News

Universal Jurisdiction in Belgium: The Trial Continues

Michael Young 17 January 2003

“Israelis have scoffed at Prime Minister Ariel Sharon�s war crimes trial in Belgium, but, despite it all, the legal process continues. Indeed, on Tuesday it received a valuable shot in the arm.” The Daily Star’s Michael Young examines the legal and political background of a possible resumption of the war crimes case against Sharon and others in Belgium 

Collective punishment is a war crime

Daoud Kuttab 17 January 2003


The long line at the Qalandia checkpoint last week was one of the first signs of the added collective punishment that the Israeli army was now instructed to impose on the Palestinian population. When my turn finally arrived, I drove up to the soldiers, hoping finally to be allowed into Ramallah. Daoud Kuttab writes from occupied Jerusalem in the Jordan Times. 

Israel closes Palestinian universities

Jamie Tarabay 15 January 2003

Israel today shut down two West Bank universities as two Palestinians were killed in clashes and Israeli troops sealed the homes of four Jerusalem Arabs responsible for killing 35 people, including five Americans, in bombings. In Hebron, the army closed the Islamic University and Polytechnic Institution as part of its response to the Tel Aviv bombing earlier this month in which 22 people were killed. Jamie Tarabay reports for the Associated Press. 

Belgium may revive Sharon war crimes case

Andrew Osborn 17 January 2003

Belgium gave itself the right in 1993 to try cases of war crimes committed by anyone, anywhere at any time. However, legal setbacks to the “universal competence” law have blunted Belgium’s zeal to act as an international war crimes court. Last June a Belgian court appeared to kill off the case against Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon when it declared that he could not be tried because he wasn’t physically present in Belgium. That obstacle now appears likely to be dismantled. Andrew Osborn reports from Brussels in The Guardian. 

Do they talk to you?

Annie Higgins Jenin, Palestine 15 January 2003


Photo by Musa Al-Shaer. “As I was walking from the house at the top of the hill, occupied by Israeli forces from beginning to end of the sixteen-day invasion of Jenin Refugee Camp in October/November, schoolboys on the road asked me this question. It is a refrain that punctuates my comings and goings, and it is one that leaves me tongue-tied. The question is not, ‘Do you talk to them?’ because anybody can do that. What matters is if they respond with words rather than gunfire. The nature of the soldiers’ response is a source of curiosity for people who are always in danger of being shot rather than spoken to.” Annie Higgins writes from Jenin. 

Crossing Kalandia

Anne Gwynne Nablus 12 January 2003


Kalandia is not a checkpoint in any recognized sense of the word ‘checkpoint’, which is commonly understood to be a place where documents and goods are checked, and through which people and goods are inspected in order to facilitate passage. Everything at ground level in the whole landscape is torn-up, demolished, cleared into piles of rubble, worn out, collapsing, never repaired — I cannot find adequate words. Anne Gwynne writes about Kalandia, with an introduction by EI’s Nigel Parry. 

Email from Saffuriyya: "Where are you from?"

Jonathan Cook Nazareth, the Galilee 12 January 2003

“It is a reflex question for Palestinians, always posed early in the Arab greeting ritual, to ask a stranger, even another Palestinian, ‘Where are you from?’ before enquiring: ‘Where do you live?’ Few Palestinians live where they feel they belong. ” Jonathan Cook introduces us to a new generation of Saffuriyeen who are keeping their ties to the destroyed town of Saffuriyya strong and vibrant. 

U.S. pressures Israel to probe crimes against Palestinians

Philip Jacobson 12 January 2003

Israel’s military authorities have approached human rights organisations operating in the West Bank and Gaza to help with investigations into crimes committed by their troops against Palestinian civilians. Philip Jacobson reports on some unprecedented developments, due in no small part to the efforts of the family of Shaden Abu Hijleh, murdered by the IDF last fall.