
© Reuters/Ronen Zvulun
Tarek Abu Khdeir (C), a 15-year-old American of Palestinian descent and a cousin of Mohammad Abu Khdeir, the recently murdered youth, is escorted by Israeli prison guards during an appearance at Jerusalem magistrate's court July 6, 2014.
The brutally beaten, 15-year-old US-Palestinian cousin of murdered teen Mohammad Abu Khdeir has been placed under house arrest, despite police demands to keep him in custody. Tarek Abu Khdeir was accused of attacking police officers at a protest.
An Israeli court ruled that Tarek Abu Khdeir should be subject to house arrest in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Beit Hanina on Sunday. Court spokeswoman Luba Samri said that police had asked the judge to extend the remand of the teenager, claiming that he attacked police officers during violent protests over the death of his cousin, 16-year-old Palestinian boy Mohammad Abu Khdeir.
Tarek's parents maintained his innocence and claim
Israeli police officers committed an unprovoked attack on their son while he was handcuffed. On Saturday a video, showing how two officers violently beat Abu Khdeir while he was lying on the floor, appeared on local television, provoking outrage and condemnation on social media.
Following the uproar, the US government released a statement expressing deep concern over the incident.
"We can confirm that Tarek Khdeir, an American citizen, is being held by Israeli authorities in Jerusalem. [Tarek Abu Khdeir] was visited by an official from the US Consulate General in Jerusalem today," US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement, adding that the US was profoundly troubled by the reports.
Comment: The fact that the US state department says that airstrikes against civilians are acceptable in order to protect the unity of the country, sends a strong message to any independence movement in the US, who are thinking about splitting off from the US. The US will be fully prepared to counter any break-away groups in America with the full military force. No wonder the US homeland department is arming themselves to the teeth.
See also: Mass murder: America's legacy to Ukraine and to the world