Israel has the authority to try the murderers of former minister Rehavam Ze'evi, State Prosecutor Eran Shendar concluded yesterday after consulting with other senior legal officials. Five suspects in Ze'evi's murder were among the six wanted Palestinians seized by Israel from the Jericho jail on Tuesday. Although some of the suspects have already been tried by the Palestinian Authority, Shendar and his colleagues concluded that the prohibition against "double jeopardy" does not apply in this case. "Israel's position is that Israel, and not the Palestinian Authority, had sole authority to try Minister Ze'evi's murderers," explained Attorney General Menachem Mazuz.
Justice Ministry officials also believe it would be preferable to try the men in a civil rather than a military court. Mazuz explained that his office is still examining all the relevant material to ensure that it has sufficient evidence to indict the five; only after that review is completed will he decide whether and where to try them.
Meanwhile, B'Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights yesterday urged Military Advocate General Avihai Mandelblit to investigate "infringements of the detainees' dignity" during the army's raid on the Jericho jail. The organizations complained that the arrested men were humiliated when photographs of them emerging from the jail in their underwear, in compliance with the soldiers' orders, were aired and printed by media outlets worldwide.
| So, next time no photos. |