Israel Matzav

Britain reneges on commitment to amend war crimes law

Arutz Sheva reports that Britain has reneged on a commitment to amend its war crimes law to prevent it from being used in 'lawfare' suits against IDF personnel traveling to the country. You may recall that in September 2005, retired IDF general Doron Almog did not disembark from an El Al plane in London because he was tipped off that if he got off the plane he would be arrested.

Both the current Labor government under Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the prior Labor administration under former Prime Minister Tony Blair have promised to amend the legislation to stop the practice. The change would require the approval of the country's chief prosecutor before private citizens could press charges of war crimes against foreign nationals.

However, Israeli government officials were surprised to learn that the Brown administration is backing away from its commitment to push for a change in the law.

Israel's Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni received a "back channel" message on Sunday that said the amendment probably would not pass before next year's elections.

Israel's deteriorating image, which the British said was caused by the IDF's counterterrorist Operation Cast Lead in Gaza, was named as the cause of the reversal. The British Foreign Office referred to it in a statement as "a complex legal issue."

Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor reiterated over the weekend, however, that the British government "did make such a promise and we continue to expect that they will find a way to fulfill it."

Don't hold your breath waiting for it to happen. There will be riots in the street from Islamic Rage Boy and his friends if it ever does happen.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 8:14 PM