Palestinian ‘slap video’ teen hit with 12 charges
TEL AVIV: Israel charged a Palestinian teenager with 12 counts including assault on Monday following her arrest after a video of her slapping and kicking two Israeli soldiers in the West Bank went viral.
Ahed Tamimi, 16, has been hailed as a hero by Palestinians who see her as bravely standing up to Israel’s occupation of the West Bank.
Israelis accuse her family of using her as a pawn in staged provocations.
The charges filed with an Israeli military court relate to the events in the video but also five other incidents and include stonethrowing, incitement and making threats.
She could face a lengthy jail term if convicted.
Five charges were also filed against her mother Nariman and her cousin Nour, 20, was indicted as well on Sunday.
The accusations against Nariman Tamimi include using Facebook “to incite others to commit terrorist attacks” and participating in the incident on video, the army said in a statement.
Ahed and her mother have been ordered to remain in custody until at least Jan 8, when another hearing will be held.
Nour Tamimi is to be released on bail of 5,000 shekels (RM5,580) this afternoon barring an appeal by prosecutors, the Tamimis’ lawyer, Gaby Lasky, said.
Ahed’s family says the Dec 15 incident that led to the arrests occurred in the yard of their home in Nabi Saleh.
Israel’s military said the soldiers were in the area to prevent Palestinians from throwing stones at Israeli motorists nearby.
A video shows the cousins approaching two Israeli soldiers and telling them to leave before shoving, kicking and slapping them. Ahed was the more aggressive of the two. The armed soldiers did not respond in the face of what appeared to be an attempt to provoke rather than seriously harm them.
They then move somewhat backwards after Nariman becomes involved.
Ahed has been involved in a series of previous incidents, with older pictures of her confronting soldiers widely published. – AFP