Goleta, CA-- An update to a story KEY News first brought you about a controversial e-mail sent to UCSB students by a professor. The issue will be taken up at the school during a public forum.
The e-mails in question compared Nazi war crimes to Israel's occupation of Gaza.
Two students have filed complaints with the
Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles and demanded the university investigate.
The professor, Dr. William Robinson says the complaints are an attack on academic freedom. Some students, however call it insensitive and "anti-Semitic."
The public forum takes place Thursday, May 7th inside the UCSB Theater and Dance building. It starts at 6 p.m. and is free to the public. Story Created: Apr 27, 2009 at 4:36 PM PDT
Story Updated: Apr 27, 2009 at 6:12 PM PDT
http://www.keyt.com/home/ticker/43821097.html
Update on Prosecuting Israel for War Crimes in Gaza...
EU: Support UN probe into violations of international law during Gaza conflict
(Brussels, 27 April) As EU Foreign Ministers meet in Luxembourg, Amnesty International urges them to use this opportunity to send a strong signal of support to the UN Human Rights Council’s fact-finding mission, headed by Judge Richard Goldstone, which is tasked with investigating violations of international law by both parties during the conflict in the Gaza Strip and southern Israel.
In a letter addressed to EU Foreign Ministers (available here) Amnesty International once again called on the EU to consistently apply its own Guidelines and press for a full investigation and accountability for violations of international law including war crimes.
“The EU must not side-step this issue. Long-term peace and security cannot be found in the Middle East unless accountability is established for crimes under international law and the cycle of impunity for serious violations perpetrated by all parties is stopped” said Nicolas Beger, Director of Amnesty International’s EU Office.
Amnesty International carried out a mission to southern Israel and Gaza during and after the conflict. The organization’s researchers have documented serious violations of international humanitarian law, including war crimes. Civilians in southern Israel came under indiscriminate rocket attacks from Palestinian armed groups. Civilians in Gaza were killed, injured and made homeless in indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks.
“There is no excuse for further delay, the EU should publicly support the UN investigation and demand the cooperation of all parties, just as it has for other conflicts” said Beger.
For further comment/background and interviews: Amnesty International EU Office (Brussels):
Tel: 32-2-5021499
Fax: 32-2-5025686
Email:
amnesty-eu@aieu.behttp://www.amnesty-eu.org/static/html/pressrelease.asp?cfid=12&id=401&cat=4&l=1
Norway's chief prosecutor considers Israeli war crimes case
[ 24/04/2009 - 03:49 PM ]
OSLO, (PIC)--
After the filing on Wednesday of a war crimes case against Israeli leaders by a group of Norwegian lawyers on behalf of people and families affected by the war on Gaza the chief prosecutor said the complaint will be studied.
"We will follow normal procedure, which means we will look through the complaint to determine whether or not to send it to the police to carry out a formal investigation," Siri Frigaard, chief prosecutor at Norway's National Authority for Prosecution of Organized and Other Serious Crimes, told Reuters on Thursday.
The complaint by Norwegian lawyers has been filed under a law which allows foreigners to be prosecuted in Norway over war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity even when the alleged criminal acts are committed outside the country. The lawsuit which includes charges of practicing organized terrorism and using internationally banned weapons such as white phosphorus against Gaza people, asks for the arrest and extradition of former Israeli premier Ehud Olmert as well as his foreign affairs minister Tzipi Livni, and war minister Ehud Barak in addition to other senior Israeli military officers.
On Wednesday an Israeli report said that its internal investigations concluded that it did not violate international law during the war on Gaza but admitted that there was a very small number of "unfortunate incidents" such as the airstrike that killed 21 members of the same family which, the report said, was "unavoidable".
http://tinyurl.com/c78krh
Reuters - Apr 22, 2009
OSLO, April 22 (Reuters) - Norway's public prosecutors said on Wednesday they would study a complaint filed by a group of lawyers accusing Israeli leaders
...
The Associated Press - Apr 22, 2009
OSLO (AP) — A group of Norwegian lawyers filed a complaint Wednesday accusing 10 Israelis of war crimes in Gaza under the country's new universal ...