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TITLE: 'Alik Ron Ordered Protesters Shot,' Police Snipers Testify |
AUTHOR: Baruch Kra and Sharon Gal |
PUB: Ha'aretz |
DATE: February 23, 2001 |
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Four snipers of the special anti-terrorist police squad testified yesterday that they were ordered to fire at unarmed demonstrators in Nazareth and Umm al Fahm on the specific orders of northern district police commander, Alik Ronin. Their testimony was given in front of the Public Commission of Inquiry on the bloody events in some Arab areas last October. The testimonies stand in sharp contrast to statements issued by police commanders last October, asserting that live fire was not used against the protesters. The three member panel, headed by Supreme Court Justice Theodore Or and including Nazareth District Court Judge Sahal Jarah and Professor Shimon Shamir, heard yesterday from the snipers that on October 2 they were instructed to shoot below the knees at civilians holding slingshots and endangering policemen. The police officers gave their testimonies yesterday from behind a screen intended to hide their identity. Responding yesterday to the testimonies of police snipers, northern district police commander Alik Ron expressed no surprise at what the officers told the panel. "So, what's new? What's special in this? I am sure that the policemen told the truth [in their testimonies]," he said, and refused to add anything further. When asked whether he had sought legal advice, Ron replied, "I am holding meetings with professionals, and as known public figures have said before, when the day comes I'll know what to do." Public Security Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami told Channel Two television yesterday that he was surprised to hear that use of live bullets was made against the demonstrators. "No one ever told me, upstairs, of this detail," Ben-Ami added. The commander in charge of the snipers said during his testimony that this was the first occasion in his experience as an officer in the unit on which he was required to open fire against Israeli citizens . Only one of the four snipers testified that any of the shots fired at demonstrators missed their target. None of them provided adequate explanations for the choice of targets, which was meant to be based on whether they endangered the lives of policemen. According to the testimonies, on the morning of October 6, the snipers, accompanied by Ron and other police commanders, picked a spot on a hill near Umm al Fahm, from which they could shoot at targets if the need arose. Ron instructed the team that they were to be ready to receive orders to shoot at any demonstrator who endangered the life of a police officer. "Endangering life" at that point meant any demonstrator with firearms. At midday, according to the testimonies, they were called to their positions and were informed that a border policeman was severely injured by a rock thrown at his head. At that point Ron's orders were altered and he included within the list of legitimate targets civilians with sling shots. They were to be shot low, below the knees. According to the snipers they were 170 meters from the demonstrators. Once a target was identified they requested permission from Ron, via radio, to open fire. Professor Shamir asked one of the snipers who said that some shots missed, whether other demonstrators nearby were hit by accident. The officer was firm in rejecting the possibility, arguing that the targets were picked at times when there was no one near them. © 2000 Ha'aretz. All Rights Reserved END |