American woman peace activist killed by IDFbulldozer in Gaza

Ha'aretz ^ | Sunday, March 16, 2003 Adar2 12, 5763 | By Arnon Regular, Haaretz Correspondent, and Agencies

[Cinnamon Girl]

An American woman peace protester was killed Sunday by an IDF bulldozer, which ran her over during the demolition of a house at the Rafah refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip.

Another activist was wounded in the incident.

Rachel Corey, 23, from Olympia, Washington, was killed when she ran in front of the bulldozer to try to prevent it from destroying a house, doctors in Gaza said.

"Corey was killed in the al-Salam neighbourhood when an Israeli bulldozer covered her with sand as she stood in front of a bulldozer," said Dr Ali Musa, a doctor from the al-Najar hospital in the southern Gaza Strip.

He said she died from skull and chest fractures.

The IDF said it was checking the report.

Greg Schnabel, 28, from Chicago, said the protesters were in the house of Dr. Samir Masri.

"Rachel was alone in front of the house as we were trying to get them to stop," he said. "She waved for bulldozer to stop and waved. She fell down and the bulldozer kept going. We yelled 'stop, stop,' and the bulldozer didn't stop at all. It had completely run over her and then it reversed and ran back over her."

Since the start of the Intifada, groups of international protesters have gathered in several locations in territories, setting themselves up as "human shields" to try to stop IDF operations.

Corey was the first member of the groups, called "International Solidarity Movement," to be killed in the conflict. Schnabel said Corey was a student at Evergreen College and was to graduate this year.

He said there were eight protesters at the site, four from the United States and four from Great Britain. "We stay with families whose house is to be demolished," he told the Associated Press by telephone from Rafah after the incident.

[Pukka Puck]

What a pile of crap.

If you don't like Free Republic, just go away, don't post a great pile of Spam that no one is going to read.

[rmvh]

Re your # 7.... She killed herself, and no one should try and blame the IDF for what happened.

As is typical, the claim here is made that there are never any unjustifiable acts...or even unwitting mistakes....or even less that perfect acts commited by the IDF. Whatever they do is always absolutely justified...under any condition.

Such a perposterous view of human perfection does not serve Israel's reasonable cause well at all for the non-Jewish world.

[Pan_Yan]

Sorry, I couldn't watch MTM while "Starsky and Hutch" or "Columbo" was on.

[George W. Bush]

He said the killing should be a message to the US President George W Bush, who is "providing Israel with tanks and bulldozers, and now they have killed one of his own people."

Ah, the inevitable political angle. I think this guy is glad she's dead.

[Diddley]

(This is not meant to slam Phil V.);

Some people have 5 year's experience.
Some people have 1 year's experience 5 times.

:)

[arthurus]

Human Shields. It's dirty work, but somebody has to do it.

[Pukka Puck]

You are welcome to your wrong-headed and misguided opinions and I have a right to support the destruction of bomber's homes.

The mistake was made by the commie when she ran in front of the dozer.

[txradioguy]

"Whatever they do is always absolutely justified...under any condition."

A sad but true fact when you're country is under attack from terrorist forces. You can and must do anything and everything to stop the threat to the soverignty of your nation. Just like the U.S. has been doing and continues to do since the 9/11 attacks.

[Mini-14]

To those of you who rejoice in this woman's death I say this: May God have more compassion on you at your moment of death, than the amount of compassion you have shown toward others.

[FITZ]

less that perfect acts commited by the IDF.

Is there any evidence that the bulldozer driver ever saw her jump in front of the bulldozer? What's to say the same thing couldn't happen here in an every day construction site? She put herself in harm's way, she should realize that the driver may be watching gauges or looking for controls or looking in another direction. It's like having someone jump in front of a semi on the interstate and then blaming the trucking company.

[Caipirabob]

Heck of a way to commit suicide.

[MonroeDNA]

I have no problem with the tone here, and it's always been this way. In fact, this is tame compared to our early days.

She was a useful idiot.

[Blennos]

As is typical, the claim here is made that there are never any unjustifiable acts...or even unwitting mistakes....or even less that perfect acts commited by the IDF. Whatever they do is always absolutely justified...under any condition.

As I read the discussion, that is not the claim that is being made. The claim is that, in this case, going to a war zone, and willingly standing in front of a moving bulldozer whose driver possibly cannot see you, is the more probable cause of this unfortunate mishap.

The contrary claim would be that the IDF intentionally crushed a foolish girl. It is not their style and not in their interest of their country.

[Mr. Mojo]

There is bitter opposition within Israel to the occupation of the West Bank

That opposition is cut from the same mould as the anti-war protesters in our own country. And incidentally, the W. Bank is Israeli territory, not "Palestinian." ...The spoils of war. The misplaced Jordanians (and other Arabs) could've avoided their current difficulties by A) not attacking Israel from the territory in question with the intent of annihilating her, and B) not engaging in a homicide bombing campaign targeting innocent Israeli women and children. But alas, the Arabs have chosen the path of war, and now they're reaping what they've sewn.

[Tax Government]

What to do when a human shield gets in your way

1. Notify. Make sure the shield knows you're there and present a danger, in the case the shield were not to move.

2. Wait. Give the shield as much time as a person would normally need to avoid danger, assuming they were not trying to face down danger. Then double the time.

3. Proceed.

[FITZ]

Yes ---those people actually want martyrs. It wouldn't be surprising to me if this same guy saw that he had a real ditz in his group and encouraged her to do this foolish thing.

[RnMomof7]

Since the start of the Intifada, groups of international protesters have gathered in several locations in territories, setting themselves up as "human shields" to try to stop IDF operations.

Perhaps the human shiehs learned somthing from this..

[Diddley]

I'm new here, but isn't a 4,363 word reply a tad long?

[doug from upland]

It is a shame that this young woman had to die for her foolishness. May God protect her soul.

[FITZ]

I hope the shields soon realize that's exactly why they've been invited there ---to take the hits and protect the real fighters. If they think shields used in battle don't get hit now and then they aren't smart enough to be alive.