U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder had received a formal request to extradite a Hamas official involved in the kidnapping and murder of an American citizen.
Israeli civil rights attorney, Nitsana Darshan-Leitner sent a letter to Attorney General Holder and Assistant AG Leslie Caldwell, requesting the Department of Justice extradite Hamas West Bank commander, Saleh al-Arouri, for his role in the kidnapping and murder of Naftali Fraenkel, one of the three teens abducted and slain in the 'operation' in Israel that Hamas has claimed credit for.
Al-Arouri, who runs Hamas in the West Bank from his country of residence, Turkey, was seen on a video last week, making a speech at the fourth conference of the World Union of Islamic Sages in the Islamic Republic, and saying openly that Hamas’ Qassam Brigades had carried out the June kidnapping and killing of Fraenkel and the two other Israeli teenagers, Eyal Yifrach and Gil-ad Shaar.
Al-Arouri claimed that he was "speaking on behalf of Hamas leader Khaled Masha'al.”
The Israelis have also captured one member of the three man cell, Hussam al-Qawasmi, who confessed and gave evidence on Al-Arouri's involvement.
Darshan-Leitner, Founder and Director of the Shurat HaDin–Israel Law Center, a non-governmental organization (NGO), mentioned the video in her letter to the Attorney General and asked the Department of Justice to “take all necessary steps to compel the government of Turkey to extradite” as well expresses confidence “that an investigation into the evidence of the kidnapping and murder of Fraenkel will result in the indictment and extradition of senior Hamas leader al-Arouri from Turkey.”
According to existing treaties between the U.S. and Turkey, the Islamic Republic is legally obligated to extradite al-Arouri if he “committed a criminal act that would be punishable by Turkey, had the offense been perpetrated within its territorial jurisdiction,” wrote Darshan-Leitner. “The US is the only country that can bring Arouri to justice.”
Israel and Turkey likewise have a similar extradition treaty, but the Islamist Erdoğan government has repeatedly refused to honor it, something understandable if you look at President Tayyip Erdoğan's support of Hamas, history of anti-semitic outbursts and anti-Israel statements.
Once al-Arouri has been extradited and tried in America, Israel could then request that the US extradite him to Israel to face charges in the kidnap and murder of the other two Israeli teens.
Well, the Obama Administration came out with a number of sympathetic statements and pro-forma condemnations when the three boys were first kidnapped and then murdered by Hamas. Now they have a chance to do something concrete to bring the murderer of an American citizen to justice. Will they?
Before you answer, here's a factoid to chew on. According to U.S. law, the FBI is required to investigate the death of an American citizen overseas. That policy has never been implemented when either Fatah or Hamas have been the perpetrators.
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