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Minister Yisrael Katz
Photo: Gil Yohanan

Taking the Qassams to court

Ministerial committee charged with handling war crimes lawsuits against Israeli officials adopts proposal that would see state respond to every Hamas rocket or mortar attack with litigation of its own

Switching tactics? The special ministerial committee appointed to handle international lawsuits against Israeli officials on various war crime charges may also work towards pursuing legal action against Hamas in response to the ongoing rocket attacks against southern Israel.

 

The committee was formed following the pending trial in Spain against several Israeli defense and military officials over the 2002 killing of Hamas leader Salah Shehade.

 

Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz however, suggested that the committee not only focus on defending citizens but also go on the offensive. The cabinet recently adopted Katz's proposal that Israel respond to every Qassam rocket or mortar shell attack from the Gaza Strip with formal complaints to various international organizations.

 

"Israel is the one being attacked now, they're firing at a civilian population in violation of international law and we're the ones on trial," said Katz. "The committee has to ensure that Israel's legal, diplomatic and PA systems act in response to every rocket or shell fired from Gaza."

 

The committee's first mission will be to face the reopening of a Spanish investigation against six Israeli figures including Binyamin Ben-Eliezer and Dan Halutz into the 2002 assassination of Hamas official Salah Shehadeh, in which 14 civilians were killed.

 

Headed by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, the committee has been tasked with spearheading policy decisions regarding terrorism. It will also include Attorney General Menachem Mazuz, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Interior Minister Eli Yishai, Justice Minister Yaakov Ne'eman, Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional Development Silvan Shalom, Welfare and Social Services Minister Isaac Herzog, Minister of Information and Diaspora Yuli Edelstein, Minister Yossi Peled, National Security Advisor Uzi Arad, the Defense Ministry's legal counsel and the military advocate general.

 


פרסום ראשון: 05.12.09, 10:02
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