The Mayor asked the question and the EU's Catherine Ashton answered

Exercising their EU legitimized
 right to protest?

LOTL..
24 May '12..
H/T to M. Palmer..







In a recent letter to the editor at the NYT, former Mayor Edward Koch asked what would seem to be a both simple and reasonable question:

Rock Throwing by Arabs
Published: April 6, 2012

To the Editor:

Thomas L. Friedman (“A Middle East Twofer,” column, April 4) endorses what he calls “nonviolent resistance by Palestinians” against Israel. He adds that Palestinians need to “accompany every boycott, hunger strike or rock they throw at Israel with a detailed map” delineating their territorial demands.

I was attacked by “nonviolent” Arab rock throwers while touring the old Jewish quarter of Jerusalem in 1991. I needed nine stitches but was fortunate to have suffered only relatively minor injuries. If my attackers’ aim had been a little sharper, I could have lost an eye, or worse.

Many Israelis as well as foreign tourists have been badly injured, sometimes permanently maimed, in such “nonviolent” assaults. Israelis have even been murdered by rock throwing. Last September, Asher Palmer, 25, and his infant son, Yonatan, were killed when “nonviolent” rocks were thrown at their car, causing a fatal crash.

We may disagree on borders, settlements, refugees or other contentious Arab-Israeli issues. But can’t we all agree that in the English language, the terms “nonviolent” and “rock throwing” are mutually exclusive?

EDWARD I. KOCH
New York, April 4, 2012

The writer is the former mayor of New York City.

However Mr. Mayor, the answer to "that in the English language, the terms “nonviolent” and “rock throwing” are mutually exclusive?" is no, at least in the mind of High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission Catherine Ashton and her colleagues:

EUROPEAN UNION
Brussels, 22 May 2012
A 233/12
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/130332.pdf

Statement by the Spokesperson of High Representative Catherine Ashton on the case of Bassem Tamimi

The spokesperson of Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission, issued the following statement today:

"The High Representative is very concerned by the conviction of Bassem Tamimi in an Israeli military court on 20 May 2012 on charges of taking part in illegal demonstrations and of soliciting protesters to throw stones.

The EU considers Bassem Tamimi to be a 'human rights defender' committed to non-violent protest against the expansion of an Israeli settlement on lands belonging to his West Bank village of Nabi Saleh. The EU attended all court hearings in his case and is concerned at the use of evidence based on the testimony of a minor who was interrogated in violation of his rights.

The EU believes that everyone should be able to exercise their legitimate right to protest in a non- violent manner."

Updates throughout the day at http://calevbenyefuneh.blogspot.com. If you enjoy "Love of the Land", please be a subscriber. Just put your email address in the "Subscribe" box on the upper right-hand corner of the page.Twitter updates at LoveoftheLand.