The French Senate today ratified an extradition treaty with Israel which it has kept pigeon-holed since 1959. The surprise action was taken to remove the legal obstacles to the extradition of Claude Lipsky, a French-Jewish financier who fled to Israel in Sept, after warrants were issued for his arrest in connection with a major financial scandal.
The extradition treaty was negotiated in 1958 and approved a year later by the French National Assembly. It was ratified by Israel. But the French Senate refused its approval because Israel does not have capital punishment. The treaty stipulates that extradited persons must not be subjected to punishments that are not in force in the country where they took refuge. The Senate regarded that clause as a possible infringement of France’s sovereignty.
France has been pressing Israel to extradite Lipsky or at least expel him. The Israeli government has refused to act in what Jerusalem termed an “illegal manner.” pointing out that the extradition treaty never went into effect. Last Friday, the government presented the Senate with the treaty and urged speedy ratification. The ratification process was expected to take several weeks. But it was voted on immediately and adopted by an overwhelming majority. It is retroactive in criminal cases. The Foreign Ministry was expected to ask Israel officially for Lipsky’s extradition this week.
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