Shooting Error

The New Republic ^ | 3/28/02 (for issue of 4/14/02)

[GeneD]

Although it happened almost a year and a half ago, who can forget twelve-year-old Muhammad al-Dura dying in his father's arms at Netzarim Crossing in the Gaza Strip, a victim of routine and intentional Israeli brutality. At least that's how French television depicted it in a video clip replayed countless times the world over. The image quickly attained iconic status, and Muhammad became the poster child for the second Palestinian intifada. (In its own narration of the clip, the Palestinian Authority spoke of the "beauty of the martyr," whose blood flows "like a waterfall.") But now a March 17 documentary aired by Germany's ARD television suggests something extraordinary: that Muhammad was killed not by Israeli soldiers, but by Palestinian gunmen, perhaps deliberately to create precisely such a photogenic martyr. The French footage, it turns out, was heavily edited--from six minutes to 50 seconds--and the French won't let anyone see the tape they didn't air. What's more, the Palestinian Authority didn't allow an autopsy on the boy and never released the bullet that killed him for outside scrutiny. ARD has done its own forensic investigation, however, and concluded that the shot that entered Muhammad's crouching body could not have come from the location where Israeli soldiers were positioned. ARD's report has been covered extensively in the German press (Die Welt headlined its article, "RICOCHETING TRUTH"). As of this writing, however, no major American newspaper or TV network--including the many that ran the original footage of Muhammad's death--has mentioned it.

[HOYA97]

Bill O'reilly would love to have this piece. Forward this story to him. oreilly@foxnews.com or hannity@foxnews.com

[Free the USA]

Check the Bump List folders for articles related to and descriptions of the above topic(s) or for other topics of interest.

[ecomcon]

Why the h*** not? I've been aware of this for a couple of weeks, or thereabouts.

Seems like a slightly important story...

[agrace]

WND has had this story on file since 12/00. Glad to see it getting some air play, if only in Germany.

[Honestfreedom]

You mean Whore Aldo has not shown this report.? How can that be? Ever since he went on Arafat's payroll (I wonder if Clinton referred him) he has been such a disgrace. I refuse to watch Fox News Net since he joined them and they overlooked his false reporting on Afghanistan as well as his becoming a flak for Arafat.

[CHQmacer]

I remember when it happened that the Isrealis were saying that the bullet couldn't have come from the Ireali positions because they weren't in the line of Isreali fire.

Turns out the Isealis were telling the truth and the Palestinians were lieing. Go figure.

These people must not have an independent country. That would be tragic for them and the rest of the world. They are incapable of governing themselves.

[Thud]

A lot of us thought right away that the Palestinians did it, but the Israeli Defense Force admitted soon after that it was responsible.

[meenie]

Whore Aldo was on last night telling of the hopelessness of the Palis. As long as the Palis keep killing civilians, it is hard to give them much sympathy.

[Honestfreedom]

I refuse to watch Fox since Whore Aldo joined them. He is a disgrace to journalism. We cannot laugh or look down at Rather, Jennings, Blitzer, etc. if we watch Whore Aldo. After he made up the story of being at the crash sight, Fox should have canned him. They obviously are on the Jerry Springer standard of journalism. I like Hannity, Brit Hume, and O'Reilly but they are all demeaned by this association.