B'Tselem condemns rocket fire at Israel
B'Tselem severely condemns the rocket fire at a civilian community in Israel, which today killed a Thai citizen who was working in the greenhouses of the Nativ Ha'asara Moshav. The Palestinian organizations responsible for firing the rockets openly declare that they intend to attack, among others, civilians. Attacks aimed at civilians are immoral and illegal, and the intentional killing of civilians is a grave breach under the Fourth Geneva Convention, a war crime.

Lenient sentence in Malul case appealed
Today (18 March '10), the military prosecution appealed the light punishment imposed on First Lt. Adam Malul last week for assaulting Palestinians, demanding he be demoted to private and sentenced to prison. B'Tselem welcomed the appeal against the sentence, which sanctioned the norm of violence against Palestinians in the OPT.

Testimony: Schoolhouse still in ruins, a year after Cast Lead
Beit Lahiya lies near the northern border of the Gaza Strip, where Israel began its invasion in Operation Cast Lead. Pupils of a school in the town that suffered heavy fire are still studying among the ruins, as the Israeli siege is preventing reconstruction throughout Gaza.

Soldiers prevent filming in West Bank
Although the army states that filming in the Occupied Territories is permitted, B'Tselem's staff and volunteers have been harassed, and even assaulted, by soldiers and officers while filming in the West Bank. Repeated complaints to military officials have been to no avail.

Suspicion: Soldiers killed person who did not endanger their lives
On 12 Feb. '10, an altercation took place in Hebron between soldiers and Faiz Faraj, a local. When Faraj walked away, the soldiers shot and wounded him. B'Tselem's investigation raises the suspicion that they then shot him again, although he no longer posed a threat to their lives, and delayed his evacuation.

Legislation to restrict HR organizations
Continuing the trend of delegitimizing human rights organizations in Israel, MK's from the Right and Center are promoting a bill that will ostensibly ensure transparency, but will effectively impede the freedom of action of these organizations.