U.K. backtracks on preventing war crimes charges against IDF

By Anshel Pfeffer

London will not push through changes in legislation that permits the arrest of Israel Defense Forces officers visiting Britain on war crimes, as previously promised, Jerusalem has learned.

In an unofficial message to Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Britain said that as a result of the decline in Israel's public image following Operation Cast Lead the government believes it will be unable to pass the amendment to the legislation before next year's scheduled elections.

British law permits private citizens to press charges against foreigners on war crimes charges. Once an indictment has been issued suspects can be arrested if they enter Britain.

In 2005 Maj. Gen. (res.) Doron Almog flew to London for a brief visit. After being informed, while still on the plane, that police were waiting for him to disembark so that they could arrest him, Almog remained on the aircraft and returned to Israel.

An arrest warrant had been issued against him for his alleged role in the razing of Palestinian homes in Rafah during his service as GOC Southern Command.

Since that incident, senior IDF officers in both active and reserve service, including former IDF chiefs of staff and cabinet ministers (Ehud Barak and Shaul Mofaz), have avoided traveling to Britain.

Britain's Labor government, first under Tony Blair and recently under Gordon Brown, had promised to pass changes in the legislation so that private citizens seeking to press war crimes charges would first have to obtain the approval of the chief prosecutor.

Israeli diplomats, meanwhile, sought support for such an amendment from Conservative MPs.

"The British did make such a promise and we continue to expect that they will find a way to fulfill it," Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor said on Saturday.

The British Foreign Office said in a statement, "We recognize Israeli concerns but this is a complex legal issue."