On September 9, he’ll arrive in London to meet with Britain’s David Cameron. As of Saturday, September 5, over 100,000 Brits signed a petition to arrest him – likely many more by September 9.
Netanyahu was responsible for genocidal war crimes and mass destruction against Gaza last summer, noncombatant civilians suffering most, willfully targeted by Israel’s killing machine, on his direct orders, an unindicted mass-murderer.
Once past the 100,000 threshold, the petition will be considered for debate in Parliament. The Palestinian Forum and Palestine Solidarity Campaign urged supporters to participate in a mass public protest during Cameron/Netanyahu discussions next week.
A PSC statement says “Netanyahu bears direct responsibility for war crimes identified by the UN Human Rights Council following Israel’s brutal assault on Gaza last summer.”
“And yet the British Prime Minister will shake Netanyahu’s hand next Wednesday and doubtless discuss, among other things, more arms deals between the UK and Israel.”
Organizers will display Palestinian flags. Banners will denounce Netanyahu as a war criminal, demanding his arrest.
A massive security operation is planned, initiated ahead of his visit. Petition organizer Damian Moran said he “never really understood the Palestine conflict until about 10 years ago when I did some actual research on it and was horrified by what (he) found.”
He “empathize(s) greatly with Palestinians with all the horrors they faced.”
Cameron claims “under UK and international law, certain holders of high-ranking office in a state, including heads of state, heads of government and ministers for foreign affairs are entitled to immunity, which includes inviolability and complete immunity from criminal jurisdiction.”
In October 1998, Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet was arrested in London. Britain used a Spanish court provisional warrant to apprehend him.
He was held him under house arrest for 18 months. It set a precedent. It let other heads of state and top officials know they’re vulnerable. Pinochet’s bogus ill health claim sent him home. He arrived irreparably damaged and disgraced.
The principle of universal jurisdiction (UJ) holds that certain crimes are too grave to ignore – including genocide, crimes of war and against humanity.
Under UJ, nations may investigate and prosecute foreign nationals when their country of residence or origin won’t, can’t or hasn’t for any reason.
Israel used it to prosecute, convict and execute Adolph Eichmann. A US court sentenced Charles Taylor’s son, Chuckie, to 97 years in prison.
Under Article 7 of the Charter of the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg:
The official position of defendants, whether as Head of State or responsible officials in Government departments, shall not be considered as freeing them from responsibility or mitigating punishment.
Individuals considered most culpable are called hostis humani generis – enemies of mankind. War crimes are against the jus gentium – the law of nations. International law was established to address them and hold culpable individuals accountable.
The Nuremberg Charter, Tribunal and Principles determined that crimes of war and against humanity are “international crimes” to grave to ignore.
Tribunal Principles hold that “(a)ny person who commits an act which constitutes a crime under international law is responsible therefore and liable to punishment….”
(C)rimes against international law are committed by men, not by abstract entities, and only by punishing individuals who commit (them) can the provisions of international law be enforced.
The Rome Statute’s Article 25 of the International Criminal Court codified the principle – affirming persons culpable of crimes of war and against humanity be prosecuted.
Nuremberg rendered immunity in these cases null and void. No one is above the law for any reason – including heads of state.
Britain’s support for Israeli high crimes assures Netanyahu’s freedom from criminal prosecution.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at [email protected].
His new book as editor and contributor is titled “Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III.”
http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html
Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.
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