Hans
01-30-2009, 08:06 AM
A top Israeli official named as a suspect in a war crimes investigation by Spain's high court has lambasted the move, claiming Spanish law is siding with terrorist organizations.
"This is a ridiculous decision and, even more than ridiculous, it is outrageous," Ben-Eliezer said. "Terror organizations are using the courts in the free world, the methods of democratic countries, to file suit against a country that is operating against terror."
The case, brought by the Palestinian relatives of some of the deceased, names Ben-Eliezer and six other Israeli top military commanders and security officials at the time.
The National Court said it has jurisdiction to investigate the case, and that initial evidence suggests the bombing "should be considered a crime against humanity," according to a court order.
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement condemning the action.
"The Spanish magistrate's decision is unacceptable, and Israel will use all the means at its disposal to cancel it," the statement said. " One way or another, Israel will guarantee, and provide full legal counsel, to all members of the armed forces who worked in the name of the state of Israel."
The Israeli case involves the July 22, 2002, bombing in Gaza of the home of a suspected Hamas commander, Salah Shehadeh. The blast killed him and members of a Palestinian family named Mattar. They lived next door. Some of their relatives brought the suit to the court in August.
Israel's Defense Minister Ehud Barak issued a statement, saying: "Those that call the assassination of a terrorist a 'crime against humanity' live in an upside-down world. All the senior officials in the security establishment, past and present, acted appropriately on behalf of the state of Israel from their commitment to defend the security of its citizens."
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/01/30/spain.israel.gaza.lawsuit/index.html
"This is a ridiculous decision and, even more than ridiculous, it is outrageous," Ben-Eliezer said. "Terror organizations are using the courts in the free world, the methods of democratic countries, to file suit against a country that is operating against terror."
The case, brought by the Palestinian relatives of some of the deceased, names Ben-Eliezer and six other Israeli top military commanders and security officials at the time.
The National Court said it has jurisdiction to investigate the case, and that initial evidence suggests the bombing "should be considered a crime against humanity," according to a court order.
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement condemning the action.
"The Spanish magistrate's decision is unacceptable, and Israel will use all the means at its disposal to cancel it," the statement said. " One way or another, Israel will guarantee, and provide full legal counsel, to all members of the armed forces who worked in the name of the state of Israel."
The Israeli case involves the July 22, 2002, bombing in Gaza of the home of a suspected Hamas commander, Salah Shehadeh. The blast killed him and members of a Palestinian family named Mattar. They lived next door. Some of their relatives brought the suit to the court in August.
Israel's Defense Minister Ehud Barak issued a statement, saying: "Those that call the assassination of a terrorist a 'crime against humanity' live in an upside-down world. All the senior officials in the security establishment, past and present, acted appropriately on behalf of the state of Israel from their commitment to defend the security of its citizens."
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/01/30/spain.israel.gaza.lawsuit/index.html