Well, don't ya just love Spain??? They did not cave in to the Jewish lobby or Lawyers representing Israel. I wrote about this HERE Where a group of Lawyers representing Israel were attempting to get the Judge to drop the case, saying "Israel" would do it's own investigation (ROTFLMAO) However, evidently the Spanish Judge thinks humanity can best be served if someone other than Israel handles the investigation and charges. I agree! Should they be convicted, they will be trapped in Israel for life, never being able to leave the country for fear of being arrested!! Story below:
CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY~Israel To Stand Trial in Spain
Spanish National Court Judge Fernando Andreu says he will redouble his probe of seven top Israeli military and government officials for suspected 'crimes against humanity.' He made the decision after determining that documents forwarded by the Israeli Embassy in Madrid show that Israel has decided not to prosecute anyone for the targeted assassination of Salah Shehadeh, the commander of the military wing of Hamas, in Gaza City in 2002. Spanish law allows the prosecution of foreigners for such crimes as genocide, crimes against humanity and torture committed anywhere in the world if the suspects will not be tried in their home country.
A seven-page court document says the initial evidence suggests that the attack in the densely-populated Gaza City, which killed 14 civilians, 'should be considered a crime against humanity.' Supporters of the lawsuit say Spain should pursue the suit because it has 'universal jurisdiction' in such cases.
Andreu will now probe former Israeli Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, former Air Force Commander Dan Halutz, former head of the National Security Council Giora Eiland, and four other senior officials. Andreu will also seek testimony from Palestinian witnesses. The court will ask Israel to formally notify those named in the complaint so that they can be called by the judge to testify. Should Andreu decide to issue an international arrest warrant for any of the seven Israelis, they could be detained upon arrival in any EU member state.
The lawsuit has sparked outrage in Israel, which is trying to fend off foreign censure over the civilian death toll during Operation Cast Lead in January 2009. Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak has rejected the complaint as 'delirious' and pointed out that Shehadeh was a terrorist mastermind responsible for the deaths of many dozens of innocent people. 'Whoever calls taking out a terrorist 'a crime against humanity' lives in an upside-down world,' he said. Barak vowed to do 'everything possible to get the investigation dismissed.'
Incoming Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu called the Spanish probe outrageous. 'It's absurd: Israel is fighting against war criminals and they are charging us with crimes'' said Netanyahu. 'There is nothing more ridiculous and absurd than them accusing us, a democracy legitimately protecting itself against terrorists and war criminals, of these crimes; it is absurd and makes a mockery out of international law,' he said
Sorry, but Israel makes a mockery our of international law, 62 UN resolutions against it, does not recognise the Geneva Convention, murders children, uses weapons in illegal ways, the lest is endless! This time they will pay! When Israel does not get its way it then resorts to threats, they are thugs, see below:
Knesset Member Aryeh Eldad, pointing to what many see as rank hypocrisy by Spain, has called for Israel to put former Spanish officials on trial for their role in the NATO bombing of Serbia in 1999. His official petition, which was sent to Israeli Attorney General Menachem Mazuz, says: 'In those bombings, hundreds, perhaps thousands, of innocent civilians were killed because NATO pilots dropped their bombs from extremely high altitudes in order not to endanger themselves. They thus caused mass civilian casualties. It is fitting that the State of Israel try the Spanish political and military leaders for war crimes if Spain does not immediately revoke the charges against the Israeli Defense Minister and Chief of Staff.'
Sensing that the case has the potential to further cement Spain's image as one of the most anti-Israel countries in Europe, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Ángel Moratinos said his government would consider a proposal to amend the controversial war crimes law that now allows the court to investigate the Israelis. But he was immediately contradicted by Deputy Prime Minister María Teresa Fernández de la Vega, who stated defiantly that 'Spain is a country ruled by law and the justice system [here] enjoys absolute independence. This was made clear to Israel and we are sure they understand this.'
So far none of the lawsuits filed against Israel in Europe have ever reached the stage of a court trial where Israeli leaders have appeared before a foreign judge. But Spain's case against Israel could open a Pandora's Box as sundry political organizations try to use the Spanish legal system to charge Israelis and others who are fighting terror. Indeed, Israel is now bracing for a wave of lawsuits which accuse it of human rights violations during Operation Cast Lead.
Well, if the Crime fits, you cannot acquit!!! Israel is GUILTY OF WAR CRIMES!
At the moment, Israel's best option for avoiding a messy and precedent-setting trial may be to exert diplomatic pressure to persuade Spanish authorities that Spain has a vested interest in protecting its justice system from malicious abuse. Britain reached that conclusion in wake of the Almog affair in 2006. And Belgium rolled back its universal jurisdiction law in 2003 after former US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld threatened to pull NATO headquarters out of Brussels.
Here's hoping the Spanish Government and Judge hold the line against what will surely be an onslaught of venom coming their way from all directions. After all, Israel is very used to being allowed to commit crimes and not be change. They have been getting away with murder for years, it's time to stop it now!
