Saturday, October 03, 2009

Israel trying to dodge overseas prosecution over Gaza...

STUNG by a damning UN report alleging war crimes in Gaza, Israel is taking extraordinary steps to fend off potential international prosecution of its political and military leaders, hiring high-powered attorneys, lobbying Western governments and launching a public relations blitz.

Israel has dismissed the UN investigation into its winter offensive in the Gaza strip as biased, but its latest moves show it is clearly concerned. The UN report appears to have energised pro-Palestinian groups that have hoped for years to bring Israelis before courts in countries that recognize the concept of “universal jurisdiction” - trying people for crimes unrelated to their own territory or nationals. Most recently, British activists attempted this week to have Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak arrested during a trip to Britain for war crimes connected to his role in the Gaza war. Barak was untouched - but only because the court that considered the request ruled that he enjoyed immunity as a Cabinet minister. But the incident raised the prospect that Israelis might find it increasingly difficult to travel to European countries that recognise universal jurisdiction. More...

Don't miss:

  1. Gaza violations "must not go unpunished"
  2. Israel demands PA drop war crimes suit, otherwise...
  3. Sliming Goldstone and his report on Israeli war crimes...
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  5. Gaza: the images they are not showing you ...
  6. 25 years ago, the Sabra and Shatila massacres ...

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