Third such dismissal of CCR cases involving alleged Israeli ‘war crimes’ since beginning of 2007
 

As NGO Monitor has reported, The Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) – funded by the Ford Foundation and Open Society Institute — contributes to the demonization of Israel and exploitation of international law primarily through its lawsuits against Israeli officials for alleged “war crimes, extrajudicial killing, crimes against humanity, and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”  In this process, CCR consistently disregards the context of terror, denies Israel’s right to self-defense, and accuses it of deliberately targeting civilians.

On February 15, 2008, the Washington, DC Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court dismissal of Belhas v. Ya’alon – a case brought by the CCR — to prosecute a former Israeli general for deaths that occurred during a battle with Hezbollah.  This was the latest result in CCR’s on-going “series of cases seeking to exploit US courts as a platform” to prosecute Israelis for anti-terror measures.  In September 2007, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal of CCR’s case on behalf of the parents of International Solidarity Movement activist  Rachel Corrie against Catepillar for “complicity” in alleged Israeli “war crimes and extrajudicial killings”. In May 2007, a New York district court dismissed CCR’s suit against former head of the Israeli Security Services (Shin Bet), Avi Dichter, for his alleged role in the killing of Hamas-military leader and suicide-bombing mastermind, Salah Shehade.  CCR has appealed that case as well and briefing is now underway in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. A decision is expected in later in 2008.

– To view the full-text of the February 15, 2008 ruling, click here.

-For detailed NGO Monitor analysis of the Center of for Constitutional Rights, click here.