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{{POV|date=December 2014}} {{POV|date=December 2014}}
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'''"Skunk"''' is a ], ] for crowd control by the Israel Defense Forces. It was developed and is manufactured by Odortec, with two supporting companies, Man and Beit-Alfa Technologies.<ref name="WPO" > April 2014.</ref> The material used is organic and non-toxic.<ref>], 4/9/2008]</ref> According to the manufacturer's safety sheet it may cause skin irritation, eye or abdominal pain, and if inhaled, breathing difficulties.<ref name="WPO" /> '''"Skunk"''' is a ], ] for crowd control by the Israel Defense Forces. It was developed and is manufactured by Odortec, with two supporting companies, Man and Beit-Alfa Technologies.<ref name="WPO" > April 2014.</ref>{{vc|certain=y|"Who Profits" is an aggressive advocacy organization, and its reports are unlikely to be impartial or reliable}} The material used is organic and non-toxic.<ref>], 4/9/2008]</ref> The manufacturer's safety sheet advises it may cause skin irritation, eye or abdominal pain, and if inhaled, breathing difficulties.<ref name="WPO" />{{vc|certain=y|"Who Profits" is an aggressive advocacy organization, and its reports are unlikely to be impartial or reliable}}


==Product== ==Product==
Deriving its name from ], "Skunk" is dispersed as a form of yellow mist, fired from a ], which leaves a powerful odor similar to rot or sewage on whatever it touches. The inventors plan to market Skunk to law enforcement agencies worldwide. Deriving its name from ], "Skunk" is dispersed as a form of yellow mist, fired from a ], which leaves a powerful odor similar to rot or sewage on whatever it touches. The inventors plan to market Skunk to law enforcement agencies worldwide.{{cn}}


A BBC reporter describes its effects as follows: A BBC reporter describes its effects as follows:
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] ]
First attempts at developing a scent-based form of ] began in Israel in 2004 by ]. The IDF reconsidered at the time a change in its open fire procedures, and adopting other crowd dispersal methods after an Israeli demonstrator, Gil Na'amati (21), was shot during a protest over the separation barrier, near the West Bank village of ] in late 2003.<ref name="Haaretz2004" /><ref>Joel Greenberg, ] 29 December, 2003.</ref> It was told to not wash off easily and linger on clothes for up to five years.<ref name="Haaretz2004" >], 18 September 2004.</ref> The development of Skunk followed numerous accusations against Israeli forces that they often employ disproportionate force in clashes with ] protestors (e.g. using ] or ]), which has led them to seek new, non-lethal but effective methods of crowd control.<ref name="Davies" /> Skunk was first used for crowd control in August 2008 in the Palestinian village of Ni'lin. First attempts at developing a scent-based form of ] began in Israel in 2004 by ]. The IDF reconsidered at the time a change in its open fire procedures, and adopting other crowd dispersal methods after an Israeli demonstrator, Gil Na'amati (21), was shot during a protest over the separation barrier, near the West Bank village of ] in late 2003.<ref name="Haaretz2004" /><ref>Joel Greenberg, ] 29 December, 2003.</ref> It was told to not wash off easily and linger on clothes for up to five years.<ref name="Haaretz2004" >], 18 September 2004.</ref> The development of Skunk followed numerous accusations against Israeli forces that they often employ disproportionate force in clashes with ] protestors (e.g. using ] or ]), which has led them to seek new, non-lethal but effective methods of crowd control.<ref name="Davies" /> Skunk was first used for crowd control in August 2008 in the Palestinian village of Ni'lin.
B'tselem stated in May 2013 that it was unaware of the weapon ever being used to control Jewish crowds. According to police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld, it is used when Palestinians are involved in rioting. Palestinians claim it is never used in the Jewish western half of Jerusalem.><ref>] Sarit Michaeli, ] May 2013 p.36:'B’tselem’s observations show that security forces often spray the Skunk at protest marches and demonstrations as a preliminary method of dispersal, even when the demonstrations are quiet and no stones have been thrown. B’Tselem does not know of any cases in which security forces used the Skunk at a demonstration with only Jewish or Israeli participants. Many Palestinian demonstrators have expressed indignation at the humiliation caused by exposure to the Skunk.p.36</ref> <ref>John Reed ] 21 November 2014:'They say that skunk water, which smells unbearably bad when fresh but is physically harmless, allows them to disperse crowds effectively and identify suspects later. "The skunk water cannons are used as a non-lethal weapon when Palestinians are involved in rioting, throwing petrol bombs and stones against police officers", says Micky Rosenfeld, a police spokesman. However, Palestinians in eastern neighbourhoods say police spray the greyish liquid indiscriminately into shops, restaurants and hotels, in a stream powerful enough to break windows, and describe it as one of many heavy-handed tactics Israeli authorities do not deploy in the city's Jewish west, underscoring their inferior status.'</ref> B'tselem stated in May 2013 that it was unaware of the weapon ever being used to control Jewish crowds. According to police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld, it is used when Palestinians are involved in rioting. Palestinians claim it is never used in the Jewish western half of Jerusalem.><ref>] Sarit Michaeli, ] May 2013 p.36</ref> <ref>John Reed </ref>
but ]{{where?|date=January 2015}} and others{{who?|date=January 2015}} have documented multiple instances{{failed verification|date=January 2015}} of its use during ] disturbances in ] in April and early October 2014.<ref>Menahem Kahana, ] April 10, 2014.</ref><ref> Yitzhak Weiss, ] (Hebrew) 9 October 2014.</ref> but ]{{where?|date=January 2015}} and others{{who?|date=January 2015}} have documented multiple instances{{failed verification|date=January 2015}} of its use during ] disturbances in ] in April and early October 2014.<ref>Menahem Kahana, ] April 10, 2014.</ref><ref> Yitzhak Weiss, ] (Hebrew) 9 October 2014.</ref>{{tone-inline}}


Spraying skunk liquid has developed into one of the preferred measures adopted by the IDF to meet the challenge of Palestinians who, eschewing armed violence and suicide bombings, have refashioned their resistance to forms of ] and nonviolent demonstrations. The new tactic was devised to tamp down organized civilian protests, which are regarded as a security threat to Israel in the West Bank.<ref>Edmund Sanders, ] 27 April 2010.:'Israeli soldiers call the truck the Skunk, and they say it has become one of their favorite tools in confronting the rising challenge of West Bank demonstrations. .As Palestinians have reshaped their resistance in recent years from suicide bombings and armed attacks to civil disobedience and nonviolent demonstrations, Israel's military is grappling with how to alter its tactics as well. . . .With the increase in standoffs between armed Israeli soldiers and rock-throwing Palestinians, Israeli officials say, they have been searching for better tools, such as the Skunk, to give troops options for controlling the demonstrations.</ref> Spraying skunk liquid has developed into one of the preferred measures adopted by the IDF deal with organized protests.<ref>Edmund Sanders, ] 27 April 2010.</ref>


East Jerusalem Palestinians claim that Israeli police douse shops, restaurants and hotels in their area indiscriminately with skunk, using a stream strong enough to smash windows, the effect of which is to deter shopping. According to B'Tselem the repetitive use of the substance raises suspicions that it is being deployed as a punitive measure against entire villages where demonstrations are commonplace.<ref name="Shams" /> According to ] and video evidence, it has been used against Palestinian residential areas and businesses unconnected to demonstrations.<ref>Elior Levy, Ynet 5/3 2013,</ref> East Jerusalem Palestinians claim that Israeli police douse shops, restaurants and hotels in their area indiscriminately with skunk, using a stream strong enough to smash windows, the effect of which is to deter shopping. According to B'Tselem the repetitive use of the substance raises suspicions that it is being deployed as a punitive measure against entire villages where demonstrations are commonplace.<ref name="Shams" />{{vc|certain=y|reason=The Ma'an News Agency is the mouthpiece of the Palestinian authority. It is highly unlikely to be impartial or reliable}} According to ] and video evidence, it has been used against Palestinian residential areas and businesses unconnected to demonstrations.<ref>Elior Levy, Ynet 5/3 2013,</ref>


Nabi Saleh has been cited by ] as one village where the behavior of the IDF in suppressing peaceful demonstrations appears to be oppressive, 'may constitute collective punishment, outlawed by the Fourth Geneva Convention' and the use of skunk there seems to be 'punitive'.<ref> ] 6 No9vember 2013,18 March 2014.</ref> In ] it was used on the 26 February 2012 to disperse a crowd of an estimated 1,000 people which clashed with Israeli soldiers during a protest described as commemorating the anniversary of the ] or as pressing for the reopening of the zone of ], described as ].<ref>Michael T. McRay, ] 2013 pp.56-59.</ref> On the day a funeral cortege also took place. The mourners, who had waited for the riot to end, and who had informed Israeli soldiers of the nature of their procession to the Muslim cemetery, were also reportedly dowsed with the liquid, as was the corpse awaiting burial.<ref>Elior Levy, ] 28 February 2012.</ref> Nabi Saleh has been cited by ] as one village where the behavior of the IDF in suppressing demonstrations appears to be oppressive, 'may constitute collective punishment' and the use of skunk there seems to be 'punitive'.<ref> ] 6 No9vember 2013,18 March 2014.</ref> In ] it was used on the 26 February 2012 to disperse a crowd of an estimated 1,000 people which clashed with Israeli soldiers during a protest commemorating the anniversary of the ] or as pressing for the reopening of the zone of ].<ref>Michael T. McRay, ] 2013 pp.56-59.</ref> On the day a funeral cortege also took place. The mourners, who had waited for the riot to end, and who had informed Israeli soldiers of the nature of their procession to the Muslim cemetery, were also reportedly dowsed with the liquid, as was the corpse awaiting burial.<ref>Elior Levy, ] 28 February 2012.</ref>


It was sprayed in late June 2014 throughout Bethlehem's ] in what residents describe as an 'unprovoked and unexpected' attack.<ref name="Shams" /> Among Palestinians, the liquid is known simply as "shit".<ref name="Shams" >Alex Shams, ] 27 June 2014.</ref> It was sprayed in late June 2014 throughout Bethlehem's ] in what residents describe as an 'unprovoked and unexpected' attack.<ref name="Shams" />{{vc|certain=y|reason=The Ma'an News Agency is the mouthpiece of the Palestinian authority. It is highly unlikely to be impartial or reliable}} Among Palestinians, the liquid is known simply as "shit".<ref name="Shams" >Alex Shams, ] 27 June 2014.</ref>{{vc|certain=y|reason=The Ma'an News Agency is the mouthpiece of the Palestinian authority. It is highly unlikely to be impartial or reliable}}


==Criticism== ==Criticism==
According to testimonies collected by the ], a pro-Palestinian NGO, the liquid is sprayed indiscriminately in crowded public areas, and at times with no apparent connection to public disturbances.<ref> ] August 10, 2014:'Witness testimony reveals that the police indiscriminately sprayed the skunk liquid towards houses, people, restaurants brimming with people and in crowded streets, causing harm to innocent residents. Evidence suggests that in some cases the skunk repellent was arbitrarily used with no apparent justification and in the absence of any public disturbances.'</ref> It is suspected by ] of being used as a collective punishment measure against Palestinians,<ref name="Michaeli" >Sarit Michaeli, ] 2013 p.</ref> and has been used regularly against the villagers of ], According to testimonies collected by the ], a pro-Palestinian NGO, the liquid is sprayed indiscriminately in crowded public areas, and at times with no apparent connection to public disturbances.<ref> ] August 10, 2014:'Witness testimony reveals that the police indiscriminately sprayed the skunk liquid towards houses, people, restaurants brimming with people and in crowded streets, causing harm to innocent residents. Evidence suggests that in some cases the skunk repellent was arbitrarily used with no apparent justification and in the absence of any public disturbances.'</ref> It is suspected by ] of being used as a collective punishment measure against Palestinians,<ref name="Michaeli" >Sarit Michaeli, ] 2013 p.</ref> and has been used regularly against the villagers of ],
], ] and ], where weekly protests against the occupation are practiced.<ref name="WPO" /> In response to the B'tselem report, the ] has stated that 'Skunk' is used only when demonstrators become violent or engage in vandalism and detailed the rules of engagement in which it is used.<ref></ref> ], ] and ], where there are weekly protests.<ref name="WPO" />{{vc|certain=y|"Who Profits" is an aggressive advocacy organization, and its reports are unlikely to be impartial or reliable}} In response to the B'tselem report, the ] has stated that 'Skunk' is used only when demonstrators become violent or engage in vandalism and detailed the rules of engagement in which it is used.<ref></ref>




Revision as of 18:05, 8 January 2015

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Skunk carrying vehicle, Bil'in

"Skunk" is a malodorant, non-lethal weapon for crowd control by the Israel Defense Forces. It was developed and is manufactured by Odortec, with two supporting companies, Man and Beit-Alfa Technologies. The material used is organic and non-toxic. The manufacturer's safety sheet advises it may cause skin irritation, eye or abdominal pain, and if inhaled, breathing difficulties.

Product

Deriving its name from the animal of the same name, "Skunk" is dispersed as a form of yellow mist, fired from a water cannon, which leaves a powerful odor similar to rot or sewage on whatever it touches. The inventors plan to market Skunk to law enforcement agencies worldwide.

A BBC reporter describes its effects as follows:

“Imagine the worst, most foul thing you have ever smelled. An overpowering mix of rotting meat, old socks that haven’t been washed for weeks – topped off with the pungent waft of an open sewer. . .Imagine being covered in the stuff as it is liberally sprayed from a water cannon. Then imagine not being able to get rid of the stench for at least three days, no matter how often you try to scrub yourself clean.”

A reporter for Reuters described its effect in the following words:

Imagine taking a chunk of rotting corpse from a stagnant sewer, placing it in a blender and spraying the filthy liquid in your face. Your gag reflex goes off the charts and you can't escape, because the nauseating stench persists for days.

History

Skunk in action against targets in Bil'in

First attempts at developing a scent-based form of crowd control began in Israel in 2004 by Rafael. The IDF reconsidered at the time a change in its open fire procedures, and adopting other crowd dispersal methods after an Israeli demonstrator, Gil Na'amati (21), was shot during a protest over the separation barrier, near the West Bank village of Mas-ha in late 2003. It was told to not wash off easily and linger on clothes for up to five years. The development of Skunk followed numerous accusations against Israeli forces that they often employ disproportionate force in clashes with Palestinian protestors (e.g. using rubber bullets or tear gas), which has led them to seek new, non-lethal but effective methods of crowd control. Skunk was first used for crowd control in August 2008 in the Palestinian village of Ni'lin. B'tselem stated in May 2013 that it was unaware of the weapon ever being used to control Jewish crowds. According to police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld, it is used when Palestinians are involved in rioting. Palestinians claim it is never used in the Jewish western half of Jerusalem.> but Agence France-Presse and others have documented multiple instances of its use during Haredi disturbances in Western Jerusalem in April and early October 2014.

Spraying skunk liquid has developed into one of the preferred measures adopted by the IDF deal with organized protests.

East Jerusalem Palestinians claim that Israeli police douse shops, restaurants and hotels in their area indiscriminately with skunk, using a stream strong enough to smash windows, the effect of which is to deter shopping. According to B'Tselem the repetitive use of the substance raises suspicions that it is being deployed as a punitive measure against entire villages where demonstrations are commonplace. According to Ynet and video evidence, it has been used against Palestinian residential areas and businesses unconnected to demonstrations.

Nabi Saleh has been cited by Amnesty International as one village where the behavior of the IDF in suppressing demonstrations appears to be oppressive, 'may constitute collective punishment' and the use of skunk there seems to be 'punitive'. In Hebron it was used on the 26 February 2012 to disperse a crowd of an estimated 1,000 people which clashed with Israeli soldiers during a protest commemorating the anniversary of the Cave of the Patriarchs Massacre or as pressing for the reopening of the zone of Shuhada Street. On the day a funeral cortege also took place. The mourners, who had waited for the riot to end, and who had informed Israeli soldiers of the nature of their procession to the Muslim cemetery, were also reportedly dowsed with the liquid, as was the corpse awaiting burial.

It was sprayed in late June 2014 throughout Bethlehem's Aida refugee camp in what residents describe as an 'unprovoked and unexpected' attack. Among Palestinians, the liquid is known simply as "shit".

Criticism

According to testimonies collected by the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, a pro-Palestinian NGO, the liquid is sprayed indiscriminately in crowded public areas, and at times with no apparent connection to public disturbances. It is suspected by B'tselem of being used as a collective punishment measure against Palestinians, and has been used regularly against the villagers of Bil'in, Ni'lin, Kafr Qaddum and Nabi Saleh, where there are weekly protests. In response to the B'tselem report, the Israel Defense Force has stated that 'Skunk' is used only when demonstrators become violent or engage in vandalism and detailed the rules of engagement in which it is used.


See also

References

  1. ^ 'Crowd Control Weapons in the Occupied Palestinian Territories,' April 2014.
  2. "התרגיל המסריח; המפגינים מנעלין צריכים לקנות דיאודורנט", Haaretz, 4/9/2008
  3. ^ Wyre Davies, 'New Israeli weapon kicks up stink,' BBC News 2 October 2008.
  4. Noah Browning, 'Israeli "skunk" fouls West Bank protests,' Reuters 3 September 2012.
  5. ^ "Israel develops 'skunk bomb' for riot control situations",Haaretz, 18 September 2004.
  6. Joel Greenberg,'Shooting Of Israeli Demonstrator Is Debated,' Chicago Tribune 29 December, 2003.
  7. B'tselem Sarit Michaeli, 'Crowd Control: Israel’s Use of Crowd Control Weapons in the West Bank,' B'tselem May 2013 p.36
  8. John Reed
  9. Menahem Kahana, 'ISRAEL-POLITICS-MILITARY-JUDAISM-ARREST-DEMO,' Getty Images April 10, 2014.
  10. Yitzhak Weiss,'Discharging skunk at Haredi protesters in Jerusalem,' News 0404 (Hebrew) 9 October 2014.
  11. Edmund Sanders, tries new tactics against Palestinian protesters,' Los Angeles Times 27 April 2010.
  12. ^ Alex Shams,'Israeli forces spray Bethlehem homes with putrid-smelling water,' Ma'an News Agency 27 June 2014.
  13. Elior Levy,'Stink cannon against protesters also targeted homes. Watch,' Ynet 5/3 2013,
  14. 'Palestinian village oppressed by Israeli security forces,' Amnesty International 6 No9vember 2013,18 March 2014.
  15. Michael T. McRay,Letters from "Apartheid Street": A Christian Peacemaker in Occupied Palestine, Wipf and Stock Publishers 2013 pp.56-59.
  16. Elior Levy, 'Hebron funeral becomes target of 'skunk' weapon,' Ynet 28 February 2012.
  17. 'Concerns of Excessive Use of Skunk Spray in East Jerusalem,' ACRI August 10, 2014:'Witness testimony reveals that the police indiscriminately sprayed the skunk liquid towards houses, people, restaurants brimming with people and in crowded streets, causing harm to innocent residents. Evidence suggests that in some cases the skunk repellent was arbitrarily used with no apparent justification and in the absence of any public disturbances.'
  18. Sarit Michaeli, 'Crowd Control: Israel’s Use of Crowd Control Weapons in the West Bank,' B'tselem 2013 p.
  19. 'IDF Response to B'Tselem on Crowd Control Weapons'

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