Sunday, August 5

Britain might seek to try IDF officer

Now this is an interesting conundrum. Here we are, a British citizen, shot in disputed territory, under occupation forces of another state. No legal connection whatsoever other than a nebulous connection within the UN auspices. Israel has not signed the ICC treaty (nor will it). Its not within the Council of Europe. One can quibble over the evidence, but as can be seen, both UK and Israel agree that there is a case, the debate is over whether the evidence is sufficient to convict Capt Hib? Now I am wondering if this situation was reversed, what would the UK do? for example, in the case of Ian Henderson? The Bahraini government is its usual other worldly self and would never do anything as crazy like actually asking Henderson to be tried!. This is an interesting situation indeed.

Hmmm, just had another thought. I wonder if Israel can sue the UK for not being careful with its citizens? Or sue the British citizens who were the suppliers or ideologues who got these buggers to go do suicide bombing in Israel? Ironical, eh?
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Britain might seek to try IDF officer
By JPOST.COM STAFF
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Britain has reiterated its demand that Israel try an IDF captain accused of shooting British filmmaker James Miller to death in the Gaza Strip four years ago.

In light of new evidence resulting from a Scotland Yard inquiry into Miller's death, which indicates that the bullet that killed Miller was shot from an IDF armed personnel carrier, officials in the UK have given the state until Tuesday to respond to their demand that Capt. Hib al-Heib stand trial for murder, the Times reported Sunday.

The new evidence is based on an analysis of video and audio recordings of the shooting, which occurred in May 2003 while Miller was making a documentary about children in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. His colleague, Saira Shah, incorporated the story of his demise into the film Death in Gaza, garnering a host of awards.

Should Israel not agree to try Heib, the Times said, the UK would consider prosecuting Heib there. The article did not state whether British officials would attempt to have Heib extradited or try him in absentia.

Israel has maintained that while there was ground to suspect that Heib was responsible for Miller's death, the evidence at hand was insufficient to prove the allegation.

The Times quoted Miller's brother John saying he believed that a trial in Britain would more likely lead to a conviction than one in Israel. John Miller denigrated what he called "years of indifference from [the British] government and rebuff, lies, and cheating from the Israeli government."

Miller's widow, Sophy, however, said she expected the new evidence to lead to Heib's conviction in an Israeli court.

Israel's Foreign Ministry said that it was the purview of the Justice Ministry and the IDF Spokesman's Office to respond to the British demand. The IDF has not yet issued a statement.

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Update: The Israeli's have been in touch with the British Government asking for more information.

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