Article

2003-06-10 Europe

Belgian court rules case against Israeli general is admissible

JPost - reg req'd - A Belgian court ruled on Tuesday that a case against an Israeli general for alleged crimes against humanity could proceed.

A Brussels court decided that an appeal by a group of Palestinians to try former Israeli army commander Amos Yaron over a 1982 massacre in Lebanese refugee camps was admissible.

Earlier this year, the Supreme Court threw out a similar appeal to try Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon even though it left the door open for a new investigation to be opened once Sharon leaves office and loses diplomatic immunity.

The appeals filed under Belgium's universal jurisdiction law have cooled relations with Israel and Jerusalem and led to Israel briefly recalling its ambassador from Brussels for consultations in February.
Universal Jurisdiction? Let's see you Belgians try and take him from Israel by force you cowardly pompous asshats. Better yet, let the case against Tommy Franks go forward. Can you say delusional?
The government recently approved amendments to its universal jurisdiction law making it easier for claims which it deems to be politically motivated to be dismissed or sent on.

The government used that right last month to pass on a complaint against US Gen. Tommy Franks, the commander of US-led forces in Iraq, on to the United States. It can do so if the country of the accused has a democratic and fair legal system.

The government could take a similar decision on Yaron.

Belgian prosecutors opened an inquiry in July 2001 following a complaint filed by 23 survivors of the massacres. The investigation was suspended in September 2001 while Sharon's lawyers challenged the Belgian jurisdiction.

If a judge decides to press charges, Yaron could technically be arrested to stand trial if he enters Belgium.
Sounds like NATO's over boys - time to withdraw
So far, four Rwandans have been sentenced up to 20 years under the war crimes law for their role in the 1994 genocide of the country's Tutsi ethnic minority.

But complaints have been filed against a range of international figures, including Saddam Hussein, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Cuban President Fidel Castro.

Posted by Frank G 2003-06-10 03:55 pm|| || Front Page|| [11 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 I'm waiting for someone to use the court to kill the court.

Basically, file suit in the court against the founders of the court for violating "national sovereignty" (or something like that - probably find it in the UN Charter) - and nice thing is, if you win the case, the Belgians are right there to go to prison.

It would be funny to see the court used against itself.

Posted by OldSpook 2003-06-10 17:56:57|| 2003-06-10 17:56:57|| Front Page Top

#2 Can we enact a "universal jurisdiction law"? I think that would be fun. Making a list... checking it twice...

Posted by tu3031 2003-06-10 22:17:38|| 2003-06-10 22:17:38|| Front Page Top

#3 Why don't the Belgians just S.T.F.U.? I mean, a tiny country noted only for chocolate, pastry, and pedophiles, where do they get off? I think they have been too close to France for too long, they are sounding more and more like Jacques all the time.

Posted by Anonymous Troll 2003-06-11 00:33:23|| 2003-06-11 00:33:23|| Front Page Top

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