Israel closes probe of shooting of US protester

AFP via Yahoo! News ^ | February 1, 2010 | Joseph Krauss

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Israel has decided not to press charges against police involved in firing a tear gas canister that left a US protester severely brain damaged, the justice ministry said on Monday.

Tristan Anderson, a 39-year-old activist from California, was shot in the head in the West Bank town of Nilin on March 13, 2009 during a protest against Israel's controversial separation barrier.

He can only communicate with basic sounds after being in a coma for months and undergoing several brain surgeries at a Tel Aviv hospital, according to Jonathan Pollak, a friend and fellow activist who has visited him recently.

[Sherman Logan]

Sfard said that based on his own findings, including the testimony of seven witnesses, Anderson was shot by a border policeman standing 60-70 metres (yards) away with a clear view of him.

But he insisted that Anderson, who was standing next to a mosque at the time, had not thrown any rocks and was not involved in the clashes.

I doubt tear gas canisters are accurate enough to intentionally shoot someone in the head at this distance.

How are the cops supposed to keep track of which person is and is not actually engaged in the rioting?

I've always assumed that if I choose to stand next to people throwing rocks at cops I'm likely to get shot myself.

[Touch Not the Cat]

.
Prayers to Saint Pancake.
.

[ARepublicanForAllReasons]

I am astounded at the sheer gall of Americans who go to a foreign country to protest its domestic security policies.

Why don't they try it in Cuba, or Sudan? I'm sure they would be handled with kid gloves. Too bad about the serious injury, but he had no right to be involved in the first place. His supporters claim he didn't take part in rock throwing, etc. I would bet that, at the least, he ignored a legal order to disperse.

[montag813]

Canisters are meant to hit the ground and disperse gas. This was clearly and accident. I have sympathy for the man’s injuries but no one forced him to go halfway around the world to support the same terrorist thugs who cheered in the streets as the WTC fell on 9/11.

[Darteaus94025]

Hmmm. A California protester appears severely brain damaged.

OK.

[SamiGirl]

“Prayers to Saint Pancake.”

LOL

[Cheetahcat]

Sorry about the bump on the head but if you chose to play in traffic and get run over,now who is to blame for you being in harms way.

[Jewbacca]

“Anderson was shot by a border policeman standing 60-70 metres (yards) away”

That’s an impressive shot with tear gas grenade.

Cudos on his accuracy.

[Jewbacca]

“A California protester appears severely brain damaged.”

Yeah, I demand “before” pictures.

[Jewbacca]

” I have sympathy for the man’s injuries”

I don’t.

He’s a terrorist supporter, and the only difference between him and a suicide bomber is this guy is a coward.

[wendy1946]

Another Evergreen graduate?

[Anti-Bubba182]

Be sure to use the Holy Icon

[MissEdie]

Note to activists: stay home.

[Oldpuppymax]

Gee, I wonder what would have happened if the guy had simply MINDED HIS OWN FRIGGIN’ BUSINESS????

[mikey_hates_everything]

I wonder what pretense this guy made on his visa application to get in to Israel and protest. Israel could probably get him on visa fraud if they wanted. There is no way they'd let him in if they knew what he was up to. I like Israel but they make it difficult and annoying just to get out of Ben Gurion when leaving the country.

[anotherview]

Y'all might want to read this.

[ArrogantBustard]

Rule One: Don't throw $#!+ at men with guns.

Rule Two: Don't stand next to folks who are violating Rule One.