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Israeli Shin Bet Tortures Young Prize-Winning Palestinian Journalist
by moonwolf | July 3, 2008 at 12:56 pm | 393 views | 12 comments
Mohammed Omer, at 24 the youngest recipient ever of the Martha Gellhorn Prize for Journalism was seized upon his return to Israel after accepting the 2008 prize and subsequently tortured by agents of the Israeli secret service Shin Bet. This pattern of torture and intimidation perpetrated against Palestinians by the Israeli secret police is well documented and due to this particular event has finally reached the mainstream press in Europe. Mr.Omer's recollection of what was done to him is a chilling and clear condemnation of the treatment inflicted on Palestinians for no reason other than that they are Palestinians.
Two weeks ago, I presented a young Palestinian, Mohammed Omer, with the 2008 Martha Gellhorn Prize for Journalism. Awarded in memory of the great US war correspondent, the prize goes to journalists who expose establishment propaganda, or "official drivel", as Gellhorn called it. Mohammed shares the prize of £5,000 with Dahr Jamail. At 24, he is the youngest winner. His citation reads: "Every day, he reports from a war zone, where he is also a prisoner. His homeland, Gaza, is surrounded, starved, attacked, forgotten. He is a profoundly humane witness to one of the great injustices of our time. He is the voice of the voiceless." The eldest of eight, Mohammed has seen most of his siblings killed or wounded or maimed. An Israeli bulldozer crushed his home while the family were inside, seriously injuring his mother. And yet, says a former Dutch ambassador, Jan Wijenberg, "he is a moderating voice, urging Palestinian youth not to court hatred but seek peace with Israel".Getting Mohammed to London to receive his prize was a major diplomatic operation. Israel has perfidious control over Gaza's borders, and only with a Dutch embassy escort was he allowed out. Last Thursday, on his return journey, he was met at the Allenby Bridge crossing (to Jordan) by a Dutch official, who waited outside the Israeli building, unaware Mohammed had been seized by Shin Bet, Israel's infamous security organisation. Mohammed was told to turn off his mobile and remove the battery. He asked if he could call his embassy escort and was told forcefully he could not. A man stood over his luggage, picking through his documents. "Where's the money?" he demanded. Mohammed produced some US dollars. "Where is the English pound you have?"
"I realised," said Mohammed, "he was after the award stipend for the Martha Gellhorn prize. I told him I didn't have it with me. 'You are lying', he said. I was now surrounded by eight Shin Bet officers, all armed. The man called Avi ordered me to take off my clothes. I had already been through an x-ray machine. I stripped down to my underwear and was told to take off everything. When I refused, Avi put his hand on his gun. I began to cry: 'Why are you treating me this way? I am a human being.' He said, 'This is nothing compared with what you will see now.' He took his gun out, pressing it to my head and with his full body weight pinning me on my side, he forcibly removed my underwear. He then made me do a concocted sort of dance. Another man, who was laughing, said, 'Why are you bringing perfumes?' I replied, 'They are gifts for the people I love'. He said, 'Oh, do you have love in your culture?'
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July 3, 2008 at 12:56 pm by moonwolf, 393 views, 12 comments
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Comments (12)
at 13:54 on July 3rd, 2008
This is a shocking story. I can't believe the world is so complacent about the holocaust that is going on in Gaza.
But moonwolf, what is this photograph you have attached to the story? I don't know where it is from or who it is of, and I think we must be careful not to attach incorrect information, especially to a story like this, which needs no additional shock in order to have impact.
at 14:21 on July 3rd, 2008
The photograph was a demonstration by an actor of the position known as "the banana" for an Israeli inquiry into the interrogation techniques of Shin Bet, and was based on witness accounts of the process.
at 14:30 on July 3rd, 2008
Perhaps it would be helpful to readers if you added that information to the caption and identified the source. You can edit captions.
at 14:43 on July 3rd, 2008
Thanks PEP, I was unaware that was possible. I have altered the picture's caption but am not going to write a paragraph to explain it in detail any more than you do for your photo inclusions.
at 15:02 on July 3rd, 2008
Here is a link to a petition to be sent to the US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice condemning the treatment of Mr. Omer and demanding that she pressuret the Israeli government to cease and desist its treatment of journalists and its attempt to control the flow of information by torture and intimidation.
at 15:12 on July 3rd, 2008
Moonwolf,
Have you checked out to see if the facts are correct. But then again you appear to not be interested in the truth. It appears that there is in fact conflicting reports about the honesty of the report and the truth as to what really took place. but hey, the truth appears to be of little interest to you.
at 16:36 on July 3rd, 2008
Typical Israeli misinformation technique. The old shell game. Call into question any negative report and claim that the "official" version is the truth, or that rumors from other more reliable "witnesses" are the truth. Attack the veracity and integrity of the person who was abused, and make allusions to his possible connection to this criminal group, or mention a stay he had in a mental facility or...... I know way too much to buy that sad old methodology!
If you have proof then bring it. Prove this is not accurate. I just reproduced a story from the Guardian, a fairly reliable source. It isn't my job to do anything more, but if you disagree or can refute the claims in a way that is provable I'll be the first to admit it.
As to the personal slights peppering your little comment, it just proves you have no facts to add and must use personal insults in lieu of cogent commentary.
And by the way wasn't Mossad's previous motto, changed just recently because it was too honest "BY WAY OF DECEPTION, THOU SHALT DO WAR"? Enough said about truth, honesty and facts being relevant!
at 05:03 on July 4th, 2008
Hi moonwolf,
It didn't occur to you that what you call Tikkun's "Typical Israeli misinformation technique", in your case, can with some plausibility be called "Typical Moonwolf misinformation technique"....And more, Tikkun isn't representing the "Typical Israeli misinformation technique". I suppose that he is a private person asking you about the truth..a legitimate question.
And if you argue..."I just reproduced a story from the Guardian, a fairly reliable source."... then why not reproduce the following story " 'Israel denies mistreating Gaza reporter'. Security officials reject claim award-winning Palestinian reporter was abused at Jordan border crossing, say 'no irregular action' taken towards him" published by Ynet (07.01.08), also a good reliable source, see here.
at 12:40 on July 4th, 2008
Thanks Korzac for the link.
Israel always denies occurrences like this, of course. Palestinian children they kill are always terrorists or "accidents", there is always "good" reason to bomb another country or kill more people or create the largest open air prison in the world, or build more new settlements on stolen land while professing a desire for peace, or bulldoze innocent people's homes, or ignore and disdain resolution after resolution from the UN, or assemble a huge nuclear arsenal without being members of the NNPT, and you and Tikkun will inevitably use personal attacks on anyone who disagrees with Israel and suggests its behaviors are wrong. By doing so you simply weaken your own position, so keep it up guys!
You have your take on the situation and I have mine. The internet, however, is slowly eroding the obfuscation that Israel has employed so effectively for the last six decades and more and more people are aware of the barbarism of the Zionist government in Tel Aviv, and all your excuses are wearing thin.
As to Tikkun not representing the "typical Israeli misinformation technique". How do you know that? It has been common knowledge for years that Israel wanted to get ahead of the electronic wave that was coming and uses people around the globe to do just exactly what you and Tikkun do here. To monitor blogs and sites and interfere whenever something negative is floated about Israel, and to post stories that glorify Israel.
Case after case of pro-Israeli groups and individuals attempting to control and distort information and manipulate public dialog are available with a simple search. Israel has been the master of misinformation for a long time but no more. We can see through the veil, and what is there is not what is portrayed, and is very ugly indeed.
Here is Mohammed Omer's personal account of what happened, and for other readers I will point out that Omer worked globally for BBC, Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, The New Statesman, Norwegian, Australian, Scottish and Swedish mainstream publications to name a few and was respected for his moderate views and accuracy of reporting, thus the prize he received. But according to Israel he just tossed away his credibility and his career to become a liar. Typical. Attacking the credibility of any who oppose it is standard procedure for that rogue state, but it won't wash here. Just Google Mohammed Omer and see the long list of references to his exemplary professional career.
Here is Dar Jamaal, his co-recipient of the prize's take on the affair.
at 16:33 on July 4th, 2008
You wrote "...uses people around the globe to do just exactly what you and Tikkun do here. To monitor blogs and sites and interfere whenever something negative is floated about Israel, and to post stories that glorify Israel."...
Well, moonwolf, personally I never meet Tikkun, so I don't know what he does or not..As for me, if you say that I am monitoring blogs an sites to interfere with their absolute truths, you are one of their glorious defender, then whe are in the field of the global conspiracy. Moonwolf, perhaps I am a member of the Shin Bet or a member of the Mossad...Who knows?
Well I can assure you that it is not the case, I only make comments on your post, and what you see as absolute truths I and others see as not well founded facts (to be polite)... But now, after what you say, will you believe me, if all things in your eyes is misinformation...
And finally, I never glorified Israel, it is not needed. I see the achievements Israel has made in 60 years and I am very proud of them. If the Palestinian wisdom had something else to propose than to wipe Israel from the earth, then perhaps their lifes would be a better life than that with the Hamas. As a concrete example see here.
at 15:21 on July 8th, 2008
Moonwolf, it is very difficult to make any comments about any news item you bring to the table when you go on a rant about the Jews, ooops I mean Israel with comments you don't appreciate. Conspiracy theories are just part of the fabric and imagination of a bored group of people that have too much time on their hands.
I am not nor have I ever been a member of the Mossad or the Israeli governement. Sounds familiar. What I find so interesting is that your rants are not very original and are almost word for word out of the classic anti-Israeli, anti-Jewish conspiracy text books that contain a paranoid view of Jews and their power globally. If only it was true then maybe the world would be a better place to live. LOL
at 14:38 on July 17th, 2008
Here's the Reuters report, think they are reliable? included a reporter from Gaza.