Israel halts strategic dialogue with Britain over 'universal jurisdiction'
On Tuesday, I reported that Minister Dan Meridor had canceled a trip to London out of fear of arrest under Britain's 'universal jurisdiction' law. The law remains unchanged despite promises from Prime Minister David Cameron's government that it would be changed immediately upon their taking office. Finally, the Israeli government has decided to fight back: It has halted its 'strategic dialogue' with Britain until the law is changed. Israel has canceled its special strategic dialogue with London to protest a law that enables Britain to arrest visiting Israeli officials for alleged war crimes, officials in Jerusalem said Wednesday.The British embassy in Tel Aviv says that Foreign Secretary William Hague wants the law changed. But guess how Hague spent his day in Israel on Wednesday. I think it's pretty clear whose side he's on, and it's not ours.
The move was announced during British Foreign Secretary William Hague's two-day visit to the region.
"The strategic dialogue has indeed been postponed," Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor told AFP. "The visit by Foreign Minister Hague is an important phase in the ongoing exchange between the countries and the question of Israeli officials being unable to travel to Britain will be on the top of the agenda as far as we are concerned."
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.
Labels: Dan Meridor, David Cameron, strategic dialogue, universal jurisdiction, William Hague
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 11:44 PM
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