# Emir of Qatar to pay all fees to take Israeli's to court over flotilla **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 13, 2010, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emir-of-qatar-to-pay-all-fees-to-take-israelis-to-court-over-flotilla/543045 "2010-06-13T21:28:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Marmite\_Lover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Marmite\_Lover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marmite_Lover)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emir-of-qatar-to-pay-all-fees-to-take-israelis-to-court-over-flotilla/543045/1 "2010-06-13T21:28:31Z")
Amr Moussa of the the Arab League has announced in Cairo and convening in Doha that the Emir of Qatar. One of the world’s richest men. His Excellency Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani With the full backing of the Arab League countries. Will personally pay ( in full ) the entire legal fee’s incurred to take Israeli Government to the ICJ over the Flotilla Massacre. In addition the Emir has also stated that he will pay in full the legal fee’s of any individual or group, or establishment in any country, who wished to press charges against Israeli Government over the flotilla massacre. The Emir will also pay for a world wide media campaign in support of the Palestinians, highlighting the blockade, the Operation Cast Lead of 08/09, and the Freedom Flotilla, and any subsequent aid convoys and flotilla’s. Ehud Barak has cancelled his trip to Paris. Pro-Palestinian activists had threatened to try to have charges brought in Europe against Barak and other Israeli officials under the principle of ‘universal jurisdiction’. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emir-of-qatar-to-pay-all-fees-to-take-israelis-to-court-over-flotilla/543045/2 "2010-06-13T21:30:42Z")
Well, that’s nice of him. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emir-of-qatar-to-pay-all-fees-to-take-israelis-to-court-over-flotilla/543045/3 "2010-06-13T21:36:32Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > Well, that’s nice of him. Indeed. I may not agree with the man’s politics, but he certainly has every right to express his views, to use his own funds to do so, and to support litigation that he believes to be in the public interest. It would also be nice, however, if the Emir of Qatar would allow his people the same right to criticize his _own_ government as he does to criticize that of Israel. [http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2006/78861.htm](http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2006/78861.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emir-of-qatar-to-pay-all-fees-to-take-israelis-to-court-over-flotilla/543045/4 "2010-06-13T21:37:17Z")
Thank you for the news report. What’s the debate? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emir-of-qatar-to-pay-all-fees-to-take-israelis-to-court-over-flotilla/543045/5 "2010-06-13T22:16:31Z")
Is he going to get Hans Blix to write Israel a very nasty letter? ---
**Author:** ![Honesty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f04885/32.png) [@Honesty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honesty)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emir-of-qatar-to-pay-all-fees-to-take-israelis-to-court-over-flotilla/543045/6 "2010-06-13T22:32:20Z")
> [@Marmite\_Lover](#): > > Will personally pay ( in full ) the entire legal fee’s incurred to take Israeli Government to the ICJ over the Flotilla Massacre. > Pro-Palestinian activists had threatened to try to have charges brought in Europe against Barak and other Israeli officials under the principle of ‘universal jurisdiction’. Could you expand on this? What is ‘universal jurisdiction’ and what can the ICJ do? The reason I ask is because the ICJ ruled against the USA and Supreme Court gave them the [middle finger.](http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1394534) It seems to me, though I’m not a lawyer, that if the U.S is able to ignore ICJ rulings without repercussions then Israel will probably do it too. - Honesty ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Crap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.crap/32/3131_2.png) [@Dr.Crap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Crap)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emir-of-qatar-to-pay-all-fees-to-take-israelis-to-court-over-flotilla/543045/7 "2010-06-13T22:54:30Z")
http: [//twitter.com/](https://twitter.com/) http: [//bit.ly/](https://bit.ly/) ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emir-of-qatar-to-pay-all-fees-to-take-israelis-to-court-over-flotilla/543045/8 "2010-06-13T23:01:03Z")
> [@Honesty](#): > > Could you expand on this? What is ‘universal jurisdiction’ and what can the ICJ do? The reason I ask is because the ICJ ruled against the USA and Supreme Court gave them the [middle finger.](http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1394534) It seems to me, though I’m not a lawyer, that if the U.S is able to ignore ICJ rulings without repercussions then Israel will probably do it too. Anyone can ignore an ICJ ruling; states must submit to ICJ jurisdiction prior to trial for a ruling to be binding. The US and Iran, for example, have both declined to submit on occasion. The Supreme Court did not give the ICJ the middle finger; it declined to remand the case for new proceedings because the US had refused to submit in the case of Mexico v. USA. Universal jurisdiction is the concept that states or judicial organs may exercise jurisdiction over any criminal or civil case if the state which has jurisdiction refuses to do so, or the action is considered a crime based on international law (genocide, ethnic cleansing, piracy, etc.) ---
**Author:** ![Randy\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee7513/32.png) [@Randy\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randy_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emir-of-qatar-to-pay-all-fees-to-take-israelis-to-court-over-flotilla/543045/9 "2010-06-13T23:04:35Z")
> [@Marmite\_Lover](#): > > […] to take Israeli’s to court […] the legal fee’s of any individual or group […] any subsequent aid convoys and flotilla’s. […] (expurgation and coloring mine) FYI, to make a word plural in English, you do not use an apostrophe. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emir-of-qatar-to-pay-all-fees-to-take-israelis-to-court-over-flotilla/543045/10 "2010-06-13T23:33:53Z")
> [@Dr.Crap](#): > > http: [//twitter.com/](https://twitter.com/) > http: [//bit.ly/](https://bit.ly/) I don’t know what you thought you were doing, but links to random web sites are not a good way to win friends among the staff. [/Modding] ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emir-of-qatar-to-pay-all-fees-to-take-israelis-to-court-over-flotilla/543045/11 "2010-06-13T23:34:58Z")
[UN Assembly votes overwhelmingly to demand Israel comply with ICJ ruling](http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=11418&Cr=middle&Cr1=east) > [@](#): > > 20 July 2004 – The United Nations General Assembly today voted overwhelmingly to demand that Israel comply with an advisory opinion issued earlier this month by the World Court, which declared the construction of a separation barrier in and around the West Bank to be illegal. > > In adopting a resolution by a vote of 150 to 6, with 10 abstentions, the Assembly also called on all UN Member States to comply with its obligations as contained in the finding by International Court of Justice (ICJ), which include a duty "not to recognize the illegal situation resulting from the construction > … > Voting against the measure were Australia, the Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, the Marshall Islands, Palau and the United States. The countries that abstained were Cameroon, Canada, El Salvador, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Uganda, Uruguay and Vanuatu. Not a lot of bite to that ICJ bark. Now maybe the US and Australia could _give_ it some bite this time around, but thart seems unlikely. Then again, Israel’s burned up a lot of good will over the last few years. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emir-of-qatar-to-pay-all-fees-to-take-israelis-to-court-over-flotilla/543045/12 "2010-06-13T23:39:36Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Is he going to get Hans Blix to write Israel a very nasty letter? How about Jimmy Carter? I hear he will work for peanuts. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emir-of-qatar-to-pay-all-fees-to-take-israelis-to-court-over-flotilla/543045/13 "2010-06-13T23:42:08Z")
If "His Excellency Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani " was really interested in alleviating human suffering, maybe he could look to the condition of foreign workers–including Palestinians—in his own country. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emir-of-qatar-to-pay-all-fees-to-take-israelis-to-court-over-flotilla/543045/14 "2010-06-13T23:52:12Z")
> [@Marmite\_Lover](#): > > One of the world’s richest men. His Excellency Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani With the full backing of the Arab League countries. > > Will personally pay ( in full ) the entire legal **fee’s** incurred to take Israeli Government to the ICJ over the Flotilla Massacre. > > In addition the Emir has also stated that he will pay in full the legal **fee’s** of any individual or group, or establishment in any country, who wished to press charges against Israeli Government over the flotilla massacre. > > The Emir will also pay for a world wide media campaign in support of the Palestinians, highlighting the blockade, the Operation Cast Lead of 08/09, and the Freedom Flotilla, and any subsequent aid convoys and **flotilla’s**. One of the world’s richest men, and he can’t afford a staff grammarian? Or do really wealthy guys like to show off their ability to afford more apostrophes than us common folk? ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emir-of-qatar-to-pay-all-fees-to-take-israelis-to-court-over-flotilla/543045/15 "2010-06-14T02:49:33Z")
[QUOTE=Larry Borgia] If "His Excellency Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani " was really interested in alleviating human suffering, maybe he could look to the condition of foreign workers–including Palestinians—in his own country. [/QUOTE] Since justice is obviously his aim, I’m sure that he’d be more than willing to pony up for those legal fees as well… (I’m not holding my breath, however). So, is the debate something along the lines of ‘Look how evil Israel is! Even the Emir of Qatar, an obviously righteous and unbiased individual is willing to use his own money (which he earned by doing good deeds, helping the people, feeding the squirrels and otherwise leading a good and carbon free life) to get justice! We should all now beat out chests and take up the pitch forks in our anger over Israel and it’s treatment of those poor activists who were simply attempting to break the blockade of our suffering Palestinian brethren and sistren who are struggling to get chocolate and coriander and all the other necessities of life in what is obviously a humanitarian crisis to rivals the worst atrocities of the past…\…’? -XT ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emir-of-qatar-to-pay-all-fees-to-take-israelis-to-court-over-flotilla/543045/16 "2010-06-14T02:55:12Z")
Perhaps he could take in a few 10s of thousand Palestinians with that kind of money. None of the other Arab states seem willing. Also note that Egypt also is a participant in the blockade of Gaza; not ramifications from that action? ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emir-of-qatar-to-pay-all-fees-to-take-israelis-to-court-over-flotilla/543045/17 "2010-06-14T06:46:35Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > I don’t know what you thought you were doing, but links to random web sites are not a good way to win friends among the staff. > > [/Modding] So is that the official debate here or should we debate Marmite Lovers unquestioned love of Jews? ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emir-of-qatar-to-pay-all-fees-to-take-israelis-to-court-over-flotilla/543045/18 "2010-06-14T07:09:47Z")
I thought the debate was: “Is there any value in making a news report read like a Nigerian scam e-mail?” ---
**Author:** ![PrettyVacant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/49beb7/32.png) [@PrettyVacant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PrettyVacant)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emir-of-qatar-to-pay-all-fees-to-take-israelis-to-court-over-flotilla/543045/19 "2010-06-14T07:31:39Z")
The Emir of Qatar might want to stay away from hotels in Dubai for the foreseeable. ---
**Author:** ![Marmite\_Lover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Marmite\_Lover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marmite_Lover)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emir-of-qatar-to-pay-all-fees-to-take-israelis-to-court-over-flotilla/543045/20 "2010-06-14T09:54:28Z")
> [@Randy\_Seltzer](#): > > (expurgation and coloring mine) > > FYI, to make a word plural in English, you do not use an apostrophe. thank you for correcting my English I know it is not very good. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emir-of-qatar-to-pay-all-fees-to-take-israelis-to-court-over-flotilla/543045.md?page=2)