Belgian Defense Minister: “Israel” must pay to clear cluster bombs in Lebanon

Belgian Defense Minister: "Israel" must pay to clear cluster bombs in Lebanon
"Not a shred of evidence Hizbullah fired any such bombs"
Source: Haaretz, 17-04-2007
Belgium`s Defense Minister said last week that he would act to extract payment from "Israel" for the removal of cluster bomb fragments that the "Israeli" Military forces fired into Lebanese territory during the Second Lebanon War.
During a meeting with representatives of Medical Aid for the Third World (MATW), an international medical organization, Defense Minister Andre Flahaut said the weapon was "the resort of cowards and a violation of international law."
The organization`s coordinator, Dr. Bert De Belder, told Haaretz that Flahaut was receptive to the idea that "Israel" should be regarded as a polluter, and be made to pay for the removal of the pollution so far estimated at $13 million.
According to De Belder, Flahaut said he will recommend to Prime Minister Verhofstadt to adopt the principle.
Flahaut, scheduled to visit Lebanon this week, informed De Belder that he intended to advise the Lebanese government to support making "Israel" financially accountable. De Belder and the other members of the MATW delegation presented Flahaut with a petition signed by 3,415 Belgian supporters, including 13 MPs from various political factions.
The MATW did not address the issue of how the funds would be collected from "Israel".
"We left that up to the Belgian government, as the removal is performed at its expense by the Belgian contingent to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon," De Belder said.
He acknowledged that his organization dealt mainly with humanitarian aid and not with international law, adding that it was also "dedicated to international justice." He also said: "Our petition was reviewed by attorney Selma Ben Khelifa, who specializes in human rights".
De Belder added he had not seen "a shred of evidence" that Hizbullah also fired cluster bombs into "Israel". Human Rights Watch announced last October that it found 113 such instances.