B’Tselem blasts IDF for absolving officer in Palestinian’s death

The B’Tselem human rights group comes out against the IDF’s decision to clear Col. Yisrael Shomer of all charges in the shooting of a Palestinian teen rock-thrower.

The IDF prosecutor’s decision to close the case against Shomer “displays the willingness of the investigatory system to ignore the rules of engagement and the law, in order to absolve security forces of responsibility in illegally killing Palestinians,” B’Tselem says in a statement.

The organization brought the case to light last summer, when it released a video showing the colonel shooting Muhammad Ali al-Kasbeh, 17, as the teenager was fleeing the scene after hurling a large stone at his vehicle. Kasbeh later succumbed to his injuries.

This decision “sends an illegal message to soldiers in the field that it is allowed, and even desirable, to shoot to kill a Palestinian rock thrower, even if he runs away and no longer presents a threat,” B’Tselem says.

— Judah Ari Gross