הוועד הציבורי נגד עינויים בישראל

12 days following the start of the AL Aqsa Intifada, on November 9, 2000, an IDF helicopter hovered above the village of Beit Sahour, near the town of Bethlehem. Husein Abiyat, who was one of the senior members of the Fatah Organisation in Bethlehem at that time, was traveling in his car in one of the central streets of the village; the street was crowded with village residents. The helicopter reduced height, and launched an anti-tank missile directly towards Abiyat’s Jeep. Abiyat was killed instantly. The huge explosion hit him and five other unlucky passers-by that happened to be in the vicinity of the vehicle. Aziza Danun Joubran, age 58, and Rama Rashin Hindi, 54, were killed. Three others, Nasmi and Jamila Shibat and Haled Salahat, were injured.

This action marked the beginning of Israel’s official liquidation policy. Since that day, similar operations were carried out every few days in the West Bank and in the Gaza Strip.