Israel's high court upheld the military action
Legal World
Israel's high court on Thursday upheld the military's right to assassinate members of what the state defines as terrorist organizations, but cautioned that decisions to launch such operations should always weigh the potential harm to civilian bystanders and the rights of the person being targeted.
The unanimous decision, one of the last to be issued by retiring Chief Justice Aharon Barak, represented a disappointing defeat for Israeli and Palestinian human-rights organizations that have called the tactic, pioneered during the most recent Palestinian uprising, a war crime.
Hawkish lawmakers and officials from Israel's security establishment expressed pleasant surprise over the ruling given that Barak, an activist judge throughout his decades-long career, has often come down against the military in cases where human rights and security measures appear to conflict.
In its summary of the ruling, which has been highly anticipated inside and outside Israel, the court said the state "must balance security needs and human rights."
Related listings
-
ICTR convicts Rwandan Catholic priest of genocide
Legal World 12/13/2006The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda Wednesday convicted a Roman Catholic priest for committing genocide and extermination during the mass killings of Tutsis and moderate Hutus that swept the central African nation in 1994. Father Athanase ...
-
Italy court sets hearing in CIA abduction case
Legal World 12/12/2006A Milan court will hear arguments on January 9 on whether to try CIA and Italian agents on charges of kidnapping a terrorism suspect in Milan and flying him to Egypt, where he says he was tortured, a court source said on Monday.Prosecutors want to tr...
-
North Korea Nuclear Talks to Resume December 18
Legal World 12/11/2006South Korean authorities expressed support Monday, for the scheduled resumption of talks on North Korea's nuclear weapons.South Korean Foreign Ministry Spokesman Choo Kyu-ho said Seoul welcomes the news that the six-party talks will resume next Monda...
New York Commercial Litigation Law Firm - Woods Lonergan PLLC
Founded in 1993 by Managing Partner James F. Woods, Woods Lonergan PLLC has built a strong reputation as a resourceful and industrious firm that provides clients with clear, concise, and straightforward answers to their most challenging legal issues. Partner Lawrence R. Lonergan, who joined the firm in 2008, has been a friend and colleague to Mr. Woods for over 40 years and shares the same business philosophy. Woods Lonergan PLLC’s collective experience and expertise enables the firm to expeditiously and effectively analyze the increasing challenges clients face in an evolving business and legal world, in many instances, avoiding unnecessary time and expense to our clients. Our mission is simple: provide cutting-edge expertise and sound advice in select areas of the law for corporate and business clients. We thrive on providing each client with personalized attention, forceful representation, and a collaborative team effort that embraces collective knowledge.