Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt says he is "not against" legislation that would allow his country's courts to try Ariel Sharon for war crimes. Belgian law currently allows Belgian courts to deal with international war crimes, but only if the accused is physically in Belgium at the time of the trial. This qualification enabled Ariel Sharon to narrowly avoid being tried in Belgium last year in connection with the Christian Phalangists' massacre of Arabs in Sabra and Shatila in 1982. Verhofstadt's declaration would pave the way for Sharon to be tried in absentia in Belgium, and the Parliament may vote on the change as early as next week.
Foreign Minister Binyamin Netanyahu reacted to the developments in Belgium with disdain. Threatening that Israel would consider diplomatic measures against Belgium, he said that the Belgian initiative is "absurd," and is a manifestation of the usage of criminal courts for political purposes. Speaking with reporters today in the Foreign Ministry's situation room, Netanyahu said that such usage of the courts "leads to international instability, and shows that the internationalization of law must be overseen by a central body."
Foreign Minister Binyamin Netanyahu reacted to the developments in Belgium with disdain. Threatening that Israel would consider diplomatic measures against Belgium, he said that the Belgian initiative is "absurd," and is a manifestation of the usage of criminal courts for political purposes. Speaking with reporters today in the Foreign Ministry's situation room, Netanyahu said that such usage of the courts "leads to international instability, and shows that the internationalization of law must be overseen by a central body."