Israeli settlers' attack on Palestinian family captured on video

A B'Tselem spokesperson told the BBC that the project is proving effective.

The thinking behind the project is that when trouble flares, rather than just giving a statement to the Israeli police or army, video carries much more weight.

"The difference is amazing," says Oren Yakobovich, who leads the Shooting Back project.

"When they have the camera, they have proof that something happened. They now have something they can work with, to use as a weapon."

We asked a spokesman from the Susia settlement for a comment on Sunday's incident. He declined.

The release of the attacks comes just a week before the UN Security Council is set to consider a resolution demanding a halt to Israel's ongoing construction of settlements in Palestinian territory. Haaretz reports that the the resolution was spurred in part by the Israeli government's announcement of plans to build several hundred more settlements in largely Palestinian East Jerusalem.

UN sources told Haaretz that the draft is the first that addresses the settlement issue in "a sweeping, unequivocal and direct manner." According to the sources, the driving force behind the resolution is Saudi Arabia, although officially, it was an initiative of the Arab League.

Diplomats affiliated with the Arab bloc said that Arab representatives at the UN have been discussing the new resolution for several weeks, during which time the draft has undergone several revisions. ...

If the resolution is put to a vote, most Security Council members are expected to vote in favor of it. However, the United States' position on the issue is not yet clear. Although the American administration has consistently opposed Israeli construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, the U.S. nonetheless generally vetoes Security Council resolutions critical of Israel, viewing them as unhelpful interference in the peace process.

Haaretz adds that the Arab bloc was also inspired to submit the resolution by recent comments made by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. In a message read June 3 during the International Meeting on the Question of Palestine, Mr. Ban condemned the settlement construction, saying:

Continuing settlement activity contravenes both international law and Israel's obligations under the Road Map. Also, the construction of the barrier in the occupied Palestinian territory contravenes the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice. These activities must cease at once.

Voice of America reports that the White House would prefer that Israel not build more settlements, but that Israel does not believe it is doing anything wrong.

White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said the Bush administration does not believe Israel should build any more settlements. She said the moves exacerbate tension in peace talks with Palestinians.

The road map peace plan requires Israel to freeze all settlement activity. Israel says it never agreed to freeze construction in Jerusalem, and says neighborhoods in the city have a different status from settlements in the occupied West Bank.

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