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PrintNorway drops war crimes case against Israel
WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Norwegian prosecutors dropped a case alleging war crimes by 10 Israeli leaders during last winter’s Gaza military campaign.
Chief prosecutor Siri Frigaard said last Friday that she is dismissing the complaint because "there is no good reason" for Norwegian authorities to investigate further and Norway should be judicious in deciding when to investigate alleged war crimes by individuals with no connection to the country.
A group of lawyers had lodged the complaint April 22 under Norway's universal jurisdiction law. The 2008 law allows foreigners to face charges in Norway for war crimes committed anywhere in the world.
Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and opposition leader Tzipi Livni were among the Israelis named.
The decision comes a day after the United Nations General Assembly, with Norway abstaining from the vote, endorsed the Goldstone report. The report alleges war crimes by Israel and Hamas during the Gaza war and recommends independent investigations into the charges.
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