Haifa | The Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace and Justice

Colonel Pinhas (Pinky) Zuaretz to Testify in Corrie Trial Wednesday, April 27th

Posted on April 20, 2011

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

(Haifa, Israel – April 20, 2011) – 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: Colonel Pinhas (Pinky) Zuaretz to Testify in Corrie Trial Wednesday, April 27th (3536 downloads ) , Colonel Pinhas (Pinky) Zuaretz to Testify in Corrie Trial Wednesday, April 27th (3571 downloads ) , Colonel Pinhas (Pinky) Zuaretz to Testify in Corrie Trial Wednesday, April 27th (3633 downloads )

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Unit Commander Says Ordered to Continue Bulldozer Work Despite Danger to Civilians

Posted on April 4, 2011

Corrie Trial Spotlights Israeli Accountability For Unlawful Killing of Nonviolent Protester

(Haifa, Israel – April 4, 2011) – The commander of the unit that killed Rachel Corrie told a Haifa court on Sunday that he was ordered to continue bulldozer work even though it presented danger to civilians, including foreign activists, who were present in the area and could not be dispersed.

Download: Unit Commander Says Ordered to Continue Bulldozer Work Despite Danger to Civilians (3519 downloads ) , Unit Commander Says Ordered to Continue Bulldozer Work Despite Danger to Civilians (3452 downloads ) , Unit Commander Says Ordered to Continue Bulldozer Work Despite Danger to Civilians (3372 downloads ) , Unit Commander Says Ordered to Continue Bulldozer Work Despite Danger to Civilians (3267 downloads )

Known to the court as Captain S.R., the Bedouin officer said that he actually requested to halt bulldozer operations on the day Rachel was killed, because he thought civilians might be hurt, but was ordered to continue.

“Today’s testimonies provide further strong evidence regarding the Israeli military failure to take necessary and reasonable measures to protect Rachel’s life and prevent her avoidable tragic death. They also underscore the systemic inadequacy of the military investigation system which in this case, was nothing but a whitewash,” said Attorney Hussein Abu Hussein, who represents the Corrie family. “More than eight years after Rachel’s death, we are uncovering new pieces of the truth despite a wall of secrecy and lack of transparency.” […]

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Corrie Trial Resumes in Haifa Court with Testimony of Bulldozer Unit Commander

Posted on March 29, 2011

Trial Spotlights Israeli Accountability For Unlawful Killing of Nonviolent Protester

(Haifa, Israel – March 29, 2011) – After a five month recess, the Haifa District Court will resume hearings Sunday, April 3, in the civil lawsuit filed by Rachel Corrie’s family against the State of Israel for her unlawful killing in Rafah, Gaza on March 16, 2003. Rachel was an American student activist and human rights defender who was crushed by a Caterpillar D9R bulldozer while nonviolently protesting the demolition of Palestinian homes.

Download: Corrie Trial Resumes in Haifa Court with Testimony of Bulldozer Unit Commander (3742 downloads ) , Corrie Trial Resumes in Haifa Court with Testimony of Bulldozer Unit Commander (3708 downloads ) , Corrie Trial Resumes in Haifa Court with Testimony of Bulldozer Unit Commander (3617 downloads ) , Corrie Trial Resumes in Haifa Court with Testimony of Bulldozer Unit Commander (3743 downloads )

The commander of the unit that killed Rachel is scheduled to testify. Known to the court as S.R., he oversaw the bulldozer work from an armored personnel carrier at the scene. While numerous military witnesses in the case have been permitted to testify behind a screen to protect their identity – a highly unusual security measure – S.R. is expected to do so in the open because his identity is already known to the public. […]

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Corrie trial continues in Israeli court November 4

Posted on November 2, 2010

Bulldozer commander to testify in plain view

(Haifa, Israel – November 2, 2010)– The Haifa District Court will continue hearings on Thursday, November 4, in the civil lawsuit filed by Rachel Corrie’s family against the State of Israel for her unlawful killing in Rafah, Gaza.

The bulldozer commander who was the second soldier in the bulldozer that ran over and killed Rachel Corrie is scheduled to testify, and is expected to do so in plain view. The driver of this bulldozer testified last month, but did so behind a screen, after government lawyers requested the court allow him to he do so for security reasons. However, because the commander’s face was already known to the public, the court ruled he would not be granted the same extraordinary security measures. […]

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Bulldozer driver testimony underscores lack of transparency in Corrie trial

Posted on October 23, 2010

Voice behind screen says soldiers don’t stop work

(Haifa, Israel – October 23, 2010)–The bulldozer driver who struck and killed Rachel Corrie in March 2003, in Rafah, Gaza, testified for the first time Thursday in the civil lawsuit filed by the Corrie family against the state of Israel, but did so under extraordinary protective measures that continue to underscore the lack of transparency in the investigation as well as the trial process.

Download this press release: Bulldozer driver testimony underscores lack of transparency in Corrie trial (2030 downloads ) , Bulldozer driver testimony underscores lack of transparency in Corrie trial (1894 downloads )

The driver, Y.P., whose name was not released, is a 38-year-old Russian immigrant who came to Israel in 1995. He was the sole witness for the day and gave his testimony over four hours behind a makeshift partition, a measure the state claimed was necessary to protect his security. Attorneys for the Corries requested that the family be allowed to see the driver even if the public could not, but their appeals were denied. […]

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