Turkel Observer Praises Israel
Professor Tim McCormack has complimented Israel on being the only country in the world to conduct an extensive independent inquiry into its military justice system, and said that it had broken new ground in terms of analysis of international law.
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Professor Tim McCormack and Nina Bassat
Professor Tim McCormack, a professor of law at the Melbourne Law School, spoke at the Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV) Plenum about his experience as an independent observer in Phase II of the the Turkel Commission of Enquiry.
Professor McCormack and Lord David Trimble of Northern Ireland were the two independent observers of the Turkel Commission’s extensive review and international comparative assessment of Israel’s mechanisms for investigation and legal enforcement surrounding complaints or allegations of crimes by the Israeli military.
The review commenced in 2011 and reviewed the current state of the law, Israel’s processes and procedures, and used six other countries including Australia, the USA, Canada and Germany as comparative examples.
The final report is extensive and made 28 recommendations for change which are currently being reviewed by the Israeli Government for implementation.
Professor McCormack pointed out that the report had been well received by a wide range of analysts within Israel, as well as legal experts internationally.
It is gratifying that Israel’s legal and moral actions against the provocative attempt at blockade breaking has been recognised by eminent international jurist.
It is also beggars belief, that Israel allowed the international community to, in effect, put it on trial, particularly when the facts were obvious.
It is insane, that Israel is expected to account for every action of its miltary, while other nations cando as they please. How many USA personnel have been prosecuted for drone assasinations? What are the legalities of the French in Mali, for example? How many Malaysians have been tried for attacking people trying to regain lost lands? What action has been taken against Lebanon or Iran or Qatar for their involvement in Syria?
More importantly, what action does the international community take against non-state actors like al-Qaeda? What sanctions are there against violent protestors and those who deliberately lie? And how can any nation, especially Israel, fight a war if each and every action needs to be passed by a team of lawyers and is then subject to challenges by lawyers for the complainants who mosst often are enemies and/or liars, particularily when it comes to those opposing Israel?
These legalistic idiocies must be terminate ASAP!