The following report from Ha'aretz, similar to yesterday's report from the BBC, presents the legal/legislative developments in Belgium concerning the 1993 and 1999 universal jurisdiction law as though attempts to reconfirm and strengthen this law are due solely to the case against Sharon and others.
In effect, most media reports have "spun" this story as a Belgian attempt to "go after Israel and/or Sharon." This is not an accurate or a useful interpretation. Many different groups and organizations are committed to preserving and strengthening the law, a key element in the global campaign against impunity for war crimes and crimes against humanity, and furthermore, with the advent of the International Criminal Court on 1 July 2002, there was a need to specify clearly which cases can and cannot be pursued under this law in Belgium, and which cases should be referred to the new ICC instead.
Indeed, in Belgium itself, some of the most vocal supporters of the law are interested in pursuing justice in the matter of the Belgian paratroopers killed by Hutu forces in Rwanda in the early 1990s. The danger of presenting news of the recent legal developments in Belgium as though they are focused completely on the case brought by the Sabra and Shatila plaintiffs against Sharon, Yaron, and other Israelis and Lebanese is that those who are ever quick to accuse critics of Israel and/or Sharon of anti-Semitism may use this impression/accusation to derail the emerging developments in Belgium.
The following is today's Ha'aretz report on the news from Belgium, which illustrates some of the tendencies and concerns expressed above.
As we have stated here before, "it's never over until it's over."
There are still many challenges to confronting Mr. Sharon's impunity, but this development may prove to be a key turning point.
Laurie King-Irani, Ph.D.
North American Coordinator
International Campaign for Justice for the Victims of Sabra and Shatila
http://www.indictsharon.net
Belgium amending law to enable Sharon trial, By Yossi Melman
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=252467
Belgium opens way for Sharon trial, Wednesday, 15 January, 2003, 19:28 GMT
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/2662635.stm
In effect, most media reports have "spun" this story as a Belgian attempt to "go after Israel and/or Sharon." This is not an accurate or a useful interpretation. Many different groups and organizations are committed to preserving and strengthening the law, a key element in the global campaign against impunity for war crimes and crimes against humanity, and furthermore, with the advent of the International Criminal Court on 1 July 2002, there was a need to specify clearly which cases can and cannot be pursued under this law in Belgium, and which cases should be referred to the new ICC instead.
Indeed, in Belgium itself, some of the most vocal supporters of the law are interested in pursuing justice in the matter of the Belgian paratroopers killed by Hutu forces in Rwanda in the early 1990s. The danger of presenting news of the recent legal developments in Belgium as though they are focused completely on the case brought by the Sabra and Shatila plaintiffs against Sharon, Yaron, and other Israelis and Lebanese is that those who are ever quick to accuse critics of Israel and/or Sharon of anti-Semitism may use this impression/accusation to derail the emerging developments in Belgium.
The following is today's Ha'aretz report on the news from Belgium, which illustrates some of the tendencies and concerns expressed above.
As we have stated here before, "it's never over until it's over."
There are still many challenges to confronting Mr. Sharon's impunity, but this development may prove to be a key turning point.
Laurie King-Irani, Ph.D.
North American Coordinator
International Campaign for Justice for the Victims of Sabra and Shatila
http://www.indictsharon.net
Belgium amending law to enable Sharon trial, By Yossi Melman
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=252467
Belgium opens way for Sharon trial, Wednesday, 15 January, 2003, 19:28 GMT
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/2662635.stm