Putting a value on life in the West Bank
December 8, 2004
Shahar Dvir-Zeliger in court.
This story is worth mentioning because it poses an interesting question: is there a difference in the worth of different people’s lives? In the occupied West Bank, definitely.
Marwan Barghouti is currently serving 5 consecutive life sentences – one for each Israeli person for whose death he was supposedly responsible. The trial was a sham, the “proofs” shaky to say the least, but the Israeli court still deemed he belonged to a “terrorist” organization.
Yesterday, Shahar Dvir-Zeliger, an extreme right Jewish settler, was convicted for being part of an organization that killed 8 Palestinian civilians, with arms stolen from the Israeli army. The defendant’s direct involvement was also not proved, although he indicated to Israeli police the massive arms cache that his group, Bat Ayin, used to target Palestinian schools, amongst others, and to kill at least one baby.
The judge in this case stated that "the phenomenon of Jewish citizens of Israel belonging to a terrorist organization aiming to harm Arab residents needs to be eradicated by severe punishment." So he sent him to jail for 8 years!
You do the math: 5 consecutive life terms for 5 Israelis, 8 years for 8 Palestinians.
