Trial of Sharon, Geiloun case intensify relations between Israel and each of Belgium, Denmark
Israel-Belgium, Politics, 7/26/2001

The Belgium senator Vincent Van Koykonborn has stressed that the trial of the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon will continue and that Kahana's report and the information stated in it will be the beginning to start with this case, noting that the view toward Israel has been changed and that the Israeli lobby will not have an effect on the Belgium judiciary. He noted that Sharon's trial will be fair if he will attend it or not.

The Belgium senator said that if Sharon will be found guilty he will not be able to visit any European state and the policy in any country can evacuate him to Belgium because he is wanted in war crimes cases, adding that the judiciary will follow up this matter until the end and that Israel will be preoccupied towards the development of matters.

As for the possibility of amending the law to this effect in Belgium, the senator stressed that the Belgium government has decided to postpone that until year 2002, considering the amendment as a wrong policy. He explained that amending the law to this effect is challenged by many in Belgium.

The Belgium senator added that he read the text of the case filed against Sharon and the testimonies of 23 of the victims of Sabra and Shatilla massacre. He said " when I saw the pictures I got to remember frightening chapters in the history," stressing that evidences are available to condemn Sharon to this effect " and we have to be fair for the victims and give them back their rights, even if peace will be established between the Israelis and the Palestinians. The case will not be closed because the public right can not be ignored.

He continued that he will feel proud when he will be able to give an evidence to the whole world that the Israelis are not victims as they claim, noting that the Palestinian Intifada children are the best evidence on what has been said to this effect.

In a statement to the Lebanese TV the Belgium senator said he had met with families of several victims of this massacre and will be meeting with many others as he follows up the complaints submitted before the Belgian judiciary by Palestinian and Lebanese citizens.

He added that relations between Belgium and Israel still witness more tension. A tension which is applicable on the European Union which Belgium presides over for the current six months.

On the other hand, the Danish minister of Justice Franc Jensin said that Denmark is committed according to the UN charter on torture, to detain any person suspected to be involved in acts of torturing, This was in remarks to the Israeli new ambassador to Denmark Karmi Geiloun for violating international norms by torturing the Palestinian detainees in the Israeli jails to death when he was a chairman of the Israeli intelligence in the period between 1994- 1996.

News reports quoted Jensin as saying in a written reply he submitted at the parliament for an opposition leftist party that there can be no " exceptions" for the UN norms to this effect, which means that diplomatic immunity will not protect Geiloun from being arrested immediately upon his arrival in the Danish territories, as stated by the media.

Geiloun has admitted he permitted the torture of the Palestinians during his work as a chairman for the Israeli intelligence and recently supported the use of torture against the Palestinians who are arrested in the Intifada activities.

Meantime, the Danish media highlighted in its main titles the question of Geiloun as well as it effect in the deterioration of the Danish relations with Israel.

However, the Israeli foreign minister Shimon Peres announced his rejection to cancel the appointment of Geiloun. He explained that Israel will not abide by the desire of Denmark to this effect and that Israel is still persistent to send Geiloun as its ambassador to Denmark.

Previous Stories:
  Belgian attorney holds a press conference in Cairo   (7/21/2001)
  Belgian lawyer in conference on Israeli apartheid   (7/17/2001)
  Belgian circles speak of a chance to arrest Sharon after the end of the investigations   (7/13/2001)

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