WORLD : Israel Army Admits Wounding Baby

The Israeli army confirmed today that troops shot and critically wounded an 8-month-old baby in the occupied West Bank, but it accused Arabs of sending women and children to the front of violent protests.

The baby, Mohammed Bassem Kassem, suffered brain damage Tuesday when he was hit in the head with a plastic bullet during a protest in the Tulkarm camp. His mother, Samira Kassem, said he was in her arms when she passed by on her way home.

An army spokeswoman said, “The child was injured by gunshots fired by the army after disgraceful behavior we have witnessed the last week in which women and children were sent to the front to block traffic and clash with Israeli soldiers.”