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| Middle East |
| Is the Egyptian Judge of Israel in World Court Biased? |
| 2004-02-06 |
| The world court denied Friday that one of its judges gave a magazine interview in which he was critical of Israel. The International Court of Justice, the highest U.N. judicial body, has been asked by the General Assembly to give a nonbinding opinion on the legal consequences of a 440-mile security barrier Israel is building that encroaches on Palestinian territory in the West Bank. The case is politically charged and Israel has already tried unsuccessfully to have the judge, Nabil Elaraby of Egypt, dismissed for alleged bias. How in the world COULD he be biased?! He’s a judge, dammit!!! Oh. And Egyptian. Um, and the WC is a tool of the UN. Nevermind. The weekly magazine al-Ahram al-Arabi quoted Elaraby in its Jan. 31 issue as saying Israel’s justifications for the barrier "are feeble and it could face punishment" if the court’s opinion goes against it. And periodicals such as al-Ahram al-Arabi wouldn’t dare make up anything negative about Israel. They have a reputation to uphold in the arab world. "If the court rules that the wall is illegal, Israel will suffer noticeable harm from both the political and the public relations aspects," the magazine quoted the judge as saying. hey...ya find something that works, ya stick with it. But court spokesman Boris Heim said Friday "the judge did not give this interview," and that the court was investigating the matter. "Mahmoud! Investigate this! Quickly! And make sure he didn’t give the interview!" An official at al-Ahram al-Arabi said that the interview was submitted by Awad al-Ghanam, a freelance journalist who has done work for the magazine in the past. The official said the magazine would also look into the matter. The court’s judges are barred under court rules from discussing the content of a case before a ruling. Israel wanted Elaraby dismissed because he was once a legal adviser to the Egyptian government, and because he gave an interview to the same magazine in 2001 which Israel said showed his prejudice. But the court ruled 13-1 that Elaraby’s 2001 interview — made before he was appointed to the court — was not prejudicial and he should remain on the bench. After all, he’ll counterbalance the Israeli judge. What? There isn’t one? Quel surprise! Israel says the barrier is to stop suicide bombers, but Palestinians say it will disrupt tens of thousands of lives. Both statements are true. Both are good. |
| Posted by:PlanetDan |
| #3 John - LOL. You're good! I bow to your superior wit. :-p |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2004-2-6 10:18:10 PM |
| #2 Paleos need to get over the wall. There. Been waiting to say that. |
| Posted by: john 2004-2-6 9:04:34 PM |
#1 Is the Egyptian Judge of Israel in World Court Biased?Does a bear sleep in the woods? Palestinians say it will disrupt tens of thousands of livesAnd their point would be...? Here's a suggestion: If the Paleswhinians stop disrupting tens of thousands of Israelis' lives with their bombings, kidnappings, etc., Israel would have no problem stopping the fence. Action, meet consequence. |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2004-2-6 4:59:03 PM |