OSLO: Norwegian prosecutors announced on Friday they would not pursue war crimes charges against Israeli officials, including former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, over the Gaza Strip offensive. Six Norwegian lawyers brought a case against Olmert and nine others in April for alleged offenses during the conflict in December-January.
The Scandinavian country’s courts were recently given universal jurisdiction in human rights matters, but prosecutors said the Gaza case had nothing to do with Norway.
“We are not saying there were no war crimes. We are simply saying there is no reason to open an investigation in this case,” Norwegian chief prosecutor Siri Frigaard told AFP.
In a statement released Friday, the prosecutor’s office said: “No one involved in this case has any connection whatsoever to Norway.
“The Norwegian prosecutor should show restraint before opening a case in which the alleged crime was committed overseas, unless the accused lives in Norway or has some connection with this country.”
A UN report said Israel and Palestinian groups committed war crimes and possible crimes against humanity during the 22-day war that Israel launched in response to rocket fire from the Palestinian enclave.
Israel criticized the report as “unjust” and “flawed.” – AFP
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