A footnote-thread to this story: nyti.ms/3hqdgKj
In Feb. 2018, Israeli media reported that an Israeli motorist who strayed into Abu Dis, a Palestinian town near Jerusalem, was nearly lynched, his car torched, until he was rescued by soldiers and border police. 1/
In Feb. 2018, Israeli media reported that an Israeli motorist who strayed into Abu Dis, a Palestinian town near Jerusalem, was nearly lynched, his car torched, until he was rescued by soldiers and border police. 1/
The reports noted that Palestinian police officers had protected the man before Israeli forces arrived, and that two of them were injured.
Conspicuously missing from the reports: how the Palestinian cops were hurt. 2/
Conspicuously missing from the reports: how the Palestinian cops were hurt. 2/
One was struck in the forehead by a stone, as the five cops put themselves between the Israeli and an angry crowd that grew to 200 and besieged them for more than two hours. 3/
When the Israeli’s car was torched, the police took him to their own vehicle; the bleeding cop climbed in on top of him to shield him with his own body. 4/
The Palestinian commander, Maj. Zahi Jamhour, told us he feared his men’s survival could depend on the Israeli’s: “If something bad had happened to him, what would convince the Israeli army that it wasn’t us who killed him?” 5/
When the Israelis finally rolled up, Major Jamhour said, he waved them down, announced he was a police officer in three languages, and led them to the civilian, saying “Your man is safe.” 6/
Moments later, before the Israelis pulled out, Major Jamhour was shot in the leg — by one of the Israeli soldiers. A week later, he got an apology, and a plaque, from the Israeli army.
None of that was covered on either side of the conflict.
Why not? 7/
None of that was covered on either side of the conflict.
Why not? 7/
On both sides, officials say, there’s reluctance to publicize Palestinian acts of bravery that save Israeli lives.
Israelis say the Palestinians fear vicious denunciations by anti-Israel groups like Hamas, but that the bashfulness also bespeaks ambivalence about peacemaking.8/
Israelis say the Palestinians fear vicious denunciations by anti-Israel groups like Hamas, but that the bashfulness also bespeaks ambivalence about peacemaking.8/
But Palestinians are convinced that Israelis are deliberately kept in the dark for political reasons by officials who don’t want a two-state solution — and don’t want their own people to believe that they could really be safe with a Palestinian state next door. 9/9
