Follow up - Police beat Katif Spokeswoman Debbi Rosen

Aaron Lerner Date: 10 August 2005

IMRA reached Debbi Rosen, who provides public relations service to Gush
Katif, this morning.

Yesterday she was talking on her cellular phone with a spokesman in the
Israeli Consulate in New York as she was driving and reached Kissufim
Junction. She showed her ID card and the IDF Lt. General who was there
claimed that she was deliberately talking on her phone. She told him who
she was talking with and offered to give him the phone to hear for himself.

He then asked for the ID card of her 17 year old daughter who was with her
in the car. Her daughter did not have her card with her but Debbi showed
the attachment to her ID car showing the details of her daughter.

The Lt. General told her that her daughter had to come with her own ID card.

Debbi turned around but then came back and asked the Lt. General for his
name.

He refused and Debbi said she would not move her car until he identified
himself.

The police with him said that they would bring a tow truck and tow her away
if she didn't move.

She pulled her car over to the side and took out her new Nikon D70 camera
and started photographing the Lt. General and the police told her to stop
photographing and said that they would get the Lt. General's name for her
and she said that she wanted to get the details directly from him - as she
had given him her details.

The police threw her camera to the ground and started pushing her. When she
put up her hand a policeman announced that she was "attacking a policeman"
and threw her to the ground, put a knee on her and twisted her arm.

As a result of her wounds, Debbi was evacuated, at her request, by ambulance
to Soroka Hospital. She was released that evening.

The doctor's release report details, among other things: bruises and
abrasions on the shoulders, swelling and limited mobility of one wrist and
marks that indicate violence on the other hand

Debbi is filing charges against the two policemen involved in the attack
(she has their names) with the police and also intends to sue them in civil
court.

It is not clear if the Police will cover the judgment against the police for
their actions.

According to Page 35 of the brochure prepared by the Israel Police for
police participating in the disengagement:

"If you acted within the framework of fulfilling your job and in accordance
with the instructions and guidelines, you qualify for legal assistance also
against civil suits. You will be defended by the Advocacy or the Police.

In principle, the Police will give you help, including the payment of
compensation, also if it is found that there was negligence, so long as this
is not an instance of behavior that constitutes a radical deviation from the
carrying out of your role. It should be emphasized that each instance will
be examined on its own."

Dr. Aaron Lerner, Director IMRA (Independent Media Review & Analysis)
(Mail POB 982 Kfar Sava)
Tel 972-9-7604719/Fax 972-3-7255730
INTERNET ADDRESS: imra@netvision.net.il
Website: http://www.imra.org.il