Channels

Shehade's funeral
Photo: AP

Israel: Spanish probe a 'cynical move'

Foreign, Justice ministries say 'PCHR using Spanish legal system to promote move against Israel'

The Foreign Ministry stated Monday that a Spanish judge's decision to launch an investigation against six prominent Israeli military officials was unfortunate.

 

The officials are under suspicion of "war crimes" in relation to a July 2002 bombing that killed senior Hamas operative Salah Shehade and 14 Gazan civilians.

 

"We have no doubt that this decision is just another cynical move aimed at taking advantage of the Spanish judicial system against Israel, and it will be revoked after the appeal as requested," the ministry's statement said.

The Justice Ministry issued a statement to the same effect, and said the Israeli side was awaiting the Spanish prosecution's move in order to file an appeal.

 

"The claim filed in Spain by the Palestinian Center for Human Rights is a cynical attempt… at promoting a political move against Israel," said the ministry's spokesman, Moshe Cohen.

 

"We are convinced that the Spanish government and its judicial system will employ any means to keep this move from succeeding."

 

Defense Minister Ehud Barak said that he would appeal the decision before the Spanish government. "The Israeli army is the most ethical in the world," he said.

 

MK Avi Dichter (Kadima), who is one of the officials named in the case, said the Spanish people have failed to differentiate between terror and the counter-terror measures.

 

"What's surprising is that it is in Spain, which was hit by Muslim terrorism in 2004, that a judge finds it hard to tell the difference between fighting terror and what he calls 'crimes against humanity.'

 

"Every child knew that Shehade was an arch-murderer, that he has the blood of hundreds on his hands. Unfortunately, taking him out resulted in innocent casualties, but we are fighting terrorists who use civilians as human shields."

 

Aviad Glickman contributed to this report

 


פרסום ראשון: 05.04.09, 17:37
 new comment
Warning:
This will delete your current comment