Last update - 00:00 16/09/2005
British police cancel arrest warrant against retired IDF commander
By The Associated Press
British police have canceled an arrest warrant against Major General (res.) Doron Almog, wanted for alleged war crimes, a Foreign Ministry official said Friday.
The British Embassy in Tel Aviv informed Israel that the case against Almog was being dropped for procedural reasons, said Foreign Ministry official Mark Regev. He cautioned, however, that similar warrants could still be issued in England against Israeli commanders.
"Almog's case has been canceled, but this matter is far from behind us," Regev said.
London's Metropolitan Police declined to comment on the case Friday.
Almog was forced to stay on a plane that landed in London early this week after he was tipped off by diplomats that he was about to be arrested. He returned to Israel on the same plane.
Almog served as head of the Israel Defense Forces southern command in 2002 when air force jets struck wanted Hamas commander Salah Shehadeh, killing him and 14 others, nine of them children. Human rights groups frequently highlight the attack when accusing Israeli commanders of war crimes.
The case reportedly prompted the former IDF chief of staff Moshe Ya'alon, to cancel a planned trip to London this week.
The Gaza-based Palestinian Center for Human Rights had filed a complaint against Almog through a British law firm under legislation that gives Britain the power to charge foreigners with war crimes, even if Britain or its citizens were not involved. A warrant for Almog's arrest was issued on September 10 by the Bow Street magistrates' court, in central London, the human rights organization said.
Members of Yesh Gvul were in contact recently with solicitor Daniel Machover of the London-based law firm Hickman and Rose. The Israeli group also passed on "incriminating" material it had amassed on incidents in the Gaza Strip that were allegedly Almog's responsibility.
Israel is concerned that other former soldiers could face arrest in Britain or other countries with such war crimes laws, including Belgium, Spain and Germany. Many former army commanders currently serve as senior politicians or executives in companies doing business abroad.