Slain Palestinian cleared of terror accusation by Israeli police

Israeli police withdrew their accusation against a Palestinian who they shot dead amidst a car-ramming believed to be a terrorist attack in Jerusalem Wednesday.

The video of the incident which led to the withdrawal of the terrorism accusation clearly showed that the deadly shooting against the vehicle continued even after the vehicle had come to a complete stop.

On Monday, police forces said paramilitary Border Police officers opened fire against a Palestinian car heading towards them in the Shuafat refugee camp in East Jerusalem.

A police statement said the men in the car attempted to carry out a ramming attack against them.

After police forces opened fire, Mustafa Nimr, 27, was killed, and his cousin, Ali Nimr, who was driving the car, sustained minor injuries but was later arrested.

However, on Wednesday, police forces released a new statement, withdrawing their previous allegations of terrorism, explaining that Ali Nimr was driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

"He is being investigated for the suspicions of involuntary manslaughter, driving without a license, driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, and endangering human life on the path of transport," police spokeswoman Luba Samri said in a separate statement.

Local media reported that police forces continued shooting even after the vehicle had stopped and it was clear that the passengers no longer posed a threat.

An amateur video footage released by Channel 10 TV news shows police forces confiscating the car.

Also in the video, the shooting continues even after the car driver can be clearly seen lying still on his back.

Channel 10 identified the casualty as Mustafa Nimr, a 27-year-old Palestinian, born and raised in the Shuafat refugee camp, who has recently been living with his Jewish girlfriend in Ramat Gan, a city outside Tel Aviv.

Human rights organizations and Palestinian officials have increasingly accused Israel of resorting to excessive use of violence in order to suppress a yearlong Palestinian uprising, which includes shootings, knife and car-ramming attacks.

In some instances, Israeli forces killed suspects even after they no longer posed a threat.

Other times Israeli forces also opened fire against people who were mistakenly believed to be about to carry out an attack, critics say.

On the other hand, an Israeli soldier who shot dead a subdued Palestinian youth in Hebron in March is currently on trial for manslaughter.

The excessive use of violence claimed the lives of least 220 Palestinians, 34 Israelis, two U.S. citizens, and two asylum seekers from Eritrea and Sudan. Endit