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PRESS RELEASE
<br>February 21, 2005
<br>
<br>US Citizen Shot by Israeli Army to Arrive in Tel Aviv Thursday for
<br>Israeli Supreme Court Appeal
<br>
<br>On Thursday February 23 at 2:45 PM, Brian Avery will arrive in Tel
<br>Aviv from the U.S. in order to be present on February 28th when the
<br>Israeli Supreme Court hears his petition demanding a criminal
<br>investigation of his shooting.
<br>
<br>Brian, an American human rights activist with the International
<br>Solidarity Movement (ISM), was shot in the face and critically wounded
<br>on April 5, 2003 by Israeli soldiers while standing in street with his
<br>hands in the air in the West Bank town of Jenin.
<br>
<br>A bullet entered his face, shattering his jaw and his nose. Since the
<br>incident he has been in rehabilitation and undergone a series of
<br>facial reconstruction surgeries.
<br>
<br>Four other international activists from Denmark and Sweden who
<br>witnessed the shooting testify that Brian, along with another ISM
<br>activist, was standing under a street lamp on a quiet empty street
<br>wearing a high visibility medic vest with his hands in the air,
<br>clearly indicating he was an unarmed international. An Israeli
<br>Armored Personnel Carrier approached at less than 30kmph and without
<br>warning opened heavy fire from a range of just tens of meters, and
<br>then carried on driving.
<br>
<br>The Israeli army conducted an internal command inquiry and concluded
<br>there was no evidence that Brian was hit by shots fired by Israeli
<br>soldiers.
<br>
<br>THE INQUIRY DID NOT INCLUDE TESTIMONIES FROM THE EYEWITNESSES AND
<br>RELIED ENTIRELY ON THE TESTIMONIES OF ISRAELI SOLDIERS SERVING IN THE
<br>REGION.
<br>
<br>In several cases Israeli military Internal command inquiries absolved
<br>the army, but subsequent military police investigations uncovered
<br>incriminating evidence and serious charges were brought.
<br>
<br>This was the case in the killing of British ISM activist, Tom
<br>Hurndall, who was fatally shot in Rafah six days after Brian's injury.
<br>The internal command inquiry ruled that Tom was shot because of the
<br>presence of a Palestinian militant in his vicinity. The criminal
<br>investigation of the military police discovered that the soldier who
<br>fired the fatal shot and another soldier had lied in the internal
<br>inquiry. Charges of killing and interfering with the investigative
<br>procedure were brought.
<br>
<br>All requests made on behalf of Brian for a police criminal
<br>investigation have received no response.
<br>
<br>On the 28th of February his appeal demanding a criminal investigation
<br>will be heard by the Supreme Court.
<br>
<br>For More Information Contact:
<br>In the US: Brian Avery (919) 967 2612 and (919) 360 6421
<br>In Israel/Palestine: Attorney Michael Sfard 972(0)54-471-3930, and ISM
<br>Media 972(0)54-762-1529 <b on></b><!-- 6822 -->
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