JERUSALEM: Israeli border guards have posted videos online in which they humiliate Palestinians, including ordering a young man to sing and slap himself, Israel’s Haaretz newspaper reported.
In one video clip posted on YouTube the man is ordered to repeatedly slap himself in the face while chanting “I love the border police” as off-screen border guards laugh and cheer him on.
“Say one hummus, one ful (fava beans), I love the border guard,” the off-screen voice says. The 43-second video clip was uploaded less than a year ago under the category “Comedy.” According to the daily the clip has been viewed by more than 2,800 people.
After 40 seconds, the abusers appear to have had enough and the voice impatiently orders the victim: Go, Go, Go. The camera turns and for a fraction of a second a border police jeep is visible. The daily added that a few dozen viewers sent comments. “Ha ha ha, it was great the way he excruciated himself.” Another added: “That’s how it should be!” And a third pointed out, “He should have been shot!” A few viewers took pity on the victim, though with reservations.
Another video shows a Palestinian man sitting in what appears to be a police vehicle chanting the same song. A third clip includes still photos showing Palestinians bound and blindfolded in a room with an Israeli flag. In one of the photos an Israeli soldier is posing and smiling next to one of the detainees. The caption of the video says it was made in November 2007. A third clip shows a series of still photos of border police while in the background someone sings: “Let every Arab mother know that the fate of her children is in the hands of the Company, C Company in the Old City. With protective vests and clubs we break apart gun clips on Arab mothers.” The newspaper quoted an unnamed border police officer who said such behavior was common among police serving in Jerusalem and along Israel’s controversial West Bank separation barrier.
But border guard spokesman Moshe Finsi insisted that “in recent years the number of incidents of this type has significantly decreased due to improvements in educating recruits.” He added that the video clips date back several years and that the border guard organization has investigated some incidents and dismissed the perpetrators.
The border guard is part of the Israeli police responsible for preventing Palestinians from entering Israel.
— With input from agencies
