Hamas admits masterminding arrest warrants of Israelis abroad

British newspaper speaks with Diya al-Din Madhoun, who heads the Hamas committee set up to coordinate the campaign to issue arrest warrants against Israeli public figures in European courts. 'All the political and military leaders of the occupation in our sights'

Ynet

Published: 12.21.09, 08:32 / Israel News

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In the service of Your Majesty or in the service of a terrorist organization? Hamas admits to being behind the legal proceedings initiated in Europe in which arrest warrants were issued for Israeli public figures for allegedly committing war crimes.

The British newspaper The Times spoke with Diya al-Din Madhoun, who heads the Hamas committee set up to coordinate the campaign, in Jerusalem.

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About a week ago, an arrest warrant was issued against Opposition Chairwoman Tzipi Livni, who served as foreign minister during Operation Cast Lead. It seemed as if the effort to put Israeli leaders on trial was continuing full force ahead. Madhoun told the Times, "All the political and military leaders of the occupation in our sights”, although he did not specify its future targets.

“This has absolutely become our policy,” he said.

The Hamas committee, which was formed after Operation Cast Lead, is composed of legalists and experts. The team put together 1,500 cases in just a few months and has encouraged alleged victims to submit complaints against Israeli leaders in countries like Britain, Spain, Belgium, and Norway.

Their objective is to facilitate between these victims of alleged crimes and the legal institutions of Europe, which could help file complaints. "We do this as a government trying to protect our people and prevent these massacres from recurring," said Madhoun.

“These reports show that it is not human rights that drive these suits but an anti-Israeli campaign at the service of Hamas,” Yigal Palmor, the Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman, said.

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