Today, the Belgian Supreme Court is being petitioned by survivors and relatives of victims of the 1982 massacre of Arab refugees in Sabra and Shatila, which was carried out by Maronite Christians. The petitioners are seeking a delay in the start of their appeals hearing, as the group has changed legal counsel. However, Irit Kohn, head of the International Section of the Justice Ministry, the Israeli liaison to the hearings, said she doubted the court would agree to the request, as it has been filed late in the proceedings.
When asked about the charges, Kohn said Israel is challenging the charges on two levels - the technical and the factual. Israel has rejected the international jurisdiction of Belgian courts. Kohn noted that such an argument was not due to a fear of dealing with the facts, but is a result of the procedural rules governing such cases.
The appeal currently before the Belgian Supreme Court is to overturn the decision of a lower court to reject the petitioners’ suit against Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for war crimes. The original suit claimed that Sharon, as Israeli defense minister in 1982, was responsible for the Sabra and Shatila massacres and should be convicted as a war criminal.
When asked about the charges, Kohn said Israel is challenging the charges on two levels - the technical and the factual. Israel has rejected the international jurisdiction of Belgian courts. Kohn noted that such an argument was not due to a fear of dealing with the facts, but is a result of the procedural rules governing such cases.
The appeal currently before the Belgian Supreme Court is to overturn the decision of a lower court to reject the petitioners’ suit against Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for war crimes. The original suit claimed that Sharon, as Israeli defense minister in 1982, was responsible for the Sabra and Shatila massacres and should be convicted as a war criminal.