Israel charges officer with beating Palestinian-American

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM — Israel's justice ministry has charged a security officer with assaulting and injuring a 15-year-old Palestinian-American dual national in July, according to the indictment seen by AFP Thursday.

The officer, whose name remains under a gag order, was indicted at Jerusalem magistrate's court on Wednesday for using "excessive force" that could not be justified against Tariq Abu Khder at a July 3 demonstration in the annexed East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Shuafat.

The incident took place as tensions peaked a day after the abduction and burning alive of 16-year-old Mohammed Abu Khder from Shuafat, Tariq's cousin.

Three Israelis were eventually charged with the killing, saying it was in revenge for the abduction and murder of three Israeli settlers in the West Bank by what Israel says was Hamas fighters, an incident that later led to the start on July 8 of the 50-day Gaza war between Israel and Hamas.

According to a justice ministry statement, "evidence was found supporting the guilt of the police officer suspected of severe violent crimes, committed after the arrest of the minor, who was handcuffed at the time".

Tariq Abu Khder has denied taking part in the demonstration, saying he was only an observer but fled when Israeli forces began chasing suspects, fell and was cuffed and beaten.

A YouTube video showing Israeli forces beating and kicking a handcuffed semi-conscious figure on the ground before dragging him away sparked a US State Department call for a "speedy, transparent and credible investigation".