The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned the killing of a Palestinian man by Israeli troops after extremist Israeli settlers raided his village in the West Bank. CAIR also condemned an Israeli settler attack on two French journalists investigating on violence targeting Palestinian olive farms.
A Palestinian man was killed by Israeli troops during a raid on the village of Burqa by soldiers and settlers. Palestinian media reported that the man killed was an officer in the Palestinian security forces.
SEE: Palestinian killed in West Bank clash with Israeli forces, settlers
Agence France-Presse photographers Jaafar Ashtiyeh and John Wessels were in the village of Aqraba in the West Bank investigating an incident the previous night in which several cars were burned, allegedly by settlers. The journalists were taking pictures of an Israeli soldier detaining a man when a driver on a quad bike raced toward them and opened fire, AFP reported. At least six other people also opened fire.
SEE: Israeli settlers beat AFP photographer covering violence in West Bank
In a statement, CAIR said:
“Israel’s extremist settlers work in tandem with the Israeli government to brutalize Palestinians in the West Bank and steal their homes. Any journalists who cover their atrocities are subjected to violence or worse. There is no ‘war’ in the West Bank. The territory is under direct Israeli occupation and its population is defenseless against the crimes of the genocidal Israeli government and settlers. Members of Congress as well as media organizations nationwide should speak out against these blatant violations of human rights and press freedom.”
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, [email protected]; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, [email protected]