US Woman Loses Eye After Being Hit During Anti-Israeli Protest

JERUSALEM — An American woman has lost her eye during a demonstration in Jerusalem against Israel's naval raid on a Gaza aid flotilla, a hospital official said Tuesday.

Emily Henochowicz, 21, of Maryland, underwent surgery after suffering the injury, said hospital spokeswoman Yael Bossem-Levy.

Henochowicz was hit in the face by a tear gas canister shot by an Israeli border policeman, said witness Jonathan Pollak.

He said Palestinian youths were hurling rocks, but Henochowicz didn't participate in any violence and was standing at a distance.

Mark Toner, a State Department spokesman, said, "We can confirm that a U.S. citizen, Emily Henochowicz, suffered a serious injury when a gas canister hit her in the face, as she was standing among other protesters in the West Bank at the Qalandiya checkpoint between the West Bank and Israel."

There was no immediate military comment.

In a Facebook message to The Associated Press, Sarah Henochowicz said the family would have no comment about her sister, calling it "a private matter."

On her Facebook page, Emily Henochowicz's current city is listed as Ramallah, West Bank, and her latest posting on Monday read: "Gaza on my Mind." Her page says she is a student at Cooper Union, a college in New York, and Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design.

On another page, a posting said: "A message from Emily's sister Sarah Henochowicz: This is to notify everyone concerned about my sister Emily. The surgery was successful and she is currently recuperating in Hadassah Hospital. Thank you for your kind words and support, my family and I greatly appreciate it. Her father is by her side and will bring her ... home as soon as she is able to travel.'"

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Associated Press writer Nafeesa Syeed in Washington contributed to this report.

Comments

[ben77]

03:15 AM on 06/11/2010

Israel's PIETA

http://www.propheticimagery.com/Gaza%20Poem/The%20Cleansing%20of%20CoExistence.htm

"If a single picture is worth a thousand words, the picture above is worth immeasurably more!
 
In this scene, a Palestinian woman -- ongoing victim of Israel’s oppressive occupation -- comes to the humane aid of a Jew, Emily Henochowicz, who lost an eye after being hit in the face by a tear gas canister fired by a fellow Jew.
 
Emily was standing peacefully during a demonstration in West Bank at the Qalandiya checkpoint on that black Monday, May 31, 2010 -- to protest the Gaza Flotilla massacre -- when Israeli Border Police fired a large number of tear gas canisters directly at the heads of Emily and another International Solidarity Movement activist. 

In addition to losing her left eye, three metal plates were inserted into Emily's head/face, and her jaw is wired shut. The bone surrounding her eye socket, cheekbone and jawbone are all fractured. -Dom Martin"

[zubatov]

11:04 AM on 06/05/2010

March 13, Tristan Anderson shot in the head with an Israeli tear gas canister has undergone three critical brain surgeries and only survives now brain damaged for life. The crime was a peaceful farmers protest over Israeli land confiscation and the prevention of allowing Palestinians to farm their own remaining land.

Seems like rubber bullets to the head are too "unsubtle" and raise questions of intent. No one would guess that firing tear gas canisters could be anything other than "accidental". The only place to criticize Israel is on the web; here there is only the inevitable hasbara from giyus.org volunteers who only log on to parrot the IRAELI STATE propaganda.

[batguano]

08:45 AM on 06/05/2010

It is informative how much hatred and contempt is shown by "educated" posters on this board. Hateful comments blaming those of conscience for being responsible for their own deaths or maiming is typical of Israeli arrogance and contempt for the lives of others. Imagine if you were a Palestinian under occupation and exposed to hatred of this sort by the IDF and "settlers". These are our great allies? People with no moral compass or empathy for others? We are greatly diminished as a nation of laws and our honor stained by our unconditional support for this extremist contempt and hatred that seems to enjoy the abuse of others.

[batguano]

08:38 AM on 06/05/2010

It is clear from the record of those wounded or killed by the IDF firing tear-gas canisters at people’s heads or torsos at point-blank range, that they use this to punish demonstrators & enjoy maiming/killing unarmed protesters – to warn others that dissent will not be tolerated by our ally, the Jewish state. The Palestinian leader shot with such force that the canister entered his chest, killing him. Emily blinded on one side, & Tristan Anderson, another American of conscience, who received critical wounds after being also hit in the head while at a peaceful WB demonstration. Add to that the 19 year old American shot at close range in head & heart - executed - by the IDF in the Gaza flotilla massacre and Rachel Corrie killed by an IDF bulldozer.

Our "ally" in the ME and their IDF show a depraved indifference & contempt for the lives of other people, that is an abomination and we should not have our honor and values destroyed by the contemptible acts and policies of Israel or their stromtrooper IDF. That Americans are either killed or maimed with no meaningful response from our government and the Obama administration shows clearly the level of control the Pro-Israel lobby and Israel itself have over our politics and elected officials. The failure of the Obama administration to protect or demand an end to the intentional killing/maiming of American citizens is unacceptable and shows their craven subservience to Israeli/AIPAC extremism & crimes. Pathetic!

[MVeeh]

09:48 PM on 06/03/2010

yet another black eye for Israel

[Evisionary]

12:31 PM on 06/03/2010

We won the blockade has been lifted!

Julia Adkins

[Louige Damion]

07:01 AM on 06/03/2010

The Israelis are now acting more and more as those that once tortured and gazed and killed their own kind by the millions, I am my self a half native Indian with a Catholic family, we have family members whom are American Jews so I am indeed pro Jewish, we do also have an American Muslim brother-in-law and there have never been any problem with between any of our different beliefs. Rather yet respect and common ground. Here is my point. As soon as religion takes a grip of a government (The Israeli and surrounding Islamic Nations, or the formerly totally separated Ireland's, North and South,/south west. There we had/have them nationalists (IRA), who are predominantly Roman Catholic, and those (ULSTER) claiming to represent unionists, who are predominantly Protestant.) it deteriorates the minds of those in power. Leaving their people to hatred and estrangement towards one and other. Still, I and many of my fellow family members simply can't stop asking our selves, Between the acts in those polish hell holes called the Warsaw ghettos by them German SS forces of them 1938-1940s and what is being structurally done against the Palestinians by todays Israeli forces, Where is the difference?

[Terrapintanya]

07:54 AM on 06/03/2010

It's a land dispute where Hamas is trying to secede and take a piece of land away from Israel and several other countries. Secession attempts can be violent as history has shown. Unfortunately Hamas is classified by the US State Department as a foreign terrorist organization. The policy of the US is not to support these classified FTOs and it's illegal to support organizations or individuals who are providing aide to FTO.

[Marty Jarvy]

09:57 AM on 06/03/2010

Huh? Hamas HAS the land - they're after greater control over Gaza - NOT taking land away from Israel.

Also, claiming the protestors to be supporting terrorism is disingenuous - at best you could suggest that to be a secondary outcome of resolving the humanitarian disaster.

[lulu2010]

06:01 AM on 06/03/2010

Are Israelis stealing organs again?

[jasev01]

12:17 AM on 06/03/2010

Wow they are attacking our citizens now are they serious.

[Randy Shepherd]

02:32 AM on 06/03/2010

i could be wrong, but trying to sift out the HP enquire-like hype, i think she is a duel citizen, as according to her face book address, he current city is listed as Ramalla, Wests Bank. so basically the head line could have been "israeli loses eye after being hit at protest". doesn't seem as dramatic.
i know this is very serious, but the first thought that went through my mind, was my grade school teacher's voice, "it's all fun, until some one loses their eye". did anyone ever loose an eye to a paper air plane?

[Terrapintanya]

07:47 AM on 06/03/2010

or a pencil

[jasev01]

11:43 AM on 06/03/2010

I think in this case is was scrap metal fired at children that just hit her by mistake.

[shafff]

09:15 PM on 06/02/2010

Silly Billy, try getting at the cowards that are belittling that women's sacrifice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oz324X1SoI0

View this clip above, it's another US citizen, a male & notice Just as the medics try to attend to him, clearly dressed, the Israeli soldiers fire another gas canister next to them. Gas canisters are extremely accurate and the Israelis often use it to injure protesters.
The targeting of Europeans and other foreign nationals seems to be very deliberate in sending a message to all wanna be humanitarians, stay out or get injured or worse.

North korea would be a better place to demonstrate.

It all boils down to one thing, do you have nukes or not, if you do then you can do whatever hell you want.

[Terrapintanya]

09:59 PM on 06/02/2010

I did watch the link. I watched and listened closely, watch the man with khaki pants behind the pillar. At approx. 45 secs into the clip it was edited to blur the weapon he has in his left hand. Gas canister was more than likely sent into the area because of receiving fire from that weapon not aimed to injure the man it hit.

[Terrapintanya]

10:28 PM on 06/02/2010

and that video is over a yr old

[Marty Jarvy]

10:02 AM on 06/03/2010

Again - from all of your posts I can tell that you take a particularly partisan position on the ME conflict.

You say that 45 secs in it appears to have been edited. However - the tear gas was fired at the injured civilian receiving medical attention TEN SECONDS BEFORE THAT - when there was NO gunfire, or suggestion of it!

I can also see NO visible gun; NO clear edit, and there's NO suggestion of firing from that area.

I really don't know what clip you were watching, but the many assumptions you're basing your justification of this on, are provably false.

[courtb]

07:51 PM on 06/02/2010

Do you know what I find so tragically interesting? Remember those young adults who went hiking and wandered into Iran and ended up in prison? I remember how incredibly unsympathetic posters were on this site, calling them stupid and asking what did they expect to happen? And yet, a young American goes to an extremely volatile region, tragedy strikes...and there are complete polar opposite reactions on here.

Why is that, exactly?

And for the record, parents...keep your children out of conflict zones! The same way my parents stopped me from volunteering in the Congo during college (I was a broke college student dependent on their financial support) so should other parents stop their children from going to violent regions, including the West Bank protest areas.

[Doktor Avalanche]

09:35 PM on 06/02/2010

"And for the record, parents...keep your children out of conflict zones!"

Yes, tell that to the parents of the children living in Gaza. How dare they subject their children to the violence perpetrated by the so-called israeli "defense" forces.

[courtb]

10:41 PM on 06/02/2010

Um, did you read the article? This was about an American girl...

I of course have the utmost sympathy for Palestinian parents and the loss of their children. Which is why I raise money for Palestinian charities as well as Israeli ones.

[Rick Mears]

11:56 PM on 06/02/2010

Exactly right, courtb, as usual.

[FACTISFACT]

07:44 PM on 06/02/2010

The number of US citizens willfully killed by Israel on the pretext that US seek friendship in them is far gone those day of cold war.

Now US should come out of their hiding nest behave like a sovereign country and not afraid of a self proclaimed terrorist country or let them fire guns from its shoulders .

What a pathetic scene when American citizen Loses her power of vision and the US administration doesn't bother. Why because it is Israel who did it, and is the Best Friend and ally of US.

No, Israel has to pay the price for it. Americans are not street dogs to be inflicted harm by Israelis at their sweet will. No, not any more they must answer to it and make good of the loss opined the eminent elites.

[michelesda]

06:07 AM on 06/03/2010

Remember the Liberty!

[FACTISFACT]

12:06 PM on 06/03/2010

Hi! My Friend michelesda, thanks a lot for your comment on FACTISFACT comment. FACTISFACT does appreciate your knowledge of the event and name of the ship "Liberty" which this very terrorist country destroyed knowing fully that it the Spy ship of US. But they killed all the officers and crews of the ship and the government took no action as they have done to the aid boat in Gaza.

Thanks My Friend for the addition of the fact to FACTISFACT's comment. Wish you all the very best.

In any case, Thanks once again, Take care.

[esolesek]

07:15 PM on 06/02/2010

The US government is engaged in treasonous activities against its own citizens by constantly siding on the side of the welfare-swilling zionist heme-park of Israel. The US should stop funding that disaster of a country ASAP, but we all know that the east coast licks their boots. Being a lifelong liberal but on the West Coast, the whole thing is a sad and ridiculous reality. We should treat the Arab world like we did the Russians, except just tell them they don't get nukes or we drop neutron bombs. Let them retake Israel because it's nothing but a thorn in the side of the world, and demographically untenable. 7 million zionists against 1 billion moslems makes zero sense.
I'm not fan of the religious idiocy of Islam either, but they have not proven themselves to be a truly invasive force. Most of their complaints surround the oil dictators we fund and the gift that never stops ticking ISRAEL.

We need to focus on our own country, instead of everything based on the mideast. That said, anyone that wants to take those professional thug assassins on on their own land is asking to be maimed or killed. You have to take them on elsewhere if you have any brains. As far as the goose-stepping SS lackey who shot the tear gas canister, enjoy your lifelong guilt, little piggie.

[raffa657]

08:03 PM on 06/02/2010

I resemble that remark!

[muck-raker]

08:33 PM on 06/02/2010

Take my wife.......please!

[Terrapintanya]

06:30 PM on 06/02/2010

U.S. citizens are advised to avoid demonstrations. Demonstrations or altercations in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza can occur spontaneously, and all demonstrations have the potential to become violent without warning. If such disturbances occur, American visitors should leave the area immediately. U.S. citizens have been seriously injured in demonstrations that have turned violent. In Jerusalem's Old City, where exits are limited, U.S. citizen visitors should seek safe haven inside a shop or restaurant until the incident is over. Demonstrations can be particularly dangerous in areas such as checkpoints, settlements, military areas, and major thoroughfares where protesters are likely to encounter Israeli security forces. Within Israel, U.S. citizens should be aware that demonstrations in predominantly Arab areas and confrontations between Arab and Jewish residents of ethnically mixed towns can occur with little or no advance warning.
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1064.html

[UofOLaw]

07:07 PM on 06/02/2010

In other words, if you value your life and health do not participate in demonstrations, or even stay in the vicinity of a demonstration.

[josef k]

11:35 AM on 06/03/2010

In other words, don't travel outside the US, because you just might end up an innocent bystander if a protest/demonstration/nonevent that precipitates a predator drone strike might happen.

...on second thought, don't even leave the house.

[skialethia]

07:11 PM on 06/02/2010

Please spare us the sanctimonious b.s. derived from a comfortably numb existence! Instead of commending this woman for her bravery in marching against human rights abuses with Palestinians, instead of denouncing these abuses from your comfortable corner of the world, all you have is your preachiness to offer!!

[Exhaust]

07:18 PM on 06/02/2010

I'll bet you weren't there.?.? Seem like a pot and kettle thing.

[Terrapintanya]

09:08 PM on 06/02/2010

If I choose to support a cause by entering a known volatile hostile area, I go prepared and understand my risks. If I chose to disregard notices designed to protect me from possible harm, I alone make that choice to ignore. If harm befalls me than so be it. It is our ability to make our own choices that make us human whether the choice is right or wrong from another's view. This is not bravery this is making a choice to disregard safety notices. If disregarding safety notices is bravery than speeding would be brave, swimming in riptides would be brave, diving into a shallow pool would be brave.
Bravery to me is the Grandmothers of the Plaza De Mayo.

[Randy Shepherd]

06:06 PM on 06/02/2010

i think it is disgusting that some one who said "no comment" to the press, is then quoted off of her face book posting. that is like reading some one's personal mail, or diary. she may not have her privacy settings on, but we all know face book is for family and friends, not the press looking to get an unauthorized quote. and i thought companies firing people over their FB postings were bad, journalism today has no ethics.