|
|
|
|
|
TITLE: In The Memory of Hilmi Shusha |
AUTHOR: Ramzy Baroud |
PUB: Arabia Online |
DATE: January 26, 2001 |
|
Over a year has passed since the tragic story of a Palestinian boy who was beaten to death by an Israeli settler near Bethlehem. The Jerusalem District Court finally sentenced Nahum Korman who was convicted of manslaughter. For the killing of Hilmi Shusha?s tragic death , he was sentenced to perform "community service." Hilmi was only 10 when he was chased by the settler, Korman, a security officer in the illegal Jewish settlement of Hadar Beitar near Bethlehem. Korman alleged that stone throwers provoked him that afternoon, and eyewitnesses narrated a horrifying story. The settler pounded Hilmi on the head with his boots and with the back of his pistol. Only one day later, Hilmi was declared dead. Hilmi's case was taken to the Jerusalem District Court, who in 1999 acquitted the settler, justifying his actions as appropriate self-defense. Later, the Israeli Supreme Court overruled the district court's decision, sending the case back to the district court to reconsider the case. The district court, months later decided to convict Korman, shockingly sending him to perform community service for a period of six months. A Savage Murder In an emotional plea before the court, which announced its decision on January 21, Ibrahim Shusha, Hilmi's cousin described the killing. "..The settler went, looked toward the house and saw that no one was there, came back and grabbed Hilmi and immediately kicked him in the head. The settler was wearing army boots. Hilmi, my cousin stood 3 meters from me .. After the kick, Hilmi fell to the ground and lost consciousness. The settler kicked Hilmi in the neck and hit him once more on the head with the butt of his pistol." The incomprehensible tragedy of the young boy's death is one of several dimensions. Hilmi's death narrates much more than the usual scenario of a savage murder of an innocent child. It in fact emphasizes the racist nature of the state of Israel that equalizes the life of the Jew to that of a saint, while the life of an Arab, even a child, has no worth. If the district court decided to reinstate its earlier decision and acquit the settler, one could argue that the Israeli court system is biased not to recognize such indicting evidence. But worse, Korman was recognized for what he was, a killer. And like all Israeli killers of Palestinians, Korman was freed. I have reported on many deaths of innocent Palestinians killed for no reason at all, by their heartless occupier. I remember being a10-year-old boy running in the slums of my refugee camp, being chased by Israeli soldiers alongside my peers. My friend Ala was only 14 when he was shot in the head near his home in Nusierat refugee camp, and my cousin Wael was only 15 when he was shot in the neck, just a few feet away from his house in Shati refugee camp. Hilmi too was killed near his house. Peace Talks Resume On the day the killer walked free, Palestinian and Israeli negotiators gathered in Egypt to discuss the prospects of the peace process, vowing to continue their marathon talks until an agreement was reached. Meanwhile Israeli officials told the press that Israel is ready to make "big concessions," apparently not big enough to think of a Palestine child's life as one that carries any worth. That day, Palestinians carried the body of another Palestinian boy to his grave after being fatally shot by Israeli soldiers near Gaza. Hilmi's story is not over; as the episode of Israel?s murderous campaign continues to victimize other young boys like Hilmi. Will the world ever react to the cry of the dying children? Will anyone step in to remove the army boots smothering Palestinian boys? Will the name Hilmi Shusha be remembered for long? I for one, promise to remind you of him, lest you forget. © 2000 Arabia Online Ltd. END |