Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

Brussels: New court to try Israel for war crimes

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread
This topic is archived.
Home » Discuss » Topic Forums » Israel/Palestine Donate to DU
 
Scurrilous Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-22-08 02:02 PM
Original message
Brussels: New court to try Israel for war crimes
Civil court established by human rights organizations to begin operations in Belgium Friday. First issue on the agenda: Israel's alleged war crimes in Lebanon, Gaza

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3509936,00.html

<snip>

"A new civil court founded in Belgium by human rights organizations will convene for the first time Friday evening and discuss war crimes Israel had allegedly committee during the Second Lebanon War and war crimes the groups claim it is currently committing in the Gaza Strip.

Over the past year, human rights groups, in cooperation with Arab and European intellectuals, have been working on establishing the new court, which will be tasked with addressing different issues related to human rights violations and war crimes.

The first matter on the court's agenda will be Israel's operations in the Gaza Strip. Human rights organizations, as well as the victims of these alleged crimes, will appear before the court. The court has also invited Israeli representatives to attend the hearing and respond to the accusations."

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
MaryCeleste Donating Member (898 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-22-08 02:10 PM
Response to Original message
1. Curious what offical support they have
Per the article its more a talking salon that anything with standing
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Scurrilous Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-22-08 02:33 PM
Response to Reply #1
2. More:
Arab MK to attend tribunal on 'IDF war crimes'

<snip>

"A conference of individuals and nongovernmental organizations is to convene in Brussels on Friday to discuss what organizers call "the crimes committed by the Israeli army in Lebanon." MK Said Nafa (Balad) plans to attend.

The conference has been promoted as "an international jury of conscience," and will take the form of a mock international court with prosecutors, witnesses and judges, organizers said in a statement.

No names of those planning to participate in the conference were made available by the organizers.

Speaking to The Jerusalem Post by phone from Belgium, Nafa said he was "invited as an observer to listen," and that he planned to raise the issues of the October 2000 riots in the Galilee (in which 12 Israeli Arabs and a Palestinian were killed) and home demolitions during the conference.

"The tribunal has no legal authority," Nafa said, but its "ruling" will be "declarative and aimed at influencing public opinion in the world. There's no doubt that the use of cluster bombs in Lebanon was a war crime, or at least a violation of the international conscience. Victims of the Lebanon war and of the siege on Gaza will testify at the tribunal, some who are experts on international law."

Israel's position would also be represented, Nafa said, but, "I don't know by whom."

The Knesset member said he decided to attend because of a decision by the Israeli-Arab leadership's Monitoring Committee to "turn to international tribunals" to circumvent Israeli courts. "Arab Israelis have no defense under Israeli national law," he said."

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1203605149162&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
MaryCeleste Donating Member (898 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-22-08 02:38 PM
Response to Reply #2
3. So it indeed has no standing, but its a start
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Waya Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-23-08 02:33 PM
Response to Reply #3
11. Ditto......
.......war crimes are war crimes....needs to be weeded out.....
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
peacetalksforall Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-22-08 02:39 PM
Response to Original message
4. Interesting. Two or three days ago Haaretz ran an article about how
Europe is practising anti-Semetism.

I wish it could all be laid out so that the truth is exposed. Some in Israel don't want peace. They want war, perpetual war.

If there is acknowledgement that some want war, then the same peole cannot claim anti-Semetism.

I admit to ignorance of all the cultural, religious, political factors involved. This is just the way the situation appears to me and the shortest way I can express displeasure with perpetual war and the false accusations (against most of us) that we are anti-Semetic if we don't agree with the way they deal with their neighbors and the people who should have some kind of country of their own.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Behind the Aegis Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-22-08 04:03 PM
Response to Original message
5. Typical, but not at all unexpected.
The anti-Israeli bigotry continues unabated and is excused.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Phx_Dem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-22-08 04:16 PM
Response to Reply #5
6. It's obvious isn't it.
Of all the perceived injustices in the world today they choose to focus only on Israel.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Behind the Aegis Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-22-08 04:26 PM
Response to Reply #6
7. It is very obvious.
Bigotry is wrong, unless directed at Israel. They don't even know if they are going to discuss the war crimes committed against Israel from the very same conflict. There is no balance and is nothing more than polticial bigotry at its best/worst.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Violet_Crumble Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-23-08 07:18 AM
Response to Reply #6
8. I guess it is if we all want to engage in creative reading...
Since when does saying that Israel is the first item on the agenda get morphed into saying that the only focus will be on Israel?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
oberliner Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-23-08 10:34 AM
Response to Reply #8
9. What other items are on their agenda?
I can't find any more information about this group.

If you have any links or further info, please share.


Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Violet_Crumble Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Feb-24-08 05:44 AM
Response to Reply #9
12. You'll have to ask the poster who claimed it was their sole agenda...
I'm going on what the article actually said, which was it was the first item on the agenda. Or do you disagree that that's what the article said?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
oberliner Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Feb-24-08 11:12 AM
Response to Reply #12
14. I'm not sure if that's what the article said
I could be misunderstanding, but the opening paragraph says that the court will meet to "discuss war crimes Israel had allegedly committee during the Second Lebanon War and war crimes the groups claim it is currently committing in the Gaza Strip."

Later, the article says: "The first matter on the court's agenda will be Israel's operations in the Gaza Strip."

A quote further along in the article makes another reference to Lebanon.

Couldn't it be that the first matter will be Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip and the next matter will be Israel's action in Lebanon?

I have tried, in vain, to find more information about this court, or its agenda, but no article or information I have found mentions any states other than Israel.

If anyone on this board can find a web site for this organization or another article where the full agenda is printed, that would be helpful.





Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
azurnoir Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-23-08 11:21 AM
Response to Original message
10. if it's Isael it must be bigotry
Because it is obviously bigoted when any judicial or other body wants to call it a war crime when cluster bombs are dropped on civilians or when unexploded cluster bombs are still killing both UN bomb removal people and civilians in South Lebanon and Israel refuses to be of any assistance in removing them.

The war crimes of both Hezbollah and Hamas are the same shooting untargeted missiles at civilians. However it was also shown recently that in the case of Hezbollah there were Israeli military operating near or in villages hit by Katyusha's, Israel claims that "of course that is because we are a tiny country we had no choice" but that same principle does not apply to either Hezbollah or Hamas because we all know Lebanon and Gaza are so sparsely populated and spacious
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
eyl Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Feb-24-08 06:57 AM
Response to Original message
13. Is there any other information about this court?
Everything I've found refers to the same article in the OP
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Dick Dastardly Donating Member (741 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-25-08 01:20 AM
Response to Reply #13
15. Its a phony court called International Citizens'Tribunal
Edited on Mon Feb-25-08 01:23 AM by Dick Dastardly
Its only purpose will be to try, and convict, Israel, over and over again. They are against the existence of Israel







An international citizen's tribunal on the crimes committed by the Israeli army in Lebanon

Brussels, 22-23-24 February 2008



Endorse the Tribunal!



An international citizen's tribunal on the crimes committed by the Israeli army in Lebanon will be held in Brussels, Belgium, on February 22-24, 2008. The International Action Center has endorsed this tribunal and the work of the Commitee of International Citizens that is organizing the tribunal. More information is below:



To contact the organizers: Email: contact.tribunal@yahoo.fr Blog: http://www.tciccg.over-blog.com


Proposal for setting up international citizen's tribunal on deeds committed by Israeli army & secret services in Lebanon & occupied Palestinian territories


JUSTICE FOR LEBANON! Feb. 22-24, 2008, Brussels Int'l Jury Schedule



The crimes committed by the Israeli army in Lebanon during the summer 2006 are a violent affront to the universal human conscience. These are criminal acts, as many people feel instinctively. They are different from the acts that take place in all armed conflict committed by the aggressor as well as by the aggressed. But feeling is not enough. The facts must be established. They must then be assessed in light of existing international law. This should be done with the detachment and rigor of a process that excludes any a priori conclusions, the results of which will convince all people of good will.

The international community is not an autonomous political and juridical body. It is but a summation of positions adopted by a certain number of governments. In many situations it has proved incapable of applying existing law by distancing itself from geopolitical or ideological contingencies. This impunity has covered up the numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity that have been committed since the end of World War II.


The unilateral attitude of the United States of America, like the double-speak of many European governments, make it necessary for those defending the law to take the place of failed political powers. The American administration is against any questioning of Israel’s role in acts committed in Lebanon. EU countries like Germany, Great Britain, Finland and France refuse to support a request formulated at the UN Human Rights Council to investigate the use by the Israeli armed forces of arms that are prohibited by international law. The systematic disinformation practiced by an overwhelming majority of the media deprives Western public opinion of balanced information. All this justifies an initiative by the citizens themselves.


A group of citizens gathering human rights or ecological activists, humanitarian workers, jurists, political scientists, all friends of Lebanon, enjoying the support of more than 300 opinion leaders all over the world, is planning to organize, in Brussels (Belgium), on 22-23-24 February 2008, the meeting of an “international jury of conscience”.

During the opening session, a statement of charge will introduce the process. It is based on a report issued by the Human Rights Committee of the Lebanese Parliament about the crimes committed by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF – official name of the Israeli armed forces) between 12 July and 14 August 2006 in Lebanon. The following sessions will give the opportunity to testify to Lebanese victims and survivors, to Lebanese and foreign witnesses, to Lebanese jurists, to representative of international human rights organizations. The Israeli side will have the possibility to present explanations. The jury, formed by prominent magistrates from the 5 continents, will present conclusions. On Saturday evening, a roundtable will give the floor to international experts on Lebanon.

Such an initiative requests funds. The organizing team has to buy flights tickets and to book hotel rooms for all the people coming from Lebanon but also for the 5 members of the jury. The renting of the rooms in the conference center and the fees for the translators have also to be paid. The total budget reaches 125.000 US dollars.

Feel free to support a citizen’s initiative that must take place due to the lack of concern by official sides.

Raoul Marc JENNAR & Leila GHANEM, co-organizers

Hosting Bank account : URFIG, Bruxelles, IBAN : BE60 0682 3497 7170; BIC : GKCCBEBB, with this message : “support to the International Jury of Conscience Lebanon”
http://www.iacenter.org/palestine/leb-trib-letter0208/



http://www.iacenter.org/palestine/leb_jury-sched0208/




The signatories
http://www.iacenter.org/palestine/Leb_tribunalcall-0208/




More info

http://tciccg.over-blog.com/article-4596412-6.html

http://rtsf.wordpress.com/2008/02/06/56/

http://www.turkishweekly.net/news.php?id=52734

http://axisoflogic.com/artman/publish/article_26011.shtml

http://www.petitiononline.com/un040806/petition.html





A fake "international court" designed purely to vilify Israel
Misozionistic people, those who loathe the very idea of Israel existing in any form and spend uncounted hours coming up with ways to show their hate, have come up with a new idea:

"Let's set up an international tribunal whose only purpose will be to try, and convict, Israel, over and over again!"


Sounds silly? Think again


After much searching, I found the webpage of this group, in French.

http://tciccg.over-blog.com/

This group does not even have its own Internet domain, which means it might not even have $5 in support. It is on a blog site.

It calls itself the "Tribunal citoyen international contre les crimes de guerre au Moyen Orient", the "International Citizens' Tribunal on war crimes in the Middle East."

Its founder, Raoul Marc Jennar, makes no pretense of objectivity:


The doctrine that underpins the State of Israel was incompatible with international law.



full
http://elderofziyon.blogspot.com/2008/02/fake-international-court-designed.html

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view 
this author's profile Click to add 
this author to your buddy list Click to add 
this author to your Ignore list Fri Apr 26th 2024, 06:11 AM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » Topic Forums » Israel/Palestine Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators


Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC