Dichter calls Jordanian lawsuit plans 'hypocrisy'
Internal Security Minister Dichter comments on reports Jordanian Parliament plans to file criminal lawsuit against Israeli officials for alleged war crimes in Gaza: 'No greater hypocrisy than when country that murdered 10,000 Palestinians deals with international crimes'
Under the threat of legal proceedings against Israel in the International scene following Operation Cast Lead in Gaza, a top minister made particularly harsh statements against the State's neighbor to the east.
Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter on Tuesday was furious with reports that Jordan planned to file a lawsuit against himself and other Israeli officials at the International Criminal Court in The Hague for alleged war crime carried out during the Gaza offensive.
"There is no greater hypocrisy than a country that just 39 years ago, during Black September in 1970, murdered 10,000 of its Palestinian residents – dealing with international crimes today," Dichter told Ynet.
"Jordan will not be the one to teach Israel what combat morals are," the minister added.
Dichter's response came less than 24-hours after reports in German and Arab media that Jordanian Parliament members planned to file a petition to the ICC to prosecute Israeli officials for war crimes committed during Operation Cast Lead.
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Yigal Palmor also responded to the reports saying, "This is a ridiculous joke of a lawsuit that is based on news clippings taken out of Hamas' propaganda publications."
"This lawsuit is based on clips of atrocities broadcast on al-Jazeera. This suit has no legal grounds, it's a purely propaganda move that will eventually fall in the water."
Chairman of the Jordanian Parliament's Legal Committee, Mubarak Abu Yameen al-Abadi, is scheduled to meet with The Hague's attorney general on Thursday and file a petition to prosecute heads of the State of Israel for war crimes.
The Jordanian MP will demand Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter, Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai and IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi stand trial.
The MP claimed that these officials were "the main forces behind the war crimes committed in the Gaza Strip". The petition refers to all activity carried out between December 27, 2008 and January 18, 2009.
The lawsuit accuses the Israeli officials of charges such as "expelling residents, the demolition of houses, places of worship, hospitals, schools and ambulances".
The Jordanian Parliament members further claimed that Israel used weapons prohibited by international treaties, such as white phosphorus, shells containing uranium, and shells containing cancerous substances that were used for the first time.
