Brussels: New court to try Israel for war crimes

[Xenia]

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 Sharon Roffe-Ofir Published: 02.22.08, 13:02 / Israel News (http://www.ynetnews.com/home/0,7340,L-3082,00.html)


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 committed during the Second Lebanon War and war crimes the groups claim it is currently committing in the Gaza Strip.

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

Can this self emposed "court" really do anything??

[Ransom v. Unman]

Hmm... The article's a bit sketchy. It doesn't say whether it's the EU setting this up, whether it's a U.N. tribunal (most war-crimes tribunals are started by the U.N.), but regardless, I'd say they probably can't. Prosecuting war-crimes against states that have not been toppled is little more than a symbolic gesture. They say it's a "civil" trial, so maybe they'll be forced – theoretically – to pay these humanitarian organisations something? I don't know.

Unless this reprimand comes from a serious body-politic that can back its convictions with the blunt use of force (something the U.N. has proven extraordinarily weak at) then I doubt Israel has anything to fear coming directly from this. Further, I'd say the accusations are pretty flipping weak...

[kluchar70]

I agree. It seems like just a show to me. They can't make Israel pay without the authority to back up any convictions.