Israel Matzav

AG closes case against Israelis on Mavi Marmara

Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein, citing 'evidentiary difficulties,' has closed the case against 'Israeli Arab' MK Hanin Zoabi (Balad) and other Israelis who were on board the Mavi Marmara in May 2010.

Police had investigated suspicions that several Israeli citizens had participated in the flotilla and attempted to enter Gaza illegally, in contravention of the Disengagement Implementation Law. None of the Israelis were suspected of attacking the IDF soldiers who took over the flotilla, the ministry said in a press statement.

State prosecutors examined the police's findings and filed a report to Weinstein, however the attorney-general decided that the files should be closed due to 'significant evidentiary and legal difficulties both in proving the elements of the offenses and legal questions over the applicability of Israeli criminal law on foreign offenses', the statement said.

The Justice Ministry also emphasized that the attorney-general's decision only relates to those Israeli citizens suspected in connection with the flotilla and did not set any hard and fast rules for how any future investigations will be conducted.

MK Haneen Zoabi (Balad), who participated in the flotilla and was one of the Israelis under investigation, said Thursday she was "not surprised" at the decision to close the investigation files, including her own file.

"This proves what I said all along," Zoabi said. "My participation in the flotilla was a political act and entirely legal."

The Balad MK attacked Knesset members who "incited" against her for her participation in the flotilla, saying they owed her an apology. "I don't expect an apology, but at least they should do some soul searching on the issue."

Government watchdog NGO the Legal Forum for the Land of Israel slammed Weinstein's decision, however. "We sent out soldiers to risk their lives on the decks of the [flotilla ship] and when the court should deal with the flotilla organizers we see a shameful ineffectiveness," said Forum director attorney Nachi Eyal.

In an interview with Israel Radio shortly after the announcement, MK Miri Regev (Likud), a former IDF spokesperson, slammed Zoabi as a traitor and Weinstein for abandoning the IDF. She said she would file a complaint against Zoabi with the Knesset Ethics Committee. Zoabi already had her MK privileges suspended.

Labels: Hanin Zoabi, Mavi Marmara, Miri Regev

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 7:48 PM