Israel: No compensation due to Rachel Corrie's family

The Israeli Supreme Court yesterday rejected the appeal made by the family of American activist Rachel Corrie requesting compensation following her death 12 years ago.

Israeli public radio reported that the court considered that the actions that were taken by the army at the time of the incident were “actions of armed combat, and thus the state should not bear responsibility for the death of Corrie”.

On the other hand, the court accepted the family’s objection to the decision of the Nazareth District Court not to consider the family’s claim that Corrie’s body was mishandled after her autopsy without informing her relatives.

The court decided to refer the case to the Magistrate’s Court in Nazareth.

“Our family is disappointed but not surprised,” the Corrie family said in a statement released yesterday. “Nevertheless, it is clear that this decision, affirming the August 2012 lower court finding, amounts to judicial sanction of immunity for Israeli military forces when they commit injustices and human rights violations.”

“Despite the verdict, our family remains convinced we were correct in bringing this case forward,” the family said. “The day after Rachel was killed, [Israeli] Prime Minister Sharon promised President Bush a thorough, credible and transparent investigation. Clearly, that standard was not met.”

Corrie, an American activist, was killed on 16 March, 2003, during the Second Intifada after she was crushed to death by an army bulldozer while trying to prevent the demolition of Palestinian homes in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip.