War crimes fears force Israelis to cancel UK trip

[StarfarerBill]

By Amy Teibel, Associated Press Writer

JERUSALEM – A group of Israeli military officers called off an official visit to Britain last week, fearing they could face possible arrest on war crimes charges, officials said Tuesday.

The four unidentified officers, holding ranks from major to colonel, are the latest in a string of Israeli politicians and military officials to be forced to call off travel to Britain because of fear of legal prosecution.

Britain is one of the European pioneers of universal jurisdiction, a broad legal concept that empowers judges to issue arrest warrants for nearly any visitor accused of committing war crimes anywhere in the world.

Pro-Palestinian activists have sought to use this concept to press charges against Israelis involved in military operations in Palestinian territories, particularly since last year's Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip. British officials have vowed to change the law, which has severely strained relations with Israel.

The Israeli delegation had been invited to visit by the British army. But officials said they were forced to call off the trip after their British counterparts could not guarantee that they would not be arrested.

More:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100105/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_israel_britain

[hobbit709]

1. If you don't want to be charged with atrocities

you shouldn't commit atrocities.

[yurbud]

2. kick

[azurnoir]

3. Israel forms war crime defence team

Daniel Friedman, the Israeli justice minister, has been appointed to lead a defence team should war crimes charges be brought following the 22-day war on Gaza.

Mark Regev, a spokesman for the Israeli prime minister, confirmed to Al Jazeera on Friday that Friedman would lead an inter-ministerial team to co-ordinate a legal defence for civilians and the military.

Israel has been criticised by many human rights organisations for using excessive force, including flame-generating chemical munitions, in densely populated areas during its aerial, naval and ground assault on the coastal strip, which began on December 27.

The Israeli army has already banned the publication of the identity of military leaders who fought Hamas in Gaza.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/01/200912315512265804.html

I wonder what's wrong don't these guys trust their government?

[Larkspur]

4. I thought Israel was a democracy. Where's the transparency?