Skunk (weapon)

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Water cannon with skunk, bil'in

Skunk is a malodorous, non-lethal weapon used by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for crowd control . It is also marketed to foreign security forces around the world. Skunk is developed and produced by Ordotec together with the two supporting companies Man and Beit-Alfa Technologies. The foul smelling liquid was suggested as an improvement over other crowd control weapons used by the IDF against Palestinian protesters, such as: B. rubber bullets or tear gas marketed.

product

Used in Ni'lin during a demonstration in 2012

The substance has been reported to be a mixture of baking soda , yeast and other organic and non-toxic ingredients. The name was chosen based on the name of the skunk (skunk) . Skunk is shot down with water cannons , causing a yellow mist that leaves a strong rot-like or sewage-like odor on contact. Skunk is also sold in handheld canisters and grenades. Skunk is marketed worldwide, particularly to the city ​​police in the United States.

A BBC reporter described the weapon’s 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. "

“Imagine the worst, nastiest thing you have ever smelled. An overwhelming mix of rotten meat, old socks that haven't been washed for weeks - topped off by a sharp gush of an open drainpipe ... Imagine getting covered in the stuff while it's being liberally shot from a water cannon. Then imagine if you couldn't get rid of the stench for at least three days no matter how often you try to scrub yourself clean. "

A Reuter reporter described the 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. "

“Imagine taking a good chunk of rotting corpse from a standing sewer, putting it in a blender, and spraying the disgusting liquid on your face. Your gag reflex will be beyond good and bad and you cannot escape it because the disgusting stench lasts for days. "

However, when tested in India , Skunk failed all along the line. The test subjects (Indian police officers and civilians) tolerated the smell very well. It has been suggested that Indians are generally more tolerant of stink.

In addition to nausea, vomiting and rash, the use of the product can also lead to injuries from the force of the water cannon. There are also indications that the strong urge to cough can also lead to shortness of breath.

neutralization

The manufacturer sells a special soap that can neutralize the odor of Skunk, but only to the state authorities. It has been reported that rubbing in ketchup and then washing it off with water also has a neutralizing effect.

history

Skunk use in Bil'in

The first development attempts of an odor-based form of crowd control started by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems in 2004 in Israel . The IDF then considered a change in its approach to shooting protesters. After 21-year-old Gil Na'amati was shot dead by Israeli security forces after breaking a cordon in a protest near the village of Mas-ha in the West Bank in 2003 , they adopted new methods of dispersing groups of demonstrators. The development of Skunk followed numerous allegations of using excessive force in the form of rubber bullets and tear gas against protesting Palestinians.

The first Skunk deployment reportedly took place in August 2008 in the Palestinian village of Ni'lin , where there were daily protests following a newly erected security line. The spraying of skunk became a preferred measure against Palestinian protesters and civil disobedience .

In Hebron, Skunk was used on February 26, 2012 to disperse an estimated 1,000 protesters who reportedly commemorated the massacre at the Patriarch's Grotto . An uninvolved funeral procession was probably hit. Skunk was also used in 2015 during clashes at a demonstration for the release of the Palestinian hunger striker Mohammad Allan in Ashkelon .

In 2017, Israeli forces began using Skunk against ultra-Orthodox Jewish protesters.

Reactions

I.a. Amnesty International , B'Tselem and the Association for Civil Rights in Israel criticized the IDF's intervention. For example, the use against uninvolved people, shops and houses was cited.

See also

Web links

Commons : Skunk (weapon)  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ התרגיל המסריח; המפגינים מנעלין צריכים לקנות דיאודורנט . In: הארץ . September 4, 2008 ( Haaretz.co.il [accessed March 3, 2020]).
  2. ↑ Israeli "skunk" fouls West Bank protests . In: Reuters . September 3, 2012 ( reuters.com [accessed March 3, 2020]).
  3. ↑ Crowd Control. Retrieved March 3, 2020 .
  4. ↑ A whiff from hell . In: The Economist . ISSN  0013-0613 ( economist.com [accessed March 3, 2020]).
  5. ↑ New Israeli weapon kicks up stink . October 2, 2008 ( bbc.co.uk [accessed March 3, 2020]).
  6. ↑ Israeli "skunk" fouls West Bank protests . In: Reuters . September 3, 2012 ( reuters.com [accessed March 3, 2020]).
  7. ↑ Smelly bomb planned to douse protests doesn't raise a stink. July 27, 2017, accessed March 3, 2020 .
  8. ↑ Smelly bomb planned to douse protests doesn't raise a stink. July 27, 2017, accessed March 3, 2020 .
  9. ^ Josh Breiner: Protesters With Weapon Developed Against Palestinians, and It Stinks. Haaretz , 7 December 2017.
  10. ↑ Who, What, Why: What is skunk water? In: BBC News . September 12, 2015 ( bbc.com [accessed March 3, 2020]).
  11. ↑ Haaretz Service: Israel Develops 'Skunk Bomb' for Riot Control Situations . In: Haaretz . September 18, 2004 ( Haaretz.com [accessed March 3, 2020]).
  12. ↑ Joel Greenberg Chicago Tribune: SHOOTING OF ISRAELI DEMONSTRATOR IS DEBATED. Retrieved March 3, 2020 (American English).
  13. ↑ New Israeli weapon kicks up stink . October 2, 2008 ( bbc.co.uk [accessed March 3, 2020]).
  14. ↑ Hambling, David: Israel Unleashes First 'Skunk Bomb'. In: Wired. September 21, 2008, accessed January 31, 2015 .
  15. ^ Israel tries new tactics against Palestinian protesters. April 27, 2010, accessed March 3, 2020 (American English).
  16. ^ Michael T. McRay: Letters from "Apartheid Street": A Christian Peacemaker in Occupied Palestine . Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2013, ISBN 978-1-62032-625-1 ( google.com [accessed March 3, 2020]).
  17. ↑ Hebron funeral becomes target of 'skunk' weapon. February 28, 2012, accessed March 3, 2020 .
  18. ^ Protesters clash with police at Ashkelon demonstration over Palestinian hunger striker. Retrieved March 3, 2020 .
  19. ^ Josh Breiner, Israeli Police Target ultra-Orthodox Protesters With Weapon Developed Against Palestinians, and It Stinks . In: Haaretz . December 7, 2017 ( Haaretz.com [accessed March 3, 2020]).
  20. ↑ תותח הסירחון נגד המפגינים מכוון גם לבתים. צפו. March 5, 2013, Retrieved March 3, 2020 (Hebrew).