S.African Group Says It Laid Charges Against Israeli Soldier

A University of Johannesburg academic, Professor Farid Esack and Palestine Solidarity Committee (PSC) members have formally laid charges against a South African born Israeli soldier who is visiting the country.

The professor and the PSC members laid a charge of war crimes against Israeli Lieutenant-Colonel David Benjamin at the Johannesburg Central Police station, according to a PSC press release obtained by Digital Journal. The action follows an application lodged at various agencies, including the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) by the PSC and The Media Review Network. The press release makes the claim that Benjamin gave:

The legal go-ahead for the use of white phosphorous in its attacks against Gaza in December 2008-January 2009.

International rules of war ban the use of white phosphorus against civilians. It is normally used to create smoke screens on the battlefield. Meanwhile, the Jerusalem Post says the South African Jewish Board of Deputies and the South African Zionist Federation slammed the earlier attempts by the pro-Palestine groups and former cabinet minister Ronnie Kasrils to bring Benjamin to trial in South Africa. The Jewish groups said the submissions were:

Politically motivated attempts to undermine judicial independence as well as freedom of expression in South Africa should be universally condemned, as should any moves to import a foreign conflict to South African streets.

Zev Krengel, a member of the Board of Deputies, put it like this:

We believe it is a witch-hunt for South African Jews. In Iraq there are more than 4,000 South Africans fighting alongside US and British forces and there's never been a call for any of them to be prosecuted.

Krengel added the call to try Benjamin was being:

Pushed by the usual suspects. I'll be very surprised if the affidavit will be approved. (It is) an outrageous call on an already overwhelmed criminal justice system.

He said if Benjamin was in fact arrested:

We'll go to jail with him.