Israel confident Spain will rescind decision to continue Gaza strike probe

By JPOST.COM STAFF
The Justice Ministry on Monday expressed regret over the decision by a Spanish judge to continue to investigate seven current and former Israeli officials over the 2002 air force bombing in Gaza that killed Hamas terrorist Salah Shehadeh and 14 others, but said it was confident it would be overturned. "We regret that the judge issued his decision in contravention of the clear position of the Spanish government," read a statement issued by the ministry. "We believe that the decision will be rescinded following an appeal by the prosecutor." The ministry went on to call the filing of the lawsuit in Spain by the Palestinian Center for Human Rights "a cynical move and an attempt to exploit the Spanish judicial system in order to advance a political agenda against Israel." "We are convinced that the Spanish government and judicial system will do their utmost so that this does not succeed," concluded the statement.