Press Release

13 October 2009

After Yesh Din appealed the closing of Abir Aramin’s file:

Israeli High Court demands that the State provide

investigation materials
Today (October 13), in a hearing about an appeal filed by Yesh Din on behalf of Bassam and Salway
Aramin – parents of the late10-year-old Abir Aramin who was shot and killed by Israeli soldiers in
July 2007 – the Israeli High Court of Justice (HCJ) demanded that the State provide materials from
the investigation and attempt to produce documentation of official communication from the day of
the event within 14 days. This ruling occurred after the investigation of Abir Aramin’s death was
closed due to lack of evidence and after Yesh Din filed a petition against the closing of this case.

Today’s hearing was attended by many friends of the Aramin family, a family well-known for
activity in Israeli-Palestinian peace circles. Friends like David Grossman and tens of members of
Yesh Din, Combatants for Peace, The Israeli-Palestinian Bereaved Families Forum, Breaking the
Silence and many others attended to show solidarity and support for the family.

Yesh Din filed the petition to the HCJ on behalf of the Bassam and Salwa Aramin claiming that
there were grave factual errors in decision to close Abir Aramin's file. The petition stated that there
is sufficient evidence to file an indictment against a Border Policeman who according to evidence
and the facts collected on the ground, shot Aramin in the head and caused her death. The petition
was filed following the Jerusalem District Attorney's announcement of July 2007 that it was closing
the investigation file without filing indictments due to a lack of evidence, and following the rejection
of an appeal filed by Yesh Din in February 2008.

In the petition, written based on evidence found in the police investigation file, the HCJ was asked to
instruct the Attorney General to file an indictment on the charge of killing against one of the Border
Policemen involved. According to Yesh Din's assessment, the police investigation materials
incriminate him in conducting the fatal shooting. The petition is also directed against the shooter’s
direct commander, the Border Police officer who approved the shooting.

Attorney Michael Sfard, Yesh Din Legal Counsel: "It was revealed today in court that the Israeli
law enforcement agencies' treatment of the terrible killing of a ten-year-old girl was not serious to
the degree that it also nourishes the culture of impunity among Israeli security forces. We are happy
about the progress made today and hope that this case will be an exception and provide justice for a
Palestinian family."

For further information:

Dana Zimmerman 054-245-7682