ISRAEL

Guardian: Israeli report clears troops over US death
Peace activist killed by bulldozer acted 'illegally and dangerously'

An Israeli army investigation into the death of Rachel Corrie, an American peace activist, has concluded that its forces were not to blame for her death.
It accused Corrie and other members of the International Solidarity Movement of "illegal, irresponsible and dangerous" behaviour.

Corrie, 23, was crushed to death by an army bulldozer in Rafah, Gaza, as she protested against house demolitions.

The investigation, led by the chief of the general staff of the Israeli Defence Force, found that Israeli forces were not guilty of any misconduct.

The result of the investigation comes as Tom Hurndall, 21, from London lies in hospital with severe brain damage after being shot in the head on Friday by an Israeli soldier as he tried to help a Palestinian woman and her children.

Mr Hurndall was also a peace activist working with the ISM.

He was shot in a different area of Rafah while wearing the same kind of bright orange vest as Corrie when she died. Yesterday his family arrived from London to visit him in hospital in the southern Israeli town of Beersheva.

The army report obtained by the Guardian says Corrie: "was struck as she stood behind a mound of earth that was created by an engineering vehicle operating in the area and she was hidden from the view of the vehicle's operator who continued with his work. Corrie was struck by dirt and a slab of concrete resulting in her death.

"The finding of the operational investigations shows that Rachel Corrie was not run over by an engineering vehicle but rather was struck by a hard object, most probably a slab of concrete which was moved or slid down while the mound of earth which she was standing behind was moved."

However, Joe Smith, 21, from Missouri who witnessed Corrie's death said that the army's description bore little resemblance to what he saw. "Rachel was kneeling 20 metres in front of the bulldozer on flat ground. There was no way she could not have been seen. We only maintain positions that are clearly visible.

"Israelische Militäruntersuchungen kommen immer zum selben Schluss. Dem Israelischen Militär kann kein Vorwurf gemacht werden. Seien es Palästinensische Kinder die mit Kopfschüssen niedergestreckt oder Friedensaktivisten in Orangen Parkas die einfach so von Bulldozern überollt werden, der Israelischen Armee kann kein Vorwurf gemacht werden.Alle selber Schuld wenn Sie sich im Heiligen Land Eretz-Israel aufhalten auf dem sie eingentlich nichts zu suchen haben."