Israel grants bail to Palestinian woman in ‘slap video’ case
NABI SALEH, Palestinian Territories: Israel on Friday released a Palestinian woman on bail after she was charged with assaulting an Israeli soldier in the occupied West Bank following a viral video of the incident.
Nour Tamimi, 20, was released early on Friday from a military prison after a court rejected the prosecution’s appeal against her release, her father Naji Tamimi told AFP.
She was arrested on Dec 20, a day after her cousin Ahed Tamimi, 16, was detained in the wake of a viral video showing them slapping and kicking two soldiers the previous week.
Ahed and her mother Nariman Tamimi remain in custody.
Nour was allowed to return to her home in the village of Nabi Saleh, near the West Bank city of Ramallah, after posting a bail of 5,000 shekels (US$1,450, 1,200 euros).
A guarantor vouched that she would show up for her court proceedings, set to begin on Feb 12, her lawyer Gaby Lasky told AFP.
She was welcomed home by family and friends and the governor of Ramallah, Laila Ghanam.
“The first day (in prison) was the hardest because it was a new experience for me. I had no idea what was going to become of me,” Nour said.
“It’s true that my father used to tell me so many stories, but going through something new always has an impact on you.”
She said her Israeli interrogator threatened to have her father and brother arrested and the family home demolished unless she answered his questions.
“He bullied me, he would slam his fist on the table,” she said. “He told me, ‘speak or I’ll blow up your house’.”
“I don’t regret anything. On the contrary, this experience has made me stronger,” Nour added. “I met new people and I heard stories from the girls (other women who were detained).”
The military appeals court ruled Nour would also have to sign in at an Israeli police station every Friday at noon.
On Sunday, a military court charged Nour with aggravated assault of a soldier and disturbing soldiers carrying out their duties.
Ahed’s family says the Dec 15 incident that led to the charges occurred in the yard of their home in Nabi Saleh, near Ramallah.
The scuffle took place during a day of protests against US President Donald Trump’s controversial recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. — AFP