Spain won't annul judge's decision

[azurnoir]

The Spanish government is not intending to work to annul a decision by a Spanish court to prosecute seven Israeli officials for alleged war crimes committed during the targeted assassination of Salah Shehadeh in 2002. 14 other people were killed along with Shehadeh.

On Thursday a Spanish judge decided to launch a probe against National Infrastructures Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, who was defense minister at the time; Likud Knesset candidate Moshe Ya'alon, who was chief of General Staff; Dan Halutz, then commander of the air force; Doron Almog, who was OC Southern Command; then-National Security Council head Giora Eiland; the defense minister's military secretary, Mike Herzog; and Public Security Minister Avi Dichter, who was head of the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency).

Ya'alon said Friday that threat of legal action didn't concern him.

"It's all propaganda, and it's being led by Arab groups with the help of Israelis who are giving them information," he told Army Radio. "I'm not worried that they might charge me."

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233304639276&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

[bemildred]

1. Spain denies Israeli claim that it is to limit Universal Juristiction

Israeli Foreign Minister, Tzipi Livno, had claimed that Spain was going to change the legislation under which the Spanish National Court hears cases from other countries.

Spain has denied a claim by the Israeli Foreign Minister, Tzipi Livni, who had claimed that her Spanish counterpart, Miguel Ángel Moratinos, had told her that Spain would be changing the legislation regarding the National Court hearing cases from other countries under the concept of Universal Jurisdiction.

There has been harsh criticism from Israel against the Spanish National Court decision from judge, Fernando Andreu, to accept the case from the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights and to indict six Israeli soldiers and a previous Minister of Defence for crimes against humanity for dropping a ton bomb on Gaza in 2002. The attack killed their target, a Hamas leader, but also 14 civilians.

The Israeli Ambassador to Spain, Raphael Schutz, has said that in judging his country Spain has lost direction and he claimed the case had the end wish to question the very existence of Israel. The argument of Universal Justice is based on article 23 of the Organic Law for Judicial Power in Spain.

http://www.typicallyspanish.com/news/publish/article_19854.shtml

[bemildred]

2. Spain to stop investigations of alleged Israeli war crimes

A day after a Spanish court ordered an investigation into an assassination of a Palestinian militant in 2002, the Spanish government has said it will cancel the investigation, and change the law to prevent such investigations being undertaken in the future.

The moves came after Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni telephoned the Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos on Friday. Livni said after the call Moratinos told her he 'would fix it.'

The Spanish judge on Thursday ruled the assassination of Salah Shehadeh by an F-16 air strike on a home on July 22 2002, which resulted in fifteen people killed, including nine children, and more than 100 wounded, should be investigated as a war crime. He placed seven current and former Israeli government and military officials, including two current ministers, under investigation. They are Infrastructure Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, who was defense minister at the time, Public Security Minister Avi Dichter, who was then heading the Shin Bet agency, Likud Knesset candidate Moshe Ya'alon, who was chief of General Staff, Dan Halutz, the then commander of the Israel Air Force, Doron Almog, who was OC Southern Command, then-National Security Council chief Giora Eiland, and the defense minister's military secretary, Mike Herzog.

Moratinos, according to Israel Radio, has since told Livni his government will amend the authority of the Spanish courts to prevent such investigations from being launched in the future and limit the courts' jurisdiction.

http://story.irishsun.com/index.php/ct/9/cid/2411cd3571b4f088/id/460674/cs/1/

[azurnoir]

3. So ah ok huh?

maybe I woke up late or something but:shrug:

[bemildred]

4. There seems to be some confusion. nt

[Jefferson23]

8. Interesting choice of words, "fix it".

[Scurrilous]

5. Israeli officials forming united front against Spanish lawsuit

Representatives of seven security officials facing prosecution in Madrid for 'crimes against humanity' to meet with deputy state prosecutor in bid to cause Spanish judge to reconsider decision to approve lawsuit

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3665619,00.html

<snip>

"The seven Israeli security officials facing prosecution in Spain for "crimes against humanity" were summoned to a meeting Monday afternoon at the office of Deputy State Prosecutor Shai Nitzan, in order to form a united stance which will be submitted to the Spanish judge who approved the lawsuit, Ynet has learned.

The meeting is aimed at stopping the lawsuit which has damaged the diplomatic relations between Israel and Spain."

<snip>

"During Monday's meeting, a joint stance will be formed for all seven officials – some of whom have already said they would send their representatives to the discussion. The stance will be delivered to the judge through the Spanish Foreign and Justice ministries.

Israeli legal officials have estimated that this would allow the judge to reconsider his decision to approve the lawsuit.

The seven officials have held telephone consultations on the Spanish lawsuit with senior officials at the State Prosecutor's Office, who have advised them on how to act in regards to the lawsuit.

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni spoke to her Spanish counterpart, Miguel Ángel Moratinos, last week and expressed her discontent with the Spanish judge's decision.

A day later, Moratinos announced that the Spanish government would work to change the legislation and limit the courts' jurisdiction in order to prevent charges against Israeli security officials.

Foreign Ministry officials said that based on Livni's conversation with Moratinos there was some hope that the Israeli interest could be promoted in the lawsuit. According to estimates, however, the lawsuit will not be stopped."

[Scurrilous]

7. Spanish judge asked to suspend Israel probe

Prosecutors say Israel investigating 2002 bombing in Gaza that killed Hamas commander Shehada, 14 others

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3696470,00.html

<snip>

"Spanish prosecutors have asked a Madrid judge to suspend an investigation of seven Israeli officials over a 2002 bombing in Gaza that killed Hamas commander Salah Shehada and 14 others, including nine children.

In a writ issued Thursday, prosecutors at the National Court asked Judge Fernando Andreu to hold off because they said Israel is investigating the attack.

Andreu said in January that one reason he agreed to open the investigation was that Israel had neither responded to a request for information about the bombing nor started legal proceedings against the seven officials.

The probe angered Israeli officials. Following consultations, Israel said Spain had agreed to trim the authority of its courts in cases of so-called universal jurisdiction.

Nearly all heads of Israel's defense establishment at the time of the assassination are included in the list of defendants: Former Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, former IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General (Res.) Moshe Yaalon, former Shin Bet Director Avi Dichter, former Israel Air Force Commander Dan Halutz, former head of the IDF Operation Branch Major-General (Res.) Giora Eiland, and former Southern Command Chief Doron Almog."

[Scurrilous]

6. U.K. backtracks on war crimes legislation

<snip>

"London will not push through changes in legislation that permits the arrest of Israel Defense Forces officers visiting Britain on war crimes, as previously promised, Jerusalem has learned.

In an unofficial message to Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Britain said that as a result of the decline in Israel's public image following Operation Cast Lead the government believes it will be unable to pass the amendment to the legislation before next year's scheduled elections.

British law permits private citizens to press charges against foreigners on war crimes charges. Once an indictment has been issued suspects can be arrested if they enter Britain.

In 2005 Maj. Gen. (res.) Doron Almog flew to London for a brief visit. After being informed, while still on the plane, that police were waiting for him to disembark so that they could arrest him, Almog remained on the aircraft and returned to Israel.

An arrest warrant had been issued against him for his alleged role in the razing of Palestinian homes in Rafah during his service as GOC Southern Command.

Since that incident, senior IDF officers in both active and reserve service, including former IDF chiefs of staff and cabinet ministers (Ehud Barak and Shaul Mofaz), have avoided traveling to Britain."

more

[Jefferson23]

9. Looks like its all fixed in Britain too now.