The High Cost of Using War Criminals to Train U.S. Police

Anti-Defamation League is now funding 'anti-terrorism' efforts as apartheid Israel's Human Rights violations stack up.

Photo: theyeshivaworld.com

(SALEM/ TEL AVIV) - Members of the American law enforcement community are being trained in Israel, where Human Rights violations by police and Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) are a matter of policy, under Israel's morally bankrupt apartheid political system.

Interestingly, a Salem-News.com contact in Israel noted while watching video of police raiding Occupy activists, strong similarities between the techniques being employed, and those currently used by Israeli military and police while subduing peaceful demonstrations that police bill as 'illegal' as a matter of course.

In this article I will review some of the more grim consistencies between the U.S. and Israel in the use of weapons, physical and deadly force, and the general uptrend in police brutality in both places.

Our contact wrote:

“

Yesterday I complained that, among other things, the situation in the US is getting to be horrible, and mentioned in passing that the police handling of the Occupation protesters is almost as if they had been trained by Israeli military or border police.

”

Information released by the ADL (Anti-Defamation League) a few months ago confirms that as the Arab Spring was raging in rebellious spirit; this advocacy lobby brought 15 law enforcement executives from across the United States to Israel from 9-17 April to be trained by Israeli forces.

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This morning I found a note from a friend... recommending that I read ADL (anti-defamation league) on security. I did. Considering that I had always thought that the ADL’s main concern was fighting anti-Semitism, I was surprised to learn that it dealt also with security, and was even more surprised to learn that it trains counter-terrorist forces, but less surprised by this time to learn that the ADL sends forces to Israel for training. (ADL Law Enforcement Training)

”

Apparently the U.S. lacks inadequate facilities?

The ADL stated that the U.S. police were brought across... to learn how Israel's police, intelligence, and security forces prevent terror attacks.

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As participants in ADL's National Counter-Terrorism Seminar, they met with counter-terrorism experts in an intensive program incorporating formal presentations and briefings with site visits around the country to areas that have borne witness to terror attacks. They learned how Israel has prevented and responded to suicide bombings and terrorist attacks and how the nation protects its airports, shopping malls, and public events. The delegation consisted of executives from the California Highway Patrol and major city police departments from across the country, including New York, Philadelphia, Houston, Dallas, Atlantic City, Louisville, Richmond, Tulsa, Nashville, Charlotte, Albuquerque, and St. Louis County. More than 115 federal, state and local law enforcement executives have participated in this ADL program since it was first launched in 2003.

”

The Yeshiva World News wrote about it just weeks ago, on 26 October 2011. Their account is about another 'ADL training mission'.

Based on historical record, it seems plausible to conclude that Israel is taking ideas that are contrary to international law, and telling U.S. law enforcement that they should use the same approaches.

It seems like an extremely costly proposal.

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The trip brings together law enforcement from the New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and New Hampshire and provides them with an opportunity to network and learn from each other and their Israeli counterparts. A senior officer from the Italian National Police’s Counter Terrorism unit is also participating in the seminar. The participants will travel across Israel to interact with commanders from the Israel National Police to learn first-hand how Israel deals with terror. These briefings include operational approaches, border security, monitoring of holy sites and media response during a crisis.

”

From the story: Israeli Soldier Shoots American in Face

One technique regularly used by Israeli forces that could lead U.S. cops down a dark path, is shooting people in the face with tear gas canisters.

This can be fatal and at minimum can rob a person of their sight, one or more eyes, etc. If Israel simply allowed freedom of assembly instead of completely outlawing such activity, people could make their point and perhaps influence positive political change that could benefit all parties involved. Instead people become something like ducks in a shooting gallery.

While it takes no real training to comprehend that the devices are extremely dangerous and life-changing, tear gas just might be the top weapon used against Palestinian people by the Israeli government, and the IDF never hesitates to use this technique and others that are far worse to subdue unarmed people.

It is troubling to consider that this religious militant state that stands in direct violation of several international laws regarding the treatment of civilians, would train U.S. officers who live in an actual democracy, rather than a bona fide apartheid regime.

From the story: Oakland Cops Shoot Two-Tour Marine

In fact the tear gas canister is what Israeli forces used to partially blind a young Jewish American art student named Emily Henochowicz, who was drilled at close range by an Israeli soldier's tear gas gun in the summer of 2010.

Henochowicz was taking part in a demonstration in Palestine, after Israel attacked a passenger ship on the high seas killing nine unarmed people. Our writer Ken O'Keefe was aboard that ship, the Mavi Marmara.

This tear gas canister to the eye approach was used at Occupy Oakland against a Marine Combat Vet named Scott Olsen who was attacked by officers. Like Henochowicz, Olsen was totally unarmed and not posing violence toward authorities at the time of the shooting.

Another Israeli tactic involves shooting prisoners that are already cuffed and in police custody.

Palestinian Ashraf Abu Rahma, 27, cuffed by the IDF and blindfolded for 30 minutes before being shot.

Of course this is a simple way for police to administer pretrial retribution and in Israel, the military's moral code does not encourage humane treatment, in fact it calls for the opposite by policy.

A 27-year old Palestinian protester named Ashraf Rahma, with his arms tied behind his back, was lined up and shot by Israeli occupational forces who were unaware of the fact that a teen girl was videotaping their actions.

As it turns out, Abu Rahma was also gagged as he was shot. He said the soldiers told him afterward, "You deserve this and even more."

The soldiers were from the IDF's 71st Battalion.

Of course you could say Ashraf got off easy, as Israeli forces targeted and shot his brother to death as he begged in Hebrew not to kill him.

As I wrote in April 2010, they did anyway, and struck Ashraf's brother, Bassem Rahmah, squarely in the chest.

Then without surprise, the Israeli courts excused the action and the trigger happy Israeli soldier, Brian Ross, was immediately cleared of any wrongdoing, of course, to the surprise of absolutely no one.

On 17 April 2009, Bassem Abu Rahmah was shot dead during a peaceful demonstration against Israel's Wall in Bil'in.

If you want to be a criminal, join the Israeli Defense Forces. They have a special program involving all levels of Israeli government, that allows anyone in uniform to slaughter innocent people from afar, and be acquitted.

Palestinian activist Bassem Abu Rahmah was known to friends simply as 'Phil'. He was loved and admired by many and he died after being struck by an Israeli tear gas round.

Every day the Israeli military commits crimes against humanity, and each day, year after year, the Americans and British and other western countries are feeding and caring for this religious state.

There is no recourse for any Palestinian who is illegally injured or killed by Israeli forces, as Israeli courts exist in a land of separate laws for people of different religions and it is not possible to administer justice under the existing conditions. Israel may say it allows Palestinians to take action, but I have never heard of one ever receiving compensation from the Israeli government.

While Henochowicz, who is Jewish and also an Israeli citizen was offered the ability to sue Israel, the process was nothing less than a daunting task for the family of another victim of Israel's guns, Tom Hurndall, whose wealthy family from London spent months in Israel trying to seek justice for the shooting death of their son by an Israeli military sniper at Gaza.

See: The Shooting of Tom Hurndall for the entire movie.

All of this might be considered a different way by Americans, who absolutely do have the right to sue government agencies and individuals that step out of line and carry out acts of terrorism against their own citizens under the color of law or military authority.

This is seen regularly in police shootings and taser incidents which are widespread in America, and cost municipalities and county and state governments millions and millions of dollars every year in legal reimbursements to people whose rights the agency violated.

This, in a country where cities in the state Michigan for example, are unable to pay their own employees; where police departments are being closed down to a lack of financial resources.

This, in a country of developing ghost towns and factories, pollution and decay fostered by the military industrial complex.

A few lawsuits from using "Israeli counter-terrorism' tactics put into use by American cops who already have a long list of their own problems, just might finish the rest off.

Perverted Misuse of the Word 'Terrorism'

Israel and the U.S. have mastered the use of the word 'terrorist' to advance their agendas, but that doesn't change the fact that only the U.S., U.K. and a handful of other nations accept and overlook Israel's war crimes against Palestinians.

Of course they have their own; British commandos were exposed posing as terrorists in Iraq; they Murdered Iraqi police officers while attempting to transport more bombs used in the killing of allied troops. U.S. soldiers were outed by Wikileaks gunning down Iraqi reporters, and here we see Israeli soldiers- the people presently training American police... firing tear gas on Palestinians protesting against the Israeli separation barrier which cuts through their West Bank village, and at a correspondent who works for Al Jazeera named Jacky Rowland. Terrorism is a word used for convenience, period.

Israeli soldiers fire tear gas at British Reporter Jacky Rowland, near Bilin, in occupied Palestine.

The countries that approve of Israel have collectively slaughtered one point five million people in Iraq over false information, the U.S. is a degenerate nation that never gave itself a chance to be a good country after World War Two when it had every opportunity to do so. It really isn't a surprise that war crime countries like the U.S. and Israel stick together, they must believe they have to.

Israel maintains apartheid laws and separate laws and roads for Jews and non-Jews. While the U.S. overlooks this dangerous political behavior, it is noteworthy that both the United States and Great Britain were strong backers of the South African apartheid regime that routinely slaughtered political opponents and children.

Both U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the U.K. maintained that African National Congress President Nelson Mandela, who eventually freed South Africa from racist apartheid, was a terrorist.

The word 'terrorist' is misused and has lost all meaning and the people called terrorists have slaughtered far fewer human beings than their political opponents.

What we do know is that Israel, a country that routinely violates human rights, has an extensive cross training program with the United States.

Phyllis Gerably, Director of the ADL Israel office said:

“

Since 9/11, the Anti-Defamation League and the Israel National Police have worked together to provide opportunities for the Israeli police officers to share their experience in counter-terrorism with their American counterparts. ADL trainings are conducted regularly in the US and in Israel. The meetings are beneficial for both the US and Israeli officers who have a real chance to learn from one another.

”

The ADL is headed by the controversial Abe Foxman, known for his pro-gay rights position which places him at odds with the Jewish Orthodox community in Israel.

Foxman is also known for his opposition to Park51, the New York City community center that was situated somewhat near the place Americans regard as Ground Zero. His stand seems to entirely contradict the ADL's mission statement, which states that it seeks, "to put an end forever to unjust and unfair discrimination against and ridicule of any sect or body of citizens."

Foxman's words caused Fareed Zakaria to return the ADL's Hubert H. Humphrey First Amendment Freedoms Prize, and the $10,000 honorarium. He said he "cannot in good conscience hold onto the award or the honorarium that came with it" and returned both to ADL. Fareed Zakaria has "urged the ADL to reverse its decision."

Israel has U.S. money tumbling out of its rear side from the hard earned taxes of American citizens. In order to build political control, as if they don't already have enough, the ADL is paying lock stock and barrel for these cops to travel to Israel, 'see historic sites', and learn how to violate the rights of human beings. Did Americans cross train with Germany in the years prior to WWII? Didn't think so.

There you go Occupy Wall Street; we've done a little bit of groundwork for you and you in turn need to add Israel to the top of every complaint list in existence.

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Tim King: Salem-News.com Editor and Writer

Tim King has more than twenty years of experience on the west coast as a television news producer, photojournalist, reporter and assignment editor. In addition to his role as a war correspondent, this Los Angeles native serves as Salem-News.com's Executive News Editor. Tim spent the winter of 2006/07 covering the war in Afghanistan, and he was in Iraq over the summer of 2008, reporting from the war while embedded with both the U.S. Army and the Marines. Tim is a former U.S. Marine.

Tim holds awards for reporting, photography, writing and editing, including the Silver Spoke Award by the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (2011), Excellence in Journalism Award by the Oregon Confederation of Motorcycle Clubs (2010), Oregon AP Award for Spot News Photographer of the Year (2004), First-place Electronic Media Award in Spot News, Las Vegas, (1998), Oregon AP Cooperation Award (1991); and several others including the 2005 Red Cross Good Neighborhood Award for reporting. Tim has several years of experience in network affiliate news TV stations, having worked as a reporter and photographer at NBC, ABC and FOX stations in Arizona, Nevada and Oregon. Tim was a member of the National Press Photographer's Association for several years and is a current member of the Orange County Press Club.

Serving the community in very real terms, Salem-News.com is the nation's only truly independent high traffic news Website. As News Editor, Tim among other things, is responsible for publishing the original content of 91 Salem-News.com writers. He reminds viewers that emails are easily missed and urges those trying to reach him, to please send a second email if the first goes unanswered. You can write to Tim at this address: newsroom@salem-news.com