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 against Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, 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 thus far flatly rejected the international jurisdiction of Belgian courts. Kohn noted that such an argument was not due to a fear of dealing with the facts of the case, but is a result of the procedural rules governing trial law. The Belgian court is expected to render a preliminary ruling tonight.
The appeal currently before the Belgian Supreme Court is to overturn the decision of a lower court, which rejected the petitioners’ suit against Prime Minister Sharon for war crimes. The original suit claimed that Sharon, as Israeli defense minister in 1982, was responsible for the Sabra and Shatila massacres.
When asked about the charges, Kohn said Israel is challenging the charges on two levels - the technical and the factual. Israel has thus far flatly rejected the international jurisdiction of Belgian courts. Kohn noted that such an argument was not due to a fear of dealing with the facts of the case, but is a result of the procedural rules governing trial law. The Belgian court is expected to render a preliminary ruling tonight.
The appeal currently before the Belgian Supreme Court is to overturn the decision of a lower court, which rejected the petitioners’ suit against Prime Minister Sharon for war crimes. The original suit claimed that Sharon, as Israeli defense minister in 1982, was responsible for the Sabra and Shatila massacres.