A Palestinian human rights activist who was beaten by an Israeli soldier in Hebron will be compensated by the Israeli government for the incident, in exchange for promising not to sue.
In February, Issa Amro was attacked while leading a tour of Hebron. A video of the incident shows the soldier pushing Amro and kicking him while he was on the ground. Following an investigation by the Israel Defense Forces, the soldier was sentenced to 10 days in prison.
Amro requested recompense from the Defense Ministry for the assault, and for statements made by the IDF Spokesperson's Unit, which, according to Amro, falsely claimed that he "provoked" the soldier. An IDF investigation found that Amro was correct. In a settlement signed last week, Amro agreed not to sue the Defense Ministry in exchange for 4,000 shekels ($1,103).
"It is good that the Defense Ministry took responsibility in this instance," Eitay Mack, Amro's lawyer, told Haaretz. However, Mack expressed concern that his client would continue to face harassment.
In response to coverage of the case, right-leaning organizations protested against the soldier's trial and punishment. "Soldiers need to be supported, not imprisoned," Tweeted the National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir at the time. Ben-Gvir added that he "supports the soldier with all his might."
The Torat Lechima NGO crowdfunded more than 34,000 shekel ($9,376) for the soldier. As part of their fundraising, they called on Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and IDF Chief of Staff Herzl Halevi to "stop abandoning soldiers and officers because of ultra-leftist pressure."
Earlier in November, the IDF declared Amro's home and the surrounding area a closed military zone, after he complained of settlers violently targeting him and his colleagues.
The order, issued by IDF Brigade Commander Yehuda Yishai Rozolio, barred anyone from entering the area other than the activist Amro himself. Amro’s lawyer, Michael Sfard, requested a criminal investigation of Rozolio over the order, claiming that the commander was abusing his authority.
