SANAA, Yemen – Jamal al-Badawi, a Yemeni man convicted of plotting the bombing of the USS Cole in 2000, which resulted in the death of 17 US soldiers, was freed to house arrest by Yemen.  In 2004 he was sentenced to death for his role in plotting and carrying out the attack on the USS Cole.  This sentence was later commuted to 15 years imprisonment.

Badawi was one of 23 prisoners that escaped from jail in 2006.  He voluntarily turned himself in two weeks ago.  A Yemeni government official said that Badawi remains “under close scrutiny and control of security forces.”

National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe stated that “the United States is dismayed and deeply disappointed in the government of Yemen’s decision not to imprison Badawi.”  He claimed that Yemen’s action is inconsistent with the bilateral counterterrorism cooperation between the US and Yemen.

For more information, please see:

BBC – USS Cole plotter freed by Yemen – 27 October 2007

AHN – USS Cole bomb plotter in Yemen freed – 26 October 2007

Associated Press – US criticizes Yemen on terrorism – 26 October 2007

Reuters – Yemen grants house arrest to Cole attack planner – 26 October 2007

By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

JERUSALEM, Israel – Israel’s defense minister, Ehud Barak, approved sanctions against Gaza in an attempt to halt rocket attacks.  Israel hopes that by cutting off electricity and other supplies, Gaza residents will pressure militant groups to stop launching rockets into Israel.  Last month, Israel declared Gaza to be a “hostile entity” and reasoned that it would not be violating international law if they stopped supplying Gaza with electricity, water, or fuel.  Palestinians and many international organizations disagree and state that Israel has a responsibility, as occupiers, that these resources are supplied to Gaza.  The Carter Center, a human rights group began by former US President Carter, viewed the proposal as enforcing collective punishment against 1.4 million Palestinians for the actions of a few.

A senior defense official stated that Palestinians need to be shown that life does not go on when rockets land in Israel; “If rockets are fired, then the Palestinians will pay a price.”  Israeli Deputy Defense Minister, Matan Vilnai, led the development of the proposal.  He said the amount of power Israel supplied to Gaza will be “dramatically reduced” over the several weeks.  Officials stated that electricity will be shut off for 15 minutes following a rocket attack and the period will be extended as the attacks continue.

It appears that Israel plans to eventually stop supplying Gaza with electricity at all.  Vilnai stated he hoped that Gazans would be able to produce their own electricity and would not be dependent on Israel.  Currently, 120 of the 200 megawatts consumed in Gaza are delivered directly from Israel.  Only 65 megawatts are produced in Gaza and the rest comes from Egypt.

Israeli officials claim that they do not intend to cause a humanitarian crisis.  However, serious humanitarian issues already exist in the area.  Gaza is already isolated following a Western freeze on aid, when Hamas won elections in 2006, and Israeli border restrictions, following Hamas’ takeover of Gaza in June 2007.  The border restrictions allow only “vital humanitarian supplies.”  However, according to Gaza’s governor, 200 Red Cross vehicles carrying food and humanitarian aid are needed, but only 60 have been allowed to enter Gaza.  Hospitals are running out of supplies and only patients with serious injuries are treated.

For more information, please see:

Ha’aretz – PA seeks int’l intervention as Gaza power cuts imminent – 26 October 2007

Al Jazeera – Israel approves Gaza Sanctions – 25 October 2007

BBC – Israel approves Gaza power cuts – 25 October 2007

Guardian Unlimited – Israel proposes cutting power to Gaza to deter attacks – 25 October 2007

International Herald Tribune – Israel plays down Mideast conference, approves Gaza sanctions – 25 October 2007

Jerusalem Post – Barak okays plan to gradually reduce power supply to Gaza – 25 October 2007

Reuters – Barak approves limiting Israel’s Gaza power supply – 25 October 2007

Yedioth – Palestinians: Limiting Gaza power supply a crime – 25 October 2007

Al Jazeera – Israel set to sever power to Gaza – 24 October 2007

By Vivek Thiagarajan
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Middle East

BAGHDAD, Iraq- Two Marines are being charged for the incident revolving the incident in Haditha, Iraq.  Lance Cpl. Steven Tatum’s charges are “involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment and aggravated assault.”  (BBC News- Two marines to face Haditha trial)  Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani is has been charged with “dereliction of duty and failing to report and investigate deaths.”  (BBC News- Two marines to face Haditha trial)  Lt. Col. Chessani was also released of his command in April 2006 because of his role in the killings.  The Lt. Col. is the highest ranking officer since the Vietnam War to face court martial regarding his actions in combat.

The incident occurred in Haditha, which is located in the Anbar province, November 19, 2005.  Twenty-four Iraqi civilians were killed, including three women and seven children. The United States military initially reported that an improvised explosive device was set off that killed both Lance Cpl. Miguel Terrazas and many of the Iraqi civilians.  The other civilians were supposedly killed by ensuing gunfire with insurgents.

However, local Iraqi survivors reported that the Iraqi civilians were actually gunned down by the American Troops.  The Iraqis stated that some angry American troops killed five unarmed men in a taxi who approached the bombing, and later gunning down the other 19 Iraqis at close range.  The incident gained great notoriety through a video that showed the aftermath of the killings.  The American military later changed its stance and apologized to the survivors in Haditha.

The trial will hopefully bring justice to the victims’ survivors through forcing each person to take responsibility for their actions attacking innocent civilians.  The trial will determine the US military’s stance on unjustified behavior and must show that incidents like Haditha are intolerable and demand high sanctions.

There are many reasons that the military must sanction the individuals responsible for the deaths at Haditha.  First, high sanctions must be imposed for the Haditha crimes to dissuade others from committing similar crimes in Iraq.  Secondly, the United States can only take a vocal stand against other nations for violating human rights laws, if it holds its own citizens responsible to high standards.  Lastly, the military must sanction the men severely in order to win over the people of Iraq.

The marines will be tried in Camp Pendleton, which is located north of San Diego, California.  A trial date has not yet been set.

For more information, please see:

BBC News- Two marines to face Haditha trial- 20 October 2007

BBC News- What happened at Haditha?- 21 December 2006

CNN- Two Marines to face courts martial in Haditha incident- 19 October 2007

New York Times- Haditha Charges Pressed in 2 Cases- 20 October 2007

Reuters- Two U.S. Marines face Haditha courts-martial- 20 October 2007

Time Magazine- Collateral Damage or Civilian Massacre in Haditha?- 19 March 2006

JERUSALEM, Israel – Mohammad al-Ashkar, a Palestinian inmate in Ketziot Prison in southern Israel, died of wounds sustained during a riot early October 22.  Prison Authority spokesman, Lt. Col. Ian Domnitz, said that prison guards met “violent resistance” while trying to carry out a routine search for contraband and weapons at 2 a.m. on Monday morning.  An estimated 1,000 of the 2,000 prisoners took part in the riot.  Domnitz stated that prison officers responded with “non-lethal weapons” and used the correct response in view of the danger.  In addition to Ashkar, 14 inmates and 15 Israeli guards sustained injuries.

Palestinian officials claim that the number of inmates is higher and that the prison officers provoked the riot and then used violent means to regain control.  Palestinian Authority’s minister for prisoner affairs, Ashraf Ajrami, accused the prison officers of violating an agreement of no night time searches and of using “forbidden weapons” – such as rubber bullets.

The response in Palestine is widespread and immediate.  Many of the 10,000 Palestinians held in Israeli jails went on a hunger strike and hundreds of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza have gathered to protest Ashkar’s death and to call for the release of prisoners.  On October 23, 200 Palestinians marched in Ramallah and chanted “We want the prisoners, not negotiations.”

For more information, please see:

Al Jazeera – Protests after Israel prison riot – 23 October 2007

BBC – Palestinian inmate dies of wounds – 23 October 2007

International Herald Tribune – 3 Palestinian militants killed by Israeli army fire – 23 October 2007

Guardian – Palestinian prisoners riot in Israel – 22 October 2007

By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

GAZA CITY and RAFAH, Gaza – Tensions between Hamas’s police forces and Gaza residents resulted in several deaths in the worst outbreak of in-fighting in Gaza since June.  There are two separate internal conflicts developing inside Gaza.  First, fighting between Hamas and the Heles clan broke out on October 17, when Hamas’s security forces tried to arrest members of the Heles clan in Gaza City.  The large Heles clan is affiliated with the Fatah party.  Fighting between the two groups resulted in four deaths, two from Hamas and two were clan members, and at least 20 injuries.  The fighting involved rocket-propelled grenades and heavy machine guns.

Later, on October 20, violence between the two groups broke out again when members of the Heles clan fired on a car carrying members of Hamas.  Witnesses state that Hamas snipers took to the rooftops while clan members blockaded the streets with rocks and sand.  The fighting resulted in two deaths; Mohammed Susi, a 13-year old boy, and a man who was a member of the Heles family.  Tensions between the two groups remain high after Hamas demanded that the clan hand over a “wanted gunman”.

Second, fighting broke out in Rafah, between Hamas and Islamic Jihad.  On October 20, fighting between the two groups resulted in the death of a 51-year old woman and 15 people injured.  According to Hamas, a member of the Islamic Jihad was killed on October 21, when members of the Islamic Jihad attempted to kidnap a member of Hamas.  The attempt was foiled and 15 members of the Islamic Jihad were seized.

However, later on October 21, the two groups agreed to a renewed cease-fire.  In a joint statement, the members of the groups agreed to return abductees and to withdraw their gunmen from the streets.  The deal was brokered by the Popular Resistance Committees, who will also observe the withdrawal.

For more information, please see:

BBC – Man killed in Palestinian clashes – 22 October 2007

International Middle East Media Center – New Hamas-Islamic Jihad ceasefire announced after one Palestinian is killed in Rafah – 22 October 2007

AFP – Three Palestinians killed in factional clashes in Gaza – 21 October 2007

Associated Press – Hamas police battle Fatah clan; 2 killed – 21 October 2007

BBC – Three die in heavy Gaza fighting – 21 October 2007

Reuters – One Palestinian killed in internal Gaza fighting – 21 October 2007

International Herald Tribune – Palestinian woman killed in clashes between Hamas and Islamic Jihad – 20 October 2007

International Herald Tribune – Young man, teenage boy killed in battle between Hamas police, Fatah clan – 20 October 2007

New York Times – 2 killed in Gaza fighting between clan and Hamas – 20 October 2007

BBC – Four die as Gaza factions clash – 18 October 2007

International Herald Tribune – Four killed in fighting between Hamas and Gaza clan – 17 October 2007