoring the Impact of Peace.
Hizbullah presents evidence of children's role in violence
An investigative report published in the Hizbullah weekly journal recently exposed new evidence of Palestinian children's active involvement in terrorist activity earlier this year in the Jenin refugee camp. The children told the Hizbullah reporter of their involvement in the manufacturing of weaponry and of their participation in active warfare alongside armed terrorists.
A translation of the report was published on the Israel Defense Force's website. Hizbullah's reporter, Sami Magnins, said he saw children in the camp being trained to use explosive charges for the sole purpose of defying the 'Israeli enemy.' Fadi, a young resident, said that "the explosives are designed to blow their heads off; the next time they dare enter our camp will be over our dead bodies."
The children, taught from a very young age to throw stones at IDF soldiers, had begun to replace stones and rocks with hand grenades and small explosive charges. "We traded stones and rocks for hand grenades because the impact is that much stronger" explained Rami, a young resident of Jenin.
According to the Hizbullah report, one group of children assisted in the manufacturing of arms while a second group of children placed them strategically around the area as specified by a senior terrorist operative. A third group was instructed to set up ambushes in street corners carrying bags filled to the brim with explosives.
Muatsin, 16, used to kiss the grenades he carried on his back before throwing them at IDF soldiers. He would cry, "Allah, make this explosive as powerful as a ball of fire so that it burns the hearts of the Jews," Magnins reported.
Witnesses said that a young Palestinian aged 16 "threw at least 50 grenades towards IDF soldiers. The children were right alongside him, defending the camp; they succeeded in damaging five tanks and destroying one."
|
 
|
|
|
|
Click on the blue headline to read a Talkback comment and respond to it. Click on the  icon to send a private email to the talkback writer. The icon appears only if the writer has decided to be contacted. If no popup window appears, please make sure your popup blocker allows israelinsider.com.
|
|
| |
|
|
