A Belgian court ruled today that a legal action brought against an Israeli general for alleged crimesagainst humanity can go to trial.
The Brussels appeal court ruled there was no reason to reject the suit against General Amos Yaron over the 1982 massacre at the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps in Beirut.
The lawsuit against Gen Yaron was filed in June 2001 under a controversial Belgian law by 23 Palestinian survivors of the massacre carried out by an Israeli-allied Christian militia during Israel's invasion of Lebanon.
The Universal Competence Law allows Belgian courts to rule on war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, wherever the alleged crimes took place and irrespective of the nationality of either the alleged perpetrator or victim.
But a recent modification of the law limits its powers, notably allowing for cases to be sent to the defendants' country of origin.
The Israeli general, who is now director general at the defence ministry, was responsible for the Beirut sector at the time of the massacre.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was defence minister at the time.
AFP