Bulldozer driver testifies anonymously in Rachel Corrie Case

The driver of an Israeli Defence Force [IDF] bulldozer which killed American peace activist Rachel Corrie testified anonymously in Haifa District court on Thursday, October 21. Standing behind a screen, he said that he did not realize he had trampled Corrie to death until he heard what had happened over the radio network.

Rachel Corrie

Rachel Corrie, 24, was an American peace activist from Olympia, Washington who was killed by an IDF Bulldozer in Rafeh, Gaza on March 16, 2003 when she tried to block an IDF bulldozer from demolishing a Palestinian house.

An internal Israeli military investigation, which was never published, nor released to the US government or to the Corries, concluded that the bulldozer driver had not seen Rachel and that no charges would be brought. The case was closed.

Her parents Craig and Cindy Corrie decided to sue The State of Israel and Israeli Defence Ministry in Haifa District Court in Israel. The court`s proceedings begin in March this year. According to the Israeli Newspaper Haaretz , Corrie family has asked for roughly $324000 in direct damages, as well as punitive damages.

Before Thursday`s court hearing, Corries appealed to court to allow them to see the driver, but the appeal was turned down by the court.

Corrie’s family claims that the bulldozer driver intentionally used unreasonable force, there was no fighting in the area at the time and there was no threat to soldiers’ lives. She was wearing bright clothing and had identified herself as an activist with the pro-Palestinian International Solidarity Movement.

Rachel Corrie protesting in front of bulldozer

The state of Israel states that Corrie’s death took place during an armed conflict in a closed military zone and should be considered an act of war, and under Israeli law soldiers were not responsible. It also maintains that Corrie’s own actions led to her death and has ruled her death an accident.

Lawyer Abu Hussein showing the picture suggesting no mounds were present on site

During Thursday’s hearing, Attorney Hussein Abu Hussein, lawyer of Corrie`s parents, pointed out inconsistencies between the driver’s testimony during the IDF investigation and the affidavit he submitted to the court. According to Hussein, the driver told military investigators he had reported the incident over the radio system, while he told the court he heard of Corrie’s death over the network.

Hussein also emphasised flaws in the driver’s testimony regarding how far he continued driving after crushing Corrie. The driver told the court he drove another 20 meters before stopping, but in his affidavit he said he stopped after three meters. In addition, the driver claimed Corrie’s body was found between the bulldozer and a mound of dirt. During the hearing, Attorney Hussein displayed a photo showing there were no mounds at all.

This is not the only case where the Israeli Soldiers have been charged for impunity and human rights violations. Same year, the Corrie died, in April Tom Hurndall, 22, a British photography student, received a bullet in his head while he was trying to save a Palestinian child and went to coma state, he eventually died in January 2004.  In August 2005, his killer IDF soldier Taysir Haeib was sentenced eight years imprisonment. But he was released in September 2010 due to his good behavior in jail. In May 2003, James Miller, 34 year old British cameraman, who was very experienced in filming war zones, was killed when he suffered single shot in his neck by an Israeli soldier. Miller family accepted an undisclosed amount from Israel and claims that it was “probably the closest we’ll get to an admission of guilt on the part of the Israelis”.  According to Maan news agency, Miller family accepted approximately 1.5 million pounds (2.25 million US dollars).

Rachel Corrie and Tom Hurndall were members of pro-Palestinian organization named International Solidarity Movement.

James Miller was survived by his wife Sophy Warren-Knott, a son Alexander and a daughter Charlotte.

Next hearings for the Rachel Corrie case are scheduled on November 4 and November 15 .