Other Schools
Bar Ilan University
Bar Ilan University -
Professor Yafa Zilbershatz - Even at Bar Ilan there are anti-Israel
extremists working for the enemy
Calling to Prevent War Crimes is
Upholding -Not Breaking- the Law
Shamai Leibowitz &
Shraga Elam
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Press Release
The radical right
wing organization “Legal Forum for the Land of Israel” has formally
requested that Israeli Attorney-General prosecute Israeli attorney
Shamai Leibowitz on charges of incitement to rebellion for his
appeal to Israeli soldiers to refuse participating in the commission
of war crimes in Gaza and to prevent the mass killings of civilians.
This request is a malicious attempt to squelch internal dissent and
devoid of any legal basis.
“While the
complainants preoccupy themselves with idle threats and
intimidation, Shraga Elam and I are concerned with an effort to save
the lives of thousands of civilians, both Israeli and Palestinian,”
states Attorney Leibowitz. “We call on Israeli soldiers to obey
international law and also Israeli law which prohibit violations of
the laws of war and international humanitarian law. Israeli soldiers
must prevent the commission of war crimes.”
Professor Yafa
Zilbershatz of Bar Ilan University said in an interview with
Israel’s Channel 7, that in view of the legal situation in Europe,
Israel’s acts in Gaza can be considered war crimes in that
continent, and even “rank-and-file soldiers” may be prosecuted. The
actions of the IDF in Gaza are likely to be considered war crimes in
the USA as well. Currently, a private suit is now being conducted in
a US federal court against Avi Dichter, the former head of the
Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet – Shabak) for bombing innocent
civilians in Gaza.
Prof. Zilbershatz’
cynical solution to the problem is to propose that the State of
Israel apply pressure on European countries to change their laws. It
is shocking that Professor Zilbershatz blames other countries for
having laws that apply the doctrine of universal jurisdiction.
Attorney Leibowitz and Journalist Elam propose a solution to this
problem that is the only lawful, realistic and ethical solution:
refuse to commit war crimes.
The appeal is
supported by peace activists from all over the world, including
Israel, among them many Jews, including Meir Margalit, a former
member of the Jerusalem city council.
It is obvious
that, in view of the foregoing and in the view of the detailed legal
opinion of Shamai Leibowitz, such an appeal cannot be illegal by any
means.
Shamai Leibowitz,
Attorney-At-Law
Shraga Elam, journalist
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