DUBAI – Israel indicted a 16-year-old Palestinian girl on Monday on chargesincluding assault for punching an Israeli soldier in the face two weeksago, an incident which made her into a hero for Palestinians and was seenas humiliating by right-wing Israelis.

Israel has held Ahed Tamimi since arresting her three days after she wasfilmed punching the soldier at the entrance to her family home in a villagein the occupied West Bank. The confrontation took place after what Israelsays was a stone-throwing assault on its troops.

The case has made her into such a potent symbol for Palestinians that acommentator in Israeli left-wing newspaper Haaretz said Israel riskedturning her into the “Palestinian Joan of Arc”.

Right-wing Israelis, meanwhile, have debated whether the soldier hadappeared weak by opting not to strike back. The Israeli army said he “actedprofessionally” by showing restraint.