Family of U.S. activist slain in Israel awaits verdict

American peace activist Rachel Corrie speaks during an interview with MBC Saudi Arabia television March 14, 2003 in the Rafah refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. Corrie was run over and killed by an Israeli bulldozer March 16, 2003 when she tried to stop it from destroying a Palestinian house in the Rafah refugee camp. / Lorenzo Scaraggi/Getty Images

(AP) JERUSALEM — Almost a decade after their daughter was crushed to death by an Israeli army bulldozer as she tried to block its path in a Gaza Strip conflict zone, Rachel Corrie's parents are preparing for a judge's ruling in their high-profile civil lawsuit against the military.

They hope Tuesday's court decision will conclude a case that's turned their daughter into a rallying cry for pro-Palestinian activists, taken years of their life and drained their savings.

"We are here with a great deal of anticipation for Tuesday," said Corrie's mother, Cindy, 64, a homemaker and musician from Olympia, Washington. "We are hoping for some accountability here for what happened to Rachel."

Corrie, a pro-Palestinian activist, was 23 when she was killed in March 2003 while she and other activists sought to block an Israeli military bulldozer they believed was about to demolish Palestinian homes in the Gaza border town of Rafah. The driver has said he didn't see Corrie, and the death was accidental.

The Israeli army had been undertaking systematic house demotions in the densely populated border area, trying to halt shooting and mortar attacks against soldiers and Jewish settlers who used the route. The house destruction sparked international condemnation at the time.

While several foreign activists were killed or wounded in confrontations with the Israeli military during the last decade, Corrie's case has taken on special meaning for Palestinian activists.

U.S. peace activist Rachel Corrie lies bleeding while being helped by colleagues after she was run over by an Israeli bulldozer March 16, 2003 in the Rafah refugee camp in the Gaza strip.

/ International Solidarity Movement/Getty Images

For her supporters, she became a symbol of what they say is Israel's harsh repression of nonviolent protest to occupation. They saw in her a young middle class American who died believing that she was defending the homes of strangers. She was a passionate writer whose works showed how deeply moved she was by the suffering she saw around her.

Corrie's parents published those letters, and artists made a play about her life.

Corrie belonged to the pro-Palestinian International Solidarity Movement, whose activists enter conflict zones and try interfere with activities of Israel's military. Supporters of Israel argue that Corrie, like thousands of other foreign activists, recklessly chose to risk her life.

"Rachel Corrie was injured as a result of her prohibited action, for which she is solely responsible, due to her considerable negligence and lack of caution," the Justice Ministry said in a statement.

The family's case is the first civil lawsuit of a foreigner harmed by Israel's military to conclude in a full civilian trial. Others have resulted in out-of-court settlements.

Since the Corries went to court in 2005, there have been 15 hearings and testimony from 23 witnesses.

They hope the court will apportion blame to the bulldozer driver and his superiors, who have all been cleared of wrongdoing in a military court.

The Corries are seeking a symbolic $1 in damages, along with compensation for the money they've spent bringing the case to trial.

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[I_am_3rd]

Don't get in front of a bulldozer in a foreign war zone. Not many details in this story to convict the driver. Apparently found not guilty in a criminal/military court.

[Henry-Bowman]

Maybe when the ragheads stop acting like animals the world won't think of them as such.

[ballwyllo]

Yes those Palestinians have contributed much to mankind. Like, err, I mean...well maybe....Never mind

[tmittelstaed]

so if Israel finds against this women we know that to an Israeli, an American life isn't worth $1.00

[djberson]

Maybe she should have found something better to do with her free time.

[vielmann]

Yes, of course. Why should she care about people's homes being unjustly destroyed by people who should know better?

[lfitts2]

Also this boils down to one quick and easy way to think about the situation...if Israel disarmed there would be a slaughter, if the Arabs disarmed there would be peace

[vielmann]

If Israel started treating them like humans instead of animals, Israel wouldn't have to worry about it.

[askagain]

The Arabs treat their own people like animals. Why would it be any different if Israel treated them like animals, too?

[lfitts2]

Israel has courts that are not monkey trials...try the same thing in an Arab country and see how it goes for you...we hold Israel to the highest standard...the rest of the world couldn't hold the Arabs to a lower standard. The world and most of the posters on this blog have one pat answer...it was Israels fault...next question???

[bradkt1]

We heard very little of this tragedy in the American news media...

...I wonder why (sarcasm intended)?

[askagain]

bradkt1 - Possibly because most Americans would not go to another country and park themselves in front of a bulldozer in protest of that countries policies.

[bradkt1]

Oh...silly me!

I thought that it might have something to do with the totally biased pro-Israel news media in the United States.

[formerlyluvnut]

And people call me stupid. Well, I, American, have no plans to go to another country (ESPECIALLY a pre-historic one) and try to dictate to them what they will or will not do. BUT, she won't do it again. Amazing

[vielmann]

Modern Israel is hardly a prehistoric country.

[UForgotPoland]

Israel kills our citizens while we fight their wars for them. What a cowardly country who can't take care of their own business. The war mongers can't even fight Iran without hiding behind the US.