Belgium's Michel hits back at Israeli critics of war crimes law

AP / The Jerusalem Post ^ | 26 February 2003 | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

[anotherview]

Feb. 26, 2003
Belgium's Michel hits back at Israeli critics of war crimes law
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel hit back Wednesday at Israeli critics of Belgium's contentious war crimes law, saying his government was not behind efforts to bring Israeli Premier Ariel Sharon to trial.

In a letter published in Belgian and Israeli newspapers, Michel said Belgium's 1993 law was the "expression of the political will to put an ethical dimension into our foreign policy."

Michel criticized the Israeli government, which recalled its ambassador two weeks ago after Belgium's Supreme Court ruled that war crimes charges could be pursued against Sharon after he is out of office and no longer covered by diplomatic immunity.

The case was filed by a group of Palestinians seeking to try Sharon for war crimes over a 1982 massacre in refugee camps in Lebanon. It is one of dozens against international figures, including Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, that have been filed in Belgium under the "universal jurisdiction" law.

"Suggestions that this case (against Sharon) is pushed by political motives of the Belgian government against Israel and its prime minister are completely unjustified," said Michel. "I deplore that my Israeli friends ... keep reiterating that this law specifically targets Israel. Nothing is further from the truth."

Michel said his government had no influence on Belgium's independent judicial system.

Some Israeli officials claimed pro-Palestinian Belgian politicians were on a witch-hunt against Israeli politicians and military officers.

Michel said the two countries could overcome the current strain in relations, noting that both share the same values rooted in democracy, personal freedoms and tolerance.

"The close bonds are reflected daily between Israel and Belgium, especially in the form of Belgium's Jewish community," Michel said, adding that Israeli claims that anti-Semitism was rife in Belgium were also unfounded.

"There is no question at all of anti-Semitism in Belgium," he said. "If there is any hint of that, then I would be the first to fight it."

The Belgian government is currently trying to reform the "universal jurisdiction" law to make it easier for authorities to reject cases without a clear link to Belgium.

But attempts to pass changes before the parliament adjourns for general elections in May bogged down Wednesday when a parliamentary committee demanded hearings to see whether the amendments were still necessary in light of the Sharon ruling.

[anotherview]

I am absolutely sure the law doesn't just target Ariel Sharon as Mr. Michel claims. Belgium would probably go after President Bush too after a war with Iraq.

[UncleSamUSA]

In a continent still abundant with virulent anti-Semitism, the stark fact is that Belgium and France are the two most unrepentant anti-Jewish nations of all.

France is actually the worst, but since Belgium is nothing more than Chirac's obedient poodle, they try to please their lord and master by out-hating the Jews, which they are in a position to do since the so-called International Court is located in Belgium. This gives this pipsqueak of a garbage-strewn country the ability to pass anti-Semitic and anti-American laws and regulations and then hide behind Chirac and the EU.

Belgium sucks.

[anotherview]

What? There is no anti-semetism in France. Just ask Jacques Chirac. He'll tell you so.

Bias warning: Olivier and Marcelo Guland are my cousins."

4 Jan 2002 21:14:45 +0200

Arutz 7 reports:

1. CHIRAC: "THERE ARE NO ANTI-SEMITES IN FRANCE"
"Everybody in France knows there is anti-Semitism except Jacques Chirac," said Olivier Guland, editor of France's largest Jewish newspaper, Tribune Juif. Guland was speaking with Arutz Sheva Israel National Radio about his revealing conversation with Chirac, during which the French President denounced reports of anti-Semitic incidents in France as "rumors."

Two days ago, during a presidential reception for newspaper editors, Guland was angrily received by Chirac when he introduced himself as the editor of the Jewish Tribune Juif. "You must stop," Chirac said. When Guland asked, "Stop what, Mr. President?" Chirac answered, "Stop saying that there is anti-Semitism in France. There is no anti-Semitism in France and, moreover, there are no anti-Semites in France." When Guland reminded the French President of anti-Semitic bombings directed against a Jewish school and synagogue in a Paris suburb just days before, Chirac replied, "No, no, it's not true. It is just a rumor."

"So," reported Olivier Guland, "I answered, 'Mr. President, what is the origin of the rumor? Is it the Jews spreading this rumor?' He didn't want to answer. After that, he said to me, again and again, 'You should stop. If you don't stop [reporting that there is anti-Semitism], it will be bad for the Jews."

The Tribune Juif editor attributed Jacques Chirac's hostility to recent comments by Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister Rabbi Michael Melchior that France is currently the most hostile Western state to the Jews. "Which is true," added Olivier Guland, pointing out that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon met with the French ambassador to Israel to discuss the growing anti-Semitism in France.

Guland also conveyed to Arutz Sheva his impression that the French President Jacques Chirac himself did not quite see Guland as a "real Frenchman." During their conversation, Chirac attempted to buttress his claims by directing Guland to speak with the editor of West France, one of the largest general French newspapers, saying, "Ask him. He knows that there is no anti-Semitism in France." Guland said that he understood that French President Chirac was telling him, "'This man is a real Frenchman. This man is not Jewish.' As if I don't know. I live in France, I was born in France. He talked to me as if I was an Israeli, but I am not, I am a Jew who lives in France."

The upsurge in anti-Semitic violence which began shortly after the outbreak of the Oslo War at the end of September 2000, and of which recent weeks have seen intense examples, has heightened interest among French Jews in immigrating to Israel. Jewish Agency chairman Sallai Meridor said last week that France, with its 600,000 member Jewish community (the third largest in the world), constitutes an important potential for aliyah (immigration to Israel). Meridor noted that the French Jewish community has close family and cultural ties to Israel. Most Jews there come from North Africa and are traditional-leaning. A large percentage have visited Israel.

A recent government directive has made available the "absorption basket" to immigrants from France. Until now, the benefits were reserved for Jews from the former Soviet Union. This allocation, above and beyond the regular benefits accorded to all new immigrants (e.g. medical insurance, rent subsidies, Hebrew language and professional courses, job retraining and placement, and mortgages at reduced interest rates, etc.), will facilitate immigrants' successful absorption into Israel.

The government also decided to extend the package of benefits to immigrants from South Africa. The South African Jewish community numbers some 80,000.

Hear the entire interview with Olivier Guland at:
Arutz Sheva audio archives"> 3. PLO: HE NEVER WAS IN JAIL

[demnomo]

I wish that the UN would move its sorry behind to Belgium. Fat chance of that happening since Belgium has poor housing, (I know an engineer from Brussels who verifies this) lousey parking, a shortage of great-looking call girls and only a few ultra-expensive restaurants for the UN officials to charge their padded UN expense accounts to.

[Alouette]

CHIRAC: "THERE ARE NO ANTI-SEMITES IN FRANCE"

Certainly not! Remember that Arabs are also Semites, and there are no people in France who hate the Arabs, ergo, there can be no Anti-Semites in France.

There are plenty of JEW-HATERS, however.

[Jumper]

I'm living here, your friend is wrong:) Housing is nice if you can afford it:) Belgium is two countries by geographic region, towards France it is backwards and poor, with dismal weather.... Around Brussels and northward, tax money is spent on the afluently taxed masses resulting in decent roads and buildings that kept up.... I will admit that it is depressing to drive through Liege (Luik) {FrencH and Dutch names due to two predomient languages} and seeing buildings without windows, bad roads, rusted out cars, etc.

[expatpat]

.....a shortage of great-looking call girls and only a few ultra-expensive restaurants for the UN officials to charge their padded UN expense accounts to.

...and those are fully booked up with NATO officials charging expense accounts....

[demnomo]

LOL. :)

[demnomo]

Seriously?! My husband has an employee from Brussels, Belgium who told me that housing is cramped and expensive in Brussels--much more so than here in Sonoma County, CA. The Belgian and his family love the USA. He really respects and admires President Bush. He recently purchased a modest tract home which he thinks is spacious. The Belgian also says that aside from glorious chocolate, Belgium cuisine is highly overrated. Go figure.

[Jumper]

Housing is cramped and run down for many people on "European" salaries, living the European Socialist Dream. Bur for those of us fortunate to be here with living expenses paid.... $32,000a year is max amount my employer will pay for my Brussels housing - I'm spending every penny plus some on top of that. Brussels is a high cost area because the EU is here and those who represent their countries at the EU also have diplomatic discounts, expenses paid, etc., therefore they are insulated from their poor decisions. There is no individual represention in the EU for the people.