"No Justice for Tristan Anderson…Yet"

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February 2, 2010

When I heard about the case of Tristan Anderson in March 2009 I was disturbed and heart-broken for his family and friends. The muted reaction among the American public (excluding progressive voices) reminded me of that which became apparent after news spread of the violent murder of Rachel Corrie. Here was a young American who had travelled across the world to stand in solidarity with people he had no direct connection to. The only thing that linked Anderson and others like him to Palestinians was their shared humanity and their devotion to standing up for peace and social justice in the face of harsh adversity.

Anderson, a member of the International Solidarity Movement, was peacefully protesting against Israel’s Apartheid Wall in the West Bank village of Ni’ilin when he was shot in the face with a tear gas cannister by an Israeli soldier. This is his girlfriend’s eye witness account:

I was very close to him when he was shot. I was only a few feet away. The demonstration had been going for several hours. It was wrapping up; it was almost over. Most people had already gone home.
We were standing on some grass nearby a village mosque, and Tristan was taking pictures. He likes to take pictures and post them on Indymedia, sometimes under assumed names. And he was taking pictures, and he was shot in the head with the extended range tear gas canister. He fell to—nothing was happening immediately around us, by the way, I should mention. No one was throwing rocks around us. Nothing was happening. We were standing there.

Like Corrie who was crushed to death by an Israeli bulldozer while peacefully protesting against the demolition of a Palestinian home, Anderson did not engage in any violent behavior (not to suggest that Israel’s actions would be permissible even if he did). He also did not do anything to aggravate the Israeli forces. His only crime was his willingness to stand alongside Palestinians. Anderson chose to side with the oppressed.

Today, almost one year later, the 38 year old remains in an Israeli hospital. He has suffered permanent brain damage and may never be the same again.

On January 31st the Israeli Ministry of Justice announced that it would not indict anyone. In other words, they would treat this case in the same way that they have treated so many others (for westerners and of course more so Palestinians) by avoiding responsibility and culpability – essentially slapping the victims and their families in the face.

After stating that the Israeli police investigation of the case was "gravely negligent", Israeli attorney Michael Sfard will be filing an administrative appeal with the Israeli Attorney General, demanding that the investigation be reopened:

I am embarrassed to say that the investigation team did not even go to Ni’ilin, the scene of the shooting…If a Jewish man had been shot and wounded, there is no doubt that the entire village would be under curfew and Israel would do everything possible to investigate.

The International Solidarity Movement website also reports:

The Anderson family wants Israel to take responsibility for shooting Tristan, which means both bringing the people involved to justice and helping to take care of Tristan, who will likely require assistance for the remainder of his life. In addition to demanding a thorough criminal investigation and appropriate indictments, the Anderson family is further filing a civil lawsuit in the case.

What can we do? If you’re American, write to and call your governmental representatives demanding that Israel be held accountable for its attacks against US citizens like Anderson, Corrie, and Brian Avery, and for killing thousands of Palestinian civilians with US weapons. Demand that they stop sending billions of your tax dollars to Israel’s killing machine every year. Demand that they spend your tax dollars on healthcare, public education and creating jobs for Americans instead.

If you’re not American, tell people about Anderson’s story. Demand that local and international media provide better coverage on it. Those who are unfamiliar with the history of the region are especially important to be reached. Correct people when they use the word "conflict" when referring to Israel and Palestine – it is the longest standing occupation in modern history and it is illegal. If you know people who haven’t done this already, it’s time to begin urging them to start.