Shorts: World

Racing chief apologizes for Hitler comments

The World Jewish Congress over the weekend called for the resignation of Formula 1 racing chief Bernie Ecclestone after he praised Hitler for having “gotten things done.” The Brit-ish-born Eccle-stone this week apologized for his remarks.

“I’m just sorry I was an idiot. I sincerely, genuinely apologize,” Ecclestone told the Times of London and the Jewish Chronicle July 7.

In a July 4 Times interview, Ecclestone, 78, said that “Hitler got taken away and persuaded to do things that I have no idea whether he wanted to do or not ... [but at least] he could command a lot of people able to get things done.”

Two days later, Ecclestone told the German daily Bild Zeitung that he had merely said Hitler “had effectively tackled unemployment and the economic crisis before committing his horrendous crimes.”

Ecclestone also said Saddam Hussein, the executed former dictator of Iraq, “was the only one who could control that country.” He also made these remarks in an interview published July 4 in the Times. — jta

Spain ends probe into Gaza war

Spain’s National Court has ended its investigation of Israeli war crimes.

The probe of an Israeli bombing that killed Hamas leader Salah Shehade in the Gaza Strip ended after the Spanish parliament granted preliminary approval to a bill that says cases investigated by the court must involve a Spanish citizen or a defendant actually on Spanish soil.

Judge Fernando Andreu had announced in May that he would pursue an investigation into the 2002 bombing even though prosecutors advised against it and Israel had investigated the murder, according to reports.

The court, under the principle of universal jurisdiction, had said that it could investigate and try human rights and war crimes cases if the country of origin did not. It has investigated such cases throughout the world. — jta

Demjanjuk declared fit to stand trial

Convicted Nazi death camp guard John Demjanjuk has been declared fit to stand trial in Germany.

State prosecutors in Munich announced the decision of the medical examiners on July 2, saying the only restriction is that court appearances be limited to two 90-minute sessions per day.

Demjanjuk, who was stripp-ed of his U.S. citizenship for lying about his Nazi past in order to enter the country, was deported in May from Cleveland to Germany, where he is being held in jail.

Later this month he will likely stand trial for war crimes committed during World War II. His trial could be one of the last such cases stemming from the Nazi era. — jta

Petition fights Israeli doctor’s ouster

Thousands have signed a petition to prevent Dr. Yoram Blachar, an Israeli doctor who heads the World Medical Association, from being impeached.

The petition, organized by Hadassah, is in response to a letter, signed by more than 700 doctors from 43 countries, calling for Blachar’s ouster for alleg-ed complicity in torturing Palestinians.

The petition backing Blachar, 68, who also heads the Israel Medical Association, says that neither he nor the IMA in any way endorses or accepts acts of torture, degrading or inhuman treatment.

The call for Blachar’s impeachment is being led by Derek Summerfield, a psychiatrist and member of the U.K. Medical Committee for Palestine. Some 60 percent of the doctors who signed the petition for Blachar’s removal are Arab or Muslim, Ha’aretz reported.

The letter accuses Blachar of ignoring evidence that Israeli doctors, working with the country’s security service, participated in the torture of Palestinian detainees. — jta