Reporter asks US: Should Israel pay Palestinian girl $100 for confiscated bike?
Said Arikat, a reporter for the Jerusalem based Al-Quds daily brought up the incident, which occurred two weeks ago in Hebron.
Screenshot of B'tselem video in which Border Policeman seen confiscating Palestinian girl's bike(photo credit: screenshot)ByTOVAH LAZAROFFUpdated: Should Israel pay $100 in damages to the Palestinian girl whose bicycle was confiscated by an Israeli Border Policemen? This was a question asked by a reporter at a recent US State Department briefing.The issue was raised right after a discussion on Iran’s execution of 20 Kurdish prisoners and details regarding the possible link between a $400 million cash payment to Iran and the release of four Americans held by Tehran.In the aftermath of the discussion Said Arikat, a reporter for the Jerusalem based Al-Quds daily brought up the incident, which occurred two weeks ago in Hebron, and was caught on video by a volunteer from the Israeli non-governmental group B’Tselem.In the video, the policeman can be seen stopping the girl as she played near the Tomb of the Patriarchs, an area often off-limits to Palestinians.The officer puts his foot on the bicycle, which has fallen to the ground. The girl, age 8, runs away crying. A policeman is later seen throwing the bicycle into the bushes.The border policeman involved in the incident has since been suspended from active duty.On Thursday, Arikat posed the following question during the State Department’s briefing: “Should Israel compensate this little girl for the bicycle?” Deputy spokesman Mark Toner responded, “I don’t know that that’s a question we necessarily should answer from the podium of the State Department.”But then, Toner proceeded to offer an opinion.“We understand the tensions that exist in Israel regarding security and security concerns,” Toner said.He added, “It’s also legitimate to say that what’s portrayed in that video is concerning and raises emotions on the part of many people who see it, and that any security forces – and I’m talking about not just Israel’s, but any security forces around the world – have a difficult job.“We understand that they have to balance a lot of factors in carrying out their duties, but they also need to be aware of how their actions portray what they’re doing and the reasons behind what they’re doing to the rest of the world,” Toner said.Arikat persisted, as he brought up the United States’s military assistance to Israel.“But you subsidize Israel to the tune of billions of dollars,” Arikat said.“We do,” Toner responded.“Should you deduct like $100 to pay for that bicycle?” Arikat asked.Then he repeated the question in more detail.“Should you deduct $100 from the $40 billion or so that you’re about to give Israel for the next 10 years, and say this is to replace the bicycle?” Toner responded by speaking about the significance of American- Israeli ties.“Our security relationship with Israel is important both to Israel’s national security interests as well as our own, as well as the region’s, and it’s vital that we maintain that close cooperation.RECOMMENDED STORIESHow is Iran still launching missiles at Israel despite Israeli airstrikes?JUNE 16, 2025IDF pummels Tehran with heavy fire, 50 Israeli fighter jets take part in attacksJUNE 15, 2025A volcano ready to blow: Middle East erupts with Israeli strikes on IranJUNE 15, 2025Starlink operating in Iran, Elon Musk says, as Islamic regime shuts internet downJUNE 14, 2025Hot OpinionNow is the time for a unity government to provide clarity within the chaosByJPOST EDITORIALAs Iran vows our destruction, Israel unitesByYAIR LAPIDFive takeaways from the bomb shelter: Reflections on the Israel-Iran WarByDAVID BRINNIsrael strikes Iran: Strategic success or start of an uncertain future?BySUSAN HATTIS ROLEF