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Nine years after the death of Rachel Corrie, an Israeli court judge has dismissed the civil lawsuit brought by her family saying that her death was a “regrettable accident.” The ruling found no problems with the initial Israeli Military investigation done in 2003 which had freed the driver of the bulldozer from any criminal charges. The judge felt that Corrie could have saved herself by moving out of harm’s way “as any reasonable person would have done.” Cindy Corrie, Rachel’s mother said, “I believe this was a bad day, not only for our family, but for human rights, humanity, the rule of law and also for the country of Israel.” The family will be appealing the decision to Israel’s Supreme Court.

On March 16, 2003, 23 year old Rachel Corrie was killed while protesting the demolition of Palestinian homes in Rafah, Gaza. Corrie was a member of the International Solidarity Movement in Palestine and trained in methods of non-violent protesting. On the day she was killed, she attempted to disrupt the bulldozing of a Palestinian home by the Israeli Defense Forces. The machine operator did not stop its action even as Rachel stood a few feet away from its shovel. The bulldozer ran her over with its treads, while her fellow protestors yelled and screamed at the driver to stop. ISM activists found she was still breathing and rushed her to the hospital where she died shortly after.

Despite eyewitness accounts that the bulldozer had run over Corrie, an Israeli military investigation in 2003 had announced that falling debris and concrete slabs, elements outside of the driver’s control, were ultimately to blame. Three hundred activists had gathered in front of the Israeli Consulate building in Westwood yesterday, demanding justice for Rachel Corrie.

GUEST: Estee Chandler, with Jewish Voice for Peace in Los Angeles

Visit www.wedivest.org and jewishvoiceforpeace.org for more information.