ARABS-ISRAEL - Oct. 16 - Children Die Breaking Curfew.The Israeli human rights group B'Tselem says a dozen Palestinian children have been killed in the last 4 months by Israeli soldiers using live ammunition to enforce curfews on occupied West Bank towns. B'Tselem says 12 of 15 people killed while allegedly breaking curfews since Israel re-occupied West Bank towns in June had been under 16. It urges the Israeli government to cease the curfew curfew [O.Fr.,=cover fire], originally a signal, such as the ringing of a bell, to damp the fire, extinguish all lights in the dwelling, and retire for the night. The custom originated as a precaution against fires and was common throughout Europe in the Middle Ages. policy, which it says amounts to collective punishment For the concept whereby people are held responsible for other people's actions, see . Collective punishment is the punishment of a group of people as a result of the behaviour of one or more other individuals or groups. in contravention A term of French law meaning an act violative of a law, a treaty, or an agreement made between parties; a breach of law punishable by a fine of fifteen francs or less and by an imprisonment of three days or less. In the U.S. of international law. B'Tselem says: "The prolonged pro·long tr.v. pro·longed, pro·long·ing, pro·longs 1. To lengthen in duration; protract. 2. To lengthen in extent. curfew has made Palestinian life in the West Bank intolerable, forcing the residents to violate the curfew on occasion. Shooting a person simply because he left his home during curfew constitutes excessive use of force". The organisation says it does not include the death in Nablus on Oct. 11 of Shaden Saleh, a 60-year-old woman Palestinians said was shot dead by soldiers while sitting on her porch porch Roofed structure, usually open at front and sides, projecting from the face of a building and used to protect an entrance. If colonnaded, it may be called a portico. . B'Tselem says it is not clear if the death of Mrs Saleh was related to the curfew. |
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