B'Tselem report: Crowd Control: Israel's Use of Crowd Control ...

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Sniper armed with a Ruger rifle. Hebron, March 2013. Photo by Oren Ziv/ActivestillsBullet-free cartridgeThe operating mechanism of a bullet-freecartridge is designed to create a thrust thatenables firing through an apparatus mountedon the rifle’s barrel, such as the rifle barrellauncher for firing rubber-coated metal bulletsor a launching cup for firing tear-gas grenades.The front opening of the cartridge, where thebullet would be in live ammunition, is puckered and sealed. When the firing pinstrikes the cap and ignites the gunpowder, the released gases force open thecartridge’s opening and eject the rubber-coated bullet or grenade.34
The Skunk andWater CannonsThe Skunk is a foul-smelling liquid developed for dispersing demonstrations. Itwas developed by the Israeli company Odortec Ltd. 80 in conjunction with the IsraelPolice. 81 According to the online Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), the Skunk iscomposed of water, yeast and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and at the pHlevel of sodium bicarbonate “the yeasts synthesise some amino acids causing heavyodor”. 82 Demonstrators who have been exposed to the substance report that thestrength of the odor varies.According to Police Chief Superintendent David Ben Haroush, the developer ofthe Skunk, the substance has been approved for use by the Israeli Ministry ofthe Environment and the IDF Chief Medical Officer. Ben Haroush says the Skunkis non-toxic and even safe to drink. 83 Yet, according to the MSDS, contact withthe Skunk can cause pain and redness in the eyes and skin irritation. If ingested,it can cause abdominal pain. The MSDS states that adverse reactions should betreated by washing the affected area with water and getting medical help. 84The Skunk was first used in August 2008 in the village of Ni’lin, mere minutesafter the demonstration began, when Border Police squirted the liquid atdemonstrators from containers carried on their backs. Israeli security forces didnot use this method again, probably because the troops cannot be protectedfrom the smell when spraying from up close. Since then, security forces havesprayed the Skunk from truck-mounted water cannons. There are several truckmodels in use, among them a specially designed armored truck manufacturedby Beit Alfa Technological Industries (in Kibbutz Beit Alfa, Israel), and an ordinary80 http://www.skunk-skunk.com/121755/About-Us81 For the product at the manufacturer’s website, see: http://www.skunk-skunk.com/121755/The-Product82 http://www.skunk-skunk.com/image/users/121755/ftp/my_files/MSDS_Skunk.pdf?id=3225191(hereafter: “MSDS: Skunk”).83 Coby Ben-Simhon, “A Spiteful Stink: Ni’lin Demonstrators Must Buy Deodorant,” Haaretz, 4 September2008 http://www.haaretz.co.il/hasite/spages/1018160.html [in Hebrew]; BBC interview with ChiefSuperintendent David Ben Haroush: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7646894.stm. See also: http://dover.idf.il/NR/exeres/3591EED5-6664-4849-86BF-5310C60BB4F2.htm [in Hebrew].84 MSDS: Skunk, pp. 1-2.35
Page 1 and 2: CROWD CONTROLIsrael’s Use of Crow
Page 3 and 4: Researched and written by Sarit Mic
Page 5 and 6: IntroductionCrowd control weapons a
Page 7 and 8: Tear GasTear gas is a chemical irri
Page 9 and 10: Crowd Control Crowd Control Weapons
Page 21 and 22: Rubber-CoatedMetal Bullets 41Rubber
Page 25: Crowd Control Crowd Control Weapons
Page 28 and 29: grenades on the ground, not throw t
Page 30 and 31: seven years, at least 46 Palestinia
Page 32 and 33: that the regulations relating to th
Page 36 and 37: military truck equipped with water
Page 39 and 40: Pepper SprayPepper spray is a conce
Page 43 and 44: Sponge RoundsSponge rounds are a ki
Page 47 and 48: Weapons in LimitedUseSecurity force
Page 49 and 50: ConclusionIn responding to demonstr
Page 51 and 52: IDF ResponseCrowd Control Crowd Con
Page 53 and 54: issued separately by Israeli police
Page 57: B’TSELEM - The Israeli Informatio

B'Tselem report: Crowd Control: Israel's Use of Crowd Control ...

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