http://english.pnn.ps/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4599&Itemid=1
According to Palestinian News Network (PNN) – international lawyers are filing war crime charges against Israeli officials at the international Criminal Court in the Hague. The French lawyer orchestrating the case claims that there is some fear of interference from the United Nations Security Council under pressure from the United States to stop proceedings and prevent access to trial, although there is no formal evidence that this is the case. Although in principle this is immaterial, the case will no doubt be weakened by the public perception that Morocco, Venezuela and Argentina, who are bringing allegations, are countries which now or in the recent past can scarcely boast a spotless human rights record.
That much said, local experts such as the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights believe that the recent major attacks on the Gaza Strip will be successfully prosecuted. “They were well-documented, televised and the world was paying attention,” a member of the Gaza City team commented. Their optimism may be somewhat misplaced, however: charges against Ariel Sharon and others in the past did not get past first base. The public exposure of large-scale atrocities, including the alleged use of white phosphorus bombs in enclosed civilian areas and widespread killing of hundreds of children, for which there is ample evidence, will be difficult to defend in theory, but the the founding texts of the International Criminal Court empowers the UN Security Council to suspend its work, so it is doubtful that prosecutions will proceed, unless the Obama administration demonstrates a new form of resolve. According to PCC, implicated Israelis have been warned internally against leaving its boundaries due to fears of arrest. There may be some truth in this: as reported, (Thus passim) Israel has publicly vowed to grant legal aid to indicted soldiers and officials.
French lawyer Gilles Dovers is handling the complaint in Paris calling for the ‘open investigation into war crimes’ committed by Israeli forces during three weeks in Gaza. Dovers said today that 500 complaints are being submitted by Arab, European and Latin American officials. Bolivia and Venezuela are preparing their own cases. Argentine international prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, is deciding whether to go ahead with an investigation. Fifteen specific names are now pending for prosecution in The Hague’s war crimes tribunal. Those listed for prosecution includes Ehud Barak, Amir Peretz, Binyamin Ben Eliezer, Avi Dichter, Carmi Gilon, Dan Halutz, Doron Almog, Ehud Olmert, Eliezer Shkedy, Gabi Ashkenazi, Giora Eiland, Matan Vilani, Moshe Bogi Yaalon, Shaul Mofaz and Tzipi Livni. You can read the allegations on: www.wanted.org.il
Today’s invitation to try at least 15 Israeli officials is being delivered by 30 international lawyers of several nationalities. In parallel, the intention of a group of French lawyers to file a complaint on behalf of French citizens of Palestinian origin to the French courts against Israeli officials is gaining attention in the cities of Paris and eastern France. Co-ordination with other lawyers in Belgium and Spain is underway as similar complaints against the Israeli officials are being made in Brussels and Madrid. Belgium is among the countries who issued charges against Ariel Sharon in the past. Moroccan lawyers also disclosed yesterday practical steps toward filing a lawsuit against “the perpetrators of war crimes” in Gaza. Six lawyers are working with the Minister of Justice of Morocco.
