HAIFA, Israel — An Israeli judge ruled on Tuesday that the state bore no responsibility for the death of Rachel Corrie, the young American woman who was run over by a military bulldozer in 2003 as she protested housing demolitions in the Gaza Strip.
The lengthy verdict in the civil case, read to a courtroom packed with supporters of Ms. Corrie’s family here, called the death an accident that occurred during “a military activity meant to prevent terrorist activity.”
“She chose to put herself in danger,” said the judge, Oded Gershon. “She could have easily distanced herself from the danger like any reasonable person would.”
Since her death, Ms. Corrie has become an international symbol of the Palestinian resistance. A play based on her writings has been performed in 10 countries, and a ship in an aid flotilla to Gaza bore her name. Numerous books and documentaries have told of how Ms. Corrie, a 23-year-old student, stood in an orange vest with a bullhorn between a bulldozer and the home of a Palestinian family in March 2003 during the height of the second intifada, or uprising.
A lawyer representing the state said after the hearing on Tuesday that the driver of the bulldozer did not see Ms. Corrie, and could not have. But the Corrie family’s lawyer, Hussein Abu Hussein, noted that she was wearing a bright vest that he said “anyone could have seen.”
“This verdict is bad for human rights,” said Mr. Hussein, adding that the Corries had been “denied justice.”
Family members said in an interview before the verdict that they would probably appeal to the Israeli Supreme Court if they lost, and would also keep speaking publicly about the case and what they saw as Israel’s failure to properly investigate it. Mr. Hussein said the family would appeal the decision, possibly to an international court.
The verdict came more than a year after the last of 15 sessions of oral testimony, which began in March 2010. Most of the witnesses, including the drivers and commanders of two bulldozers that were operating in the area that day, testified from behind a screen to protect their identities. Ms. Corrie’s parents and sister attended every session of the trial, spending about $200,000 on travel, translation services and other expenses.
“You don’t really close a wound like this, but it certainly is a big milestone,” said Ms. Corrie’s father, Craig Corrie, who retired from the insurance business shortly after her death.
At meetings across Israel over the past week, Mr. Corrie carried with him a picture not of his daughter but of the Palestinian girl, then 6, whose family’s house Ms. Corrie died trying to protect.
“I think this one in some ways is more hopeful,” he said of the picture. “She deserves a future that we all want for our children.”
Before the court session on Tuesday, a small group of young people stood vigil outside, holding signs with pictures of Palestinian families and their demolished homes. A woman walking by shouted at them, “It’s the houses of terrorists they’re destroying,” prompting one of the protesters, Uri Gordon, to respond, “No, of normal people, actually.”
“It’s a defensive reaction,” Mr. Gordon said afterward. “It’s another indication of Israeli society’s refusal to face up to the crimes of its government.”
Jodi Rudoren reported from Jerusalem.
The lengthy verdict in the civil case, read to a courtroom packed with supporters of Ms. Corrie’s family here, called the death an accident that occurred during “a military activity meant to prevent terrorist activity.”
“She chose to put herself in danger,” said the judge, Oded Gershon. “She could have easily distanced herself from the danger like any reasonable person would.”
Since her death, Ms. Corrie has become an international symbol of the Palestinian resistance. A play based on her writings has been performed in 10 countries, and a ship in an aid flotilla to Gaza bore her name. Numerous books and documentaries have told of how Ms. Corrie, a 23-year-old student, stood in an orange vest with a bullhorn between a bulldozer and the home of a Palestinian family in March 2003 during the height of the second intifada, or uprising.
A lawyer representing the state said after the hearing on Tuesday that the driver of the bulldozer did not see Ms. Corrie, and could not have. But the Corrie family’s lawyer, Hussein Abu Hussein, noted that she was wearing a bright vest that he said “anyone could have seen.”
“This verdict is bad for human rights,” said Mr. Hussein, adding that the Corries had been “denied justice.”
Family members said in an interview before the verdict that they would probably appeal to the Israeli Supreme Court if they lost, and would also keep speaking publicly about the case and what they saw as Israel’s failure to properly investigate it. Mr. Hussein said the family would appeal the decision, possibly to an international court.
The verdict came more than a year after the last of 15 sessions of oral testimony, which began in March 2010. Most of the witnesses, including the drivers and commanders of two bulldozers that were operating in the area that day, testified from behind a screen to protect their identities. Ms. Corrie’s parents and sister attended every session of the trial, spending about $200,000 on travel, translation services and other expenses.
“You don’t really close a wound like this, but it certainly is a big milestone,” said Ms. Corrie’s father, Craig Corrie, who retired from the insurance business shortly after her death.
At meetings across Israel over the past week, Mr. Corrie carried with him a picture not of his daughter but of the Palestinian girl, then 6, whose family’s house Ms. Corrie died trying to protect.
“I think this one in some ways is more hopeful,” he said of the picture. “She deserves a future that we all want for our children.”
Before the court session on Tuesday, a small group of young people stood vigil outside, holding signs with pictures of Palestinian families and their demolished homes. A woman walking by shouted at them, “It’s the houses of terrorists they’re destroying,” prompting one of the protesters, Uri Gordon, to respond, “No, of normal people, actually.”
“It’s a defensive reaction,” Mr. Gordon said afterward. “It’s another indication of Israeli society’s refusal to face up to the crimes of its government.”
Jodi Rudoren reported from Jerusalem.