Norway: 10 Israelis named in war crimes complaint

[Scurrilous]

<snip>

"A group of Norwegian lawyers filed a complaint Wednesday accusing 10 Israelis of war crimes in Gaza under the country's new universal jurisdiction law, officials said.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and opposition leader Tzipi Livni were among those named in the complaint, the lawyers said.

Chief prosecutor Siri Frigaard told The Associated Press that she will now determine if there are grounds for charges or a police investigation. It was not clear how long the process would take.

The Israeli Embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

One of the attorneys who filed the complaint, Bent Endresen, said a Norwegian law that went into effect last year allows foreigners to face charges in Norway for war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity committed anywhere in the world.

"There was a legal change that now gives a universal jurisdiction" for such war crimes, he said by telephone.

In a statement, the lawyers claim that Olmert, Livni, Barak and seven Israel military officers shared responsibility for "massive terror attacks primarily directed at Gaza's population."

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[Jefferson23]

1. Good, and let's hope they include the Bush regime too, I'm all for it.

[IndianaGreen]

2. How ironic that Bibi Netanyahu and Avigdor Lieberman are not on the list

Give them time...

[JuniperLea]

3. Tis the season to prosecute war criminals...

fa la la la la... la la la la...

[Kurska]

4. Haha, The toothless world police can't even bring in sudan's leaders

And they killed 500,000 people if not more. Does this single court in norway really believe they have the clout to try and judge Israel for Gaza?

[azurnoir]

5. Of course they do have the clout to try and judge anyone

however executing the sentence is another matter, what will happen is the same thing as has happened in Zimbabwe those leaders are safe from arrest as long as they remain in Zimbabwe.

[Kurska]

6. Provided the Norwegian government accepts the ruling and actively seeks extradition.

Unlikely as that may be, I highly doubt any country would seriously try to arrest a former Israeli prime minister on the order of a lower court of norway.