Israel's top court rejects appeal in death of U.S. activist

Israel's top court rejected Thursday an appeal by the family of U.S. peace activist Rachel Corrie, who was killed in Gaza by a military bulldozer in 2003, shattering any hope by her family to hold Israel accountable for the death.

The Supreme Court upheld a 2012 ruling by a lower court, that exonerated Israel from any wrongdoing and exempted the government from paying the Corrie family civil damages for wrongful death.

The court said the state is not liable because the incident happened in the context of a war zone.

Corrie was an anti-occupation activist from Olympia, Washington, who took part in the International Solidarity Movement (ISM). She came to the Gaza Strip in March 2003 to protest the Israeli occupation and the demolition of Palestinian homes.

During one of these protests, Corrie stood in front of a bulldozer, trying to block it, before it hit the college student.

A military investigation cleared the military of any wrongdoing, saying the driver could not see her from where he sat at the moment.

Eyewitnesses said Corrie was wearing an orange vest and that activists shouted the driver to stop before he ran over the 23-year-old college student.

Her death made her a symbol among peace activists worldwide.

In 2005, the Corrie family filed lawsuits against the Israeli army and Defense Ministry, which were later dismissed. In 2010 the family filed a civil lawsuit to the Haifa District Court over what they said was the "unlawful and intentional killing" of Rachel.

The judges ruled in 2012 that her death was a "regrettable accident" but determined that the state was not responsible for it, as it happened in a war-time situation. Endit