Another pre-trial session regarding accusations against Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was held in Brussels today - this time to enable Sharon\'s attorney\'s to present his case against holding the trial altogether.
Prime Minister Sharon has been sued under a special Belgian law for his role in the Christians Phalangists\' massacre of 900 Arabs in Lebanon\'s Sabra and Shatila neighborhoods in 1982. Sharon\'s attorneys attempted to convince the court that it has no authority to try the case. They also maintained that in any event a sitting foreign leader cannot be tried; the Belgian authorities are responsive to this claim, as they know that otherwise, incumbent officials will hesitate before visiting Belgium. Yet another claim is that the trial represents a blow to Israel\'s sovereignty, as an official Israeli Commission of Inquiry, the Kahan Commission, already heard testimony and ruled on the matter. The Commission found that Sharon bore only an \"indirect responsibility\" for the events. The decision on whether or not to hold the trial will be handed down in March.
Prime Minister Sharon has been sued under a special Belgian law for his role in the Christians Phalangists\' massacre of 900 Arabs in Lebanon\'s Sabra and Shatila neighborhoods in 1982. Sharon\'s attorneys attempted to convince the court that it has no authority to try the case. They also maintained that in any event a sitting foreign leader cannot be tried; the Belgian authorities are responsive to this claim, as they know that otherwise, incumbent officials will hesitate before visiting Belgium. Yet another claim is that the trial represents a blow to Israel\'s sovereignty, as an official Israeli Commission of Inquiry, the Kahan Commission, already heard testimony and ruled on the matter. The Commission found that Sharon bore only an \"indirect responsibility\" for the events. The decision on whether or not to hold the trial will be handed down in March.