American teen a victim of police brutality in Israel?
An American teen was beaten and detained by Israeli Police when a violent protests spread over the weekend from Jerusalem to Arab towns in Israel.
The news has made headlines leading for United States to urge the Israeli authority for investigation.
Tariq Abu Khdeir, a 15-year-old Palestinian American was badly beaten in clashes with Israeli police.
The incident took place when the teen participated in a violent protest over the the death of his cousin Mohammed Abu Khdeir. The teen’s face appeared seriously beaten with both eyes and mouth swollen.
Tariq Abu Khdeir attends school in Florida.
US troubled by the detention of American-Palestinian teen
In a press statement,
Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki said the US authority is profoundly troubled by reports that Tariq Abu Khdeir was severely beaten while in police custody and strongly condemn any excessive use of force.
“We are calling for a speedy, transparent and credible investigation and full accountability for any excessive use of force.” – Ms. Psaki
Ms. Psaki also expressed grave concern about the increasing violent incidents, and call on all sides to take steps to restore calm and prevent harm to innocents.
Death of Palestinian teen sparks violence
The recent death of a Palestinian teenager has sparked violent protest in Arab areas of Jerusalem.
The Palestinian boy named Mohammed Abu Khdeir, 16, was abducted last week and dead body was found at a Jerusalem forest.
The Palestinians insist the crime was committed to avenge the death of three Israeli teens who were kidnapped in the West Bank earlier this month.
Tension started to escalate when Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip have launched rocket attacks on southern Israel. In retaliation, Israel also carried out airstrikes in Gaza.
Death of three Israeli teens
The three Israeli teenagers who were kidnapped in the West Bank still have not been recovered. The three boys, Naftali Frenkel, Gilad Shaar and Eyal Yifrach, were going home from their school in Gush Etzion. The teenagers were attempting to hitchhike along the highway connecting the West Bank settlements of Kfar Etsiyon, Efrat and Migdal Oz.
The Israeli government and Secretary of State John Kerry have blamed terrorist group Hamas for the abduction.
The day before the boys were kidnapped, Catherine Ashton, the EU foreign policy chief, welcomed Hamas into the Palestinian Authority government. Ashton has often used her speaking opportunities to strike out at Israel for taking action against terrorists, but it was five days before she denounced the kidnapping of the three teenage boys.
The highway where the boys were last seen is a prominent hitchhiking spot for Israelis, but the area has also become quieter in recent years, making it prone to illegal and crime activities.
