Israeli general 'avoids UK arrest'

[whypikonme]

Under EU law people can be arrested and charged for offences commited in another country. Belgium, years ago, issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and others for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the 1982 Sabra and Shatila camp massacres in Lebanon

Could this be setting a trend, could a European country take out a similar warrant for George Bush?
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Israeli general 'avoids UK arrest'

The warrant relates to the bulldozing of more than 50 houses.

The former head of Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip has told how he dodged arrest on war crimes charges after receiving a tip-off at Heathrow.

Major General Doron Almog is accused of breaching international laws during Israel's occupation of the Gaza Strip.

He said he had flown straight home after the Israeli military attache had warned him not to leave his El Al jet.

Lawyers acting for the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights said a UK court had issued a warrant for his arrest.

Solicitors Hickman and Rose said the 54-year-old had been due to be arrested on suspicion of committing a breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention 1949, which is a criminal offence in the UK under the Geneva Conventions Act 1957.

Senior District Judge Timothy Workman had given the police authority to detain Maj Gen Almog during a hearing at Bow Street Magistrates' Court in central London, the law firm added.

The warrant relates to the bulldozing of more than 50 houses in the Rafah refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, when Maj Gen Almog was head of Israel's Southern Command.

It was seen as retaliation for an assault by Islamic militants on an Israeli Army post that left four soldiers dead.

Also under Maj Gen Almog's command, Israel dropped a one-ton bomb on a Hamas leader's home, killing the man, an assistant and 14 civilians, nine of them children.

Maj Gen Almog said he had arrived at Heathrow for a three-day visit to raise money for a centre in Israel for brain-damaged children.

"We were about to get off the plane, then one of the stewards came up to me and said the pilot asked that I disembark last," he told Israeli Army Radio.

"After some time, the chief steward said the Israeli military attache was on his way and wanted to speak to me.

"I phoned him and he told me not to get off the plane."

He and his wife had remained on the plane and flown back to Israel on its return, Maj Gen Almog added.

Any Israeli officer could now be arrested in Britain simply for having performed their duty, he said.

"They could do this tomorrow to any officer who has served in the Israeli army over the past five years and has fought the hard fight against terror."

But former legal adviser to the Israeli Foreign Ministry Robbie Sable said it was unlikely Maj Gen Almog would have been arrested.

"Courts in organised countries do not act on malicious litigation and this was definitely malicious litigation," he added.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry said it was taking the incident seriously and seeking clarification from British authorities.

Officials at the British Embassy in Tel Aviv refused to comment.


Source

[GepperRankins]

arrest george bush, yeah right.


if he was imprisoned in another country it'd be occupied within a week

[lynx]

Could this be setting a trend, could a European country take out a similar warrant for George Bush?

No, heads of state have immunity under international law for acts performed in execution of their duties with respect to their position, even when they no longer hold that position.

They also have immunity for all acts while they hold the position, but such immunity disappears as soon as they cease to hold the position.

Clearly, General Almog is not and never has been head of state, so the immunity would not apply to him. The warrant against Ariel Sharon would now be illegal as Sharon is currently head of state, but if still active will come back in to force as soon as his tenure ceases.

[whypikonme]

The warrant against Ariel Sharon would now be illegal as Sharon is currently head of state,

Sharon isn't the head of state, he's the head of the government, the head of state is the president, President Moshe Katsav, l believe.

[Rat Faced]

Could this be setting a trend, could a European country take out a similar warrant for George Bush?

No, heads of state have immunity under international law for acts performed in execution of their duties with respect to their position, even when they no longer hold that position.

Saddam? Milosevic? General whatshisface that Thatcher let go?

Thats one rule that is quite flexible, it seems...

[cpt_azad]

No, heads of state have immunity under international law for acts performed in execution of their duties with respect to their position, even when they no longer hold that position.

Saddam? Milosevic? General whatshisface that Thatcher let go?

Thats one rule that is quite flexible, it seems...

damnit, you beat me to it . I was about to post that too, how the invasion of Iraq was not only illegal, but the capture of Saddam Hussein went against international law since he was the head of state.

As for this General, he should've gotten off the plane and faced the music. You can't let criminals like him get away.

[Rat Faced]

Dont forget that now there should be a number of warrents...

The people that told the Israeli Embassy and the Military Attache for starters, although i doubt Israel will waive his Diplomatic Immunity.

There should also be another investigation, to find out why the police didnt board the aircraft and get him.. sounds like they made a deal with the military attache atm...