Posted on 05/04/2009 2:25:42 PM PDT by knighthawk
A Spanish judge on Monday decided to continue with an investigation of alleged war crimes by senior Israeli military officials over an air strike in Gaza seven years ago, which killed 15 people, including top Hamas member, Salah Shehadeh.
According to AFP, a few weeks ago public prosecutors advised National Court judge Fernando Andreu to close the file because the attack was under probe in Israel. Andreu, however, dismissed the claim that such a probe was underway and even if it were, there is no limitation for the Spanish judiciary to investigate the charges. "No criminal investigation which could lead to the possibility of a conflict of jurisdictions has up until now arisen," Andreu defended his decision.
The Spanish judge noted that Israel had not decided to launch a criminal inquiry.
The charges are directed to former defense minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, the then army chief of staff, General Moshe Yaalon, in addition to the then commander of the Israeli air force, General Dan Halutz. Other names include: General Doron Almog, national security council chief Giora Eiland, Michael Herzog, a defence ministry official, and Avi Dichter, director of the Shabak internal security services.
If Israel wasn’t otherwise occupied, it could take out the Spanish Army, Navy, and Air Force in an afternoon - with time left over for a siesta.
They ought to be more interested in going after the sheetheads who blew up their folks a few years ago..
They ought to be more interested in going after the sheetheads who blew up their folks a few years ago..
The same way the Brits do, they’ve had similar incidents with Israelis, and you probably remember Pinochet. In many European countries local magistrates can file charges for just about anything against anyone, without central government approval. Which is enough to effectively bar travel by those accused. As to treaties, any signatory to the Genocide Treaty can file charges against any violator. The US could charge a Sudanese in US Court. I don’t know it that extends to various treaties relating to war crimes and/or torture, but I wouldn’t be surprised. In theory a Spanish or Brit magistrate could limit VP Cheney’s travels.
Israel should launch an investigation of the crimes of the Spanish Iquisition, including the genocide and ethnic cleansing of over 1 Million Spanish Jews. Reparations should be made to all the descendents of the families who lost their lives, livlihoods and homes 500 years ago...
Next the Israeli courts could look into the utter butchery, genocide and subjugation Spanish conquistadors perpetrated on Central and South America....
Spain’s leading role in the slave trade (2/3 of African captives were taken to ports SOUTH of the USA after all).
Then they could also investigate the Franco regime’s cooperation with the Nazis.
Finally they can charge them with the the terrible cruelty continuing of bull fighting....
Excellent point!
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