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.