March 18th, 2018
Written By - Hadas Galili '19
Ahed Tamimi was recorded in a video by her mother showing her repeatedly hitting, slapping, kicking and spitting on an Israeli soldier while shouting and screaming at him. Since this video has surfaced, Ahed has spent multiple weeks in prison, as she has been indicted on five counts of assaulting security forces and throwing stones. According to Haaretz, these five counts are: “threatening a soldier, attacking a soldier under aggravated circumstances, interfering with a soldier in carrying out his duties, incitement, and throwing objects at individuals or property.”
The soldiers, it is shown in the video, remain calm as Ahed repeatedly pushes, kicks, and slaps them while screaming at them things like “Get out or I’ll punch you.”
After assaulting the soldiers, Ahed says into the camera “I hope everyone will participate in the protests because that is the only solution to reach a result. Our strength is in our rocks and I hope that the entire world will unite to liberate Palestine because Trump announced a decision and they need to bear responsibility for every response that will come from us – Whether it is a stabbing attack or suicide bombing or throwing rocks, everyone needs to do something and unite in order for our message to reach those who want to liberate Palestine”
But Ahed’s actions don’t necessarily come as a surprise. Her family has long been part of a resistance movement against the Israeli military and what they consider to be an “occupation” of their land. Since 2013, her family has been a part of numerous demonstrations against the military. And Ahed's cousins and younger brothers have spent time in Israeli prisons as well.
Of course, prison isn’t the only consequence of violent demonstrations. In 2012, Ahmed's father was declared a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International. In 2013, her uncle was killed by tear gas. In 2014, Ahed’s mother was shot in the leg with a .22 caliber.
After Ahed’s cousin was shot during a protest of the announcement that the US Embassy will be moved to Jerusalem, Israeli soldiers came to Ahed’s house on orders to enter. Ahed slapped and kicked the soldiers, denying them entrance into her home.
On one side, Ahed is being celebrated. She is seen as the new face of the Israeli resistance movement. She is, in a word, a hero. But, there is the other side. The side of concern of what a viral video of the physical assault of Israeli soldiers really means. The side that regards Ahed not as a hero, but as a threat.
Whichever side you are taking, I urge you to consider both opinions.
Sources -
https://www.truthdig.com/articles/state-israel-afraid-16-year-old-ahed-tamimi/
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.832424
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