Anticipated as Final Hearing in Corrie Case

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 10, 2011

(Haifa, Israel – June 10, 2011) – Former Gaza Division’s Southern Brigade Commander, Colonel Pinhas (Pinky) Zuaretz, has confirmed with the court that he will testify Sunday, July 10, in what is anticipated to be the final hearing in the Corrie civil trial against the State of Israel. Zuaretz is the last witnesses currently scheduled to testify on behalf of the State.

Colonel Zuaretz was the commanding officer of the Gaza Division’s Southern Brigade in 2003, when American peace activist Rachel Corrie was killed. Troops under Zuaretz’ command were responsible for the military’s actions resulting in Rachel’s killing in Rafah, Gaza that day. Zuaretz is the highest ranking officer called as a government witness in the civil trial, and, possibly, the highest ranking Israeli military officer ever to face cross examination in a civil suit regarding the actions of the Israeli military against civilians in Gaza during the second intifada. His testimony is expected to shed light on the Israeli military’s failures as an occupying power to protect civilian life and property in the region.

The lawsuit, filed in 2005 by Attorney Hussein abu Hussein, charges the State of Israel with responsibility for killing American peace activist Rachel Corrie in Rafah, Gaza in 2003. Since the trial opened in March 2010, over 2000 pages of court transcripts have been recorded, from more than 20 testimonies, including that of 14 military personnel. Most government witnesses were identified only by their initials, and nearly half testified while hidden behind a screen.

Colonel Pinhas (Pinky) Zuaretz’s Testimony Was, Yet Again, Postponed

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 24, 2011

(Haifa, Israel – May 24, 2011) – Former IDF spokesperson, Ruth Yaron, took the stand in Haifa, Israel Sunday, May 22, in what was anticipated to be the final hearing in the ongoing civil lawsuit Corrie vs. the State of Israel. However, the appearance of former Gaza Division Southern Brigade Commander Col. Pinhas (Pinky) Zuaretz was, yet again, postponed.

Zuaretz’s testimony was tentatively rescheduled for July 10, 2011, with the State being given 15 days to respond.

Yaron’s testimony focused on the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), in a weak attempt by the State to justify the military’s killing of Rachel by delegitimizing the organization’s mission of resisting the Israeli Occupation of Palestinian lands using only non-violent, direct action, methods. Rachel was an unarmed civilian, non-violently protesting against home demolitions in Rafah, Gaza, when she was killed. Yaron provided no first-hand knowledge of events, and relied heavily on second or third hand sources and hearsay.

Additional information about Yaron’s testimony will be released in the future.

Attending Sunday’s proceedings were two officials from the American Embassy, including US Consul General Andrew Parker, as well as legal and human rights observers from the organizations Advocats Sans Frontières, Al Haq, and the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICHAD).

Please visit http://rachelcorriefoundation.org/trial for updates, last minute changes to the court schedule and related information.
For press related inquiries, please contact: Email: press@rachelcorriefoundation.org Phone: Sarah (in Israel) at +972-52-952-2143

MEDIA ADVISORY

May 22 to be Final Court Hearing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 17, 2011

(Haifa, Israel) – Former IDF Spokesperson Brigadier General Ruth Yaron and former Southern Brigade Commander, Colonel Pinhas (Pinky) Zuaretz are both scheduled to testify on May 22 in what is anticipated to be the final hearing in the Corrie family’s civil lawsuit against the State of Israel.

The lawsuit, filed in 2005 by Attorney Hussein abu Hussein, charges the Israeli government and Ministry of Defense with responsibility for killing American peace activist Rachel Corrie in Rafah, Gaza in 2003. Since the trial opened in March 2010, nearly 2000 pages of court transcripts have been recorded, from more than 20 testimonies, including that of 14 military personnel. Most government witnesses were identified only by their initials, and nearly half testified while hidden behind a screen.

Download this media advisory: العربية (pdf, 627.86 kB), English (pdf, 553.73 kB), עִבְרִית (pdf, 593.42 kB)

Brigadier General Yaron served as the Israeli Military’s spokesperson from 2002-2005. Her testimony will focus on the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), an organization committed to opposing the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands using non-violent methods. Rachel was protesting against civilian home demolitions, as part of ISM, when she was run over and killed by an Israeli military D9R bulldozer.

MEDIA ADVISORY

Court Canceled April 27 – Witness Now Slated to Testify on Original May 22 Date

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 26, 2011

(Haifa, Israel) – In another round of last minute maneuvering, attorneys for the State in Corrie vs. State of Israel requested that testimony from their highest-ranking witness be postponed. Former Brigade Commander Colonel Pinhas (Pinky) Zuaretz, who was scheduled to testify on April 27, will not testify until May 22.

The witness was originally scheduled to testify on May 22, but on April 17, just before the court recessed for Israel’s Passover holiday, the State filed an emergency request to move Zuaretz’s testimony forward by nearly a month. Haifa District Court Judge Oded Gershon granted the government motion, without hearing from the Corrie family’s lawyers, citing availability of the witness as the main factor in his ruling.

Only after the court granted this request did the State provide Corrie family lawyers with Zuaretz’s five-page witness affidavit, though the document was signed nearly three weeks earlier.

Attorney Hussein Abu Hussein, who represents the Corrie family, opposed the State’s April 17 request and filed motion for reconsideration, citing due process violations. He indicated there was inadequate time to prepare for the witness given the expanded scope of the newly acquired affidavit and the delay in receiving it. The court denied his motion and granted the State’s request for the hearing to occur Wednesday, April 27.

MEDIA ADVISORY

Brigade Commander’s appearance is moved forward nearly one month.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 20, 2011

(Haifa, Israel) – In a breaking development, an Israeli court has granted the State’s request to move the testimony of former Brigade Commander Pinhas (Pinky) Zuaretz to next week, Wednesday, April 27, nearly one month prior to his originally scheduled appearance. A 5-page affidavit for the witness was only issued by the State on Sunday. Attorney Hussein Abu Hussein who represents the Corrie family initially opposed the State request and filed motion for reconsideration citing due process violations.

Download this media advisory: العربية (pdf, 579.93 kB), English (pdf, 552.09 kB), עִבְרִית (pdf, 586.19 kB)

Colonel Zuaretz was the commanding officer of the Gaza Division’s Southern Brigade in 2003, when American peace activist Rachel Corrie was killed. Troops under Zuaretz command were responsible for the military’s actions resulting in Rachel’s killing in Rafah, Gaza that day. Zuaretz is the highest ranking officer called as a government witness in the civil trial, and possibly, the highest ranking Israeli military officer ever to face cross examination in a civil suit regarding the actions of the Israeli military against civilians in Gaza during the second intifada. His testimony is expected to shed light on the Israeli military’s failures as an occupying power to protect civilian life and property in the region.

WHO:
Oral testimony and cross examination of former Israeli Military Southern Brigade Commander, Colonel Pinhas (Pinky) Zuaretz, by plaintiffs’ attorney Hussein abu Hussein.