Spanish judiciary asserts its competence for enquiry into war crimes committed in Gaza in 2002

The prosecutor did not appeal the decision                            February 4, 2009 –

Paris, February 4, 2009 – The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the Associación pro Derechos Humanos de España (APDHE) and the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) welcome the decision taken on January 29, 2009 by the Central Investigative Judge N°4 of the Spanish National Court <http://www.fidh.org/IMG/pdf/admission_order_propery_translated-1.pdf> , which receives a complaint concerning crimes committed in Gaza in 2002 and hope that the Israeli authorities will fully cooperate with this investigation. The prosecutor did not appeal ; this decision thus marks the launch of a judicial enquiry into war crimes committed in Gaza in 2002. This investigation targets seven Israeli officials, including Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, former Defense Minister and currently Infrastructure Minister, Dan Halutz, Commander of the Israeli Air Force when the crimes were committed, Doron Almog, former Commander of the Israeli Defence Forces in Gaza, Giora Eiland, President of the Israeli National Security Council, Michael Herzog, military secretary at the Ministry of Defence, Moshe Yaalon, Commander-in-chief of the armed forces and Abraham Dichter, former Director of the Shin Beth.

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 CHARGE THE LOBBY

By Ramzy Baroud

One cannot emphasize enough the stranglehold Israel’s lobbying infrastructure has on US foreign policy. The36of recent weeks undoubtedly attest to this. "The special relationship" that has been historically fostered between the US and Israel in fact, is often a relationship of leverage, manipulation and intimidation, and often leads to the US supporting actions or resolutions that stand at complete odds with the interests of the American people.

The promise of change echoed the world over as people from all corners anticipated the magic moment Obama could actually change the devastating reality in which we live today. But just weeks before his inauguration, Israel unleashed the most barbaric attacks on defenseless Palestinian civilians since 1948. Civil societies expressed outrage and called for Israeli leaders to be tried for war crimes and genocide. Other nations cut diplomatic ties completely with the Jewish state. But the man of change did absolutely nothing. For weeks he was completely silent. Even in his first days in office, Obama made no mention of the Israeli genocide in Gaza. So, what of this change that he promised? What kind of hold does Israel have to silence the President of the United States?

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 HONOUR CANNOT BE FOUGHT FOR, IT IS EARNED

Nabeweya Malick

 The brutal attack on the people living under siege in Gaza by Israeli forces has exposed the extent to which global Jewry allied to the Zionist project will sink in order to defend the State of Israel.  While the world stood and watched in horror as white phosphorous explosive laden missile after missile slammed into apartments, houses and schools leaving the inhabitants screaming and appealing for humanity to stop this slaughter, people who claim leadership of the Jewish community, unashamedly condoned this act of barbarism. 

Read More »Honour cannot be fought for it is earned