Yet another investigation into Israeli war crimes has opened. A Spanish judge has okayed an investigation into the killing of 15 people, mostly children, in the murder of Hamas leader Salah Shehadeh in 2002 using a one tonne bomb. Spain, alongside a growing number of countries, considers itself to have universal jurisdiction where war crimes and human rights violations are concerned.
National Court judge Fernando Andreu agreed in January to consider the complaint lodged by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights against former Israeli defence minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer and six senior military officials, sparking strong objections from Israel.
In addition to Ben-Eliezer, the complaint names the army chief of staff at the time, General Moshe Yaalon, and the head of the Israeli air force, General Dan Halutz.
Predictably, Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak dismissed the allegations of war crimes and is lobbying Spanish government to block the decision.
"I intend to contact the Spanish foreign minister and defence minister, and if necessary, the Spanish prime minister in order to act to cancel the order," he told reporters.
"There is no organisation as moral as the IDF (Israel Defence Forces) and I have no doubt that all those who acted then to kill Shehadeh acted with a clear head and with the sole intention of defending Israel's citizens with the available means," he added.
Yeah right.
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights statement on the Spanish investigation
Meanwhile, UN investigators are meeting in Geneva this week to prepare for a fact-finding mission to Israel and Gaza.
National Court judge Fernando Andreu agreed in January to consider the complaint lodged by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights against former Israeli defence minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer and six senior military officials, sparking strong objections from Israel.
In addition to Ben-Eliezer, the complaint names the army chief of staff at the time, General Moshe Yaalon, and the head of the Israeli air force, General Dan Halutz.
Predictably, Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak dismissed the allegations of war crimes and is lobbying Spanish government to block the decision.
"I intend to contact the Spanish foreign minister and defence minister, and if necessary, the Spanish prime minister in order to act to cancel the order," he told reporters.
"There is no organisation as moral as the IDF (Israel Defence Forces) and I have no doubt that all those who acted then to kill Shehadeh acted with a clear head and with the sole intention of defending Israel's citizens with the available means," he added.
Yeah right.
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights statement on the Spanish investigation
Meanwhile, UN investigators are meeting in Geneva this week to prepare for a fact-finding mission to Israel and Gaza.
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