De Israelische Terreur 131

Reuters bericht:
'Israel gets High Court nod for "targeted killings."

JERUSALEM, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Israel's top court on Thursday rejected a demand by civil liberties groups for a blanket ban on the military's "targeted killings" of Palestinian armed faction leaders, saying the tactic could be justified under laws of war.Using air strikes or covert commandos, Israel has tracked and killed many scores of Palestinian militants during 6 years of fighting, missions that have also regularly caused civilian casualties. The practice has drawn global censure and charges that Israel is pursuing an illegal assassinations policy.While Israel has largely put the controversial operations on hold as part of a Gaza Strip truce declared last month, defence officials say they are still the best last resort for preventing attacks by militants who cannot be easily caught and prosecuted.The High Court of Justice, rejecting petitions filed by a pro-Palestinian lobby and another rights group in 2002, ruled that the state's arguments could have legal merit in some cases."Arrest, investigation, and trial are not means that can always be used. At times, no such possibility exists; at times it involves such a great risk to the lives of (Israeli) troops, that it is not required," the three-justice panel said."Thus it is decided that it cannot be determined in advance that every targeted killing is prohibited according to customary international law, just as it cannot be determined in advance that every targeted killing is permissible according to customary international law." Palestinians cried foul at the ruling."Assassination is a form of crime that cannot be justified," said Saeb Erekat, an adviser to moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who shares power with Hamas Islamists sworn to Israel's destruction. "It is unbecoming of a nation state."ISRAEL EYES FOREIGN LAWSUITSA senior Israeli jurist voiced hope that the High Court ruling would help military commanders fend off a slew of private war crimes lawsuits filed against them in foreign courts.'

Lees verder: http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/CrisesArticle.aspx?storyId=L14415303