Spanish FM: We'll act to prevent war crimes probes against Israel

[hack89]

Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos informed Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on Friday of Spain's plan to amend legislation that granted a Spanish judge the authority to launch a much-publicized war crimes investigation against senior Israeli officials.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1059964.html

[Howardx]

1. what gets left out is always interesting

"The judge acted under a doctrine that allows prosecution in Spain, and other European countries, to reach far beyond national borders in cases of torture or war crimes. The universal jurisdiction ruling sparked outrage in Israel and elsewhere.

Spanish state television TVE quoted government sources as saying the possibility of a legal "adjustment or modification" would not be retroactive and would not affect the case before the courts."

no sale.

[bemildred]

2. Well, I don't think it's up to the FM, either.

I would guess that it would have to get through the legislature.

[bemildred]

3. Spain may legislate to limit universal jurisdiction: Israel foreign minister

Spanish foreign minister Miguel Moratinos has said he will push for legislation limiting the country's universal jurisdiction policies to prevent the investigation of Israeli officials, according to Friday statements by Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni . The pledge follows a decision by Spanish judge Fernando Andreu to issue an order opening an investigation into alleged crimes against humanity committed in a 2002 Israeli attack in the Gaza Strip . Spanish vice-president Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega also said Friday, however, that the country's courts are independent of politics, and the office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation has yet to make any official announcement confirming Moratinos' comment. Israel is cooperating with the investigation, and recently turned over documents relating to the 2002 attack .

The investigation concerns the 2002 bombing of former Hamas leader Salah Shehadeh's home in Gaza City that killed 15 people , including Shehadeh and his family. Israel has heavily criticized Article 23.4 of the Judicial Power Organization Act, which allows Spanish courts to prosecute people outside of Spain for war crimes, even when no Spanish citizens are involved. Spanish courts have attempted to use the principle of universal jurisdiction in several other international cases, including allegations of war crimes and genocide in Rwanda, Tibet, Guatemala, Chile, and China .

http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2009/01/spain-may-legislate-to-limit-universal.php

[azurnoir]

4. So it is not just Israel thanks n/t

[bemildred]

5. Nope, not just Spain, either. nt