FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(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.
Colonel Zuaretz was the commanding officer of the Gaza Division's Southern Brigade at the time, and the bulldozer units were under his command. Zuaretz is the highest ranking officer called as a government witness in the trial, and possibly, the highest ranking military officer ever to face cross examination in a civil suit for 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 failure to protect civilian life and property in the region.
"The final State witnesses attack Rachel's right to non-violently protest in defense of her Palestinian friends, their home, and their family," said Craig Corrie, Rachel's father. "I have seen the wholesale destruction of the civilian neighborhood the IDF calls a military zone. Rachel not only had the legitimate right to protest against massive home demolitions, she had a moral obligation to stand with this family in the face of the Israeli military actions and threats which violated the bedrock legal obligation to protect civilians and their property."
The hearing is scheduled to take place Sunday, May 22, from 9:00 - 16:00 in the courtroom of Judge Oded Gershon, 6th floor, Haifa District Court, 12 Palyam St., Haifa, Israel.
Please visit the Trial Update page of the Rachel Corrie Foundation website for updates, changes to the court schedule, and related information.
For press related inquiries, please contact Sarah at press (at) rachelcorriefoundation.org
Phone (Israel): + 972-52-952-2143
