Deputy FM: Arrest warrants harming Britain-Israel ties

If Israeli can go after German officials snd commanders who com- mitted war crimes against Jews during world war 11 other people should have the same right to go after their officials and comman- ders for their war crimes against Palestinians. The rules haven't changed and how shockingly hypocritical for them to suggest a change now when the shoe is on the other foot. It's little wonder people are spitting in their faces and turning away from them. No one should be above being held responsible for war crimes-not even victims. Or I should say particularly victims as they are in the high risk category for perpetrating such crimes themselves. Dutch P.S. It is like having drug abuse or sexual abuse in one's family tree. The incidence are just so much higher & need to be acknowledged to overcome. The big sin today is to hide this or shield offenders.

This is the epitome of civilized conduct and deserves only praise. Many of us have condemned violent actions by the Palestinians while recognizing the justice of their cause. Now they and their supporters are simply trying to get their day in court. What's wrong with that? It's a hell of a lot better and more likely to be effective than a suicide bomb or rocket. If Israel were not afraid to face the truth, its officers and officials would not hide out like a gang of criminals, but confront their accusers in a court of law. They would get a fair hearing in Britain, far more fair than any Pal ever got (or will get) from Israeli courts. It is the moral responsibility of the world to submit Israel's conduct to fair judgment. The UK and other EU countries should be applauded for their stand for law and justice. Universal jurisdiction is the next great evolution of international law, regardless of who is prosecuted (including Americans).

Interesting to see the American posters on this web site touting the International Court in the Hague when their government does not even recognize its'jurisdiction. But these Americans and other posters who call for jailing Israeli politicians and pronouncing them guilty before even a trial has taken place ("guilty of war crimes or crimes aginst humanity"") all have one thing in common-a pathological hatred of Jews who alone stand accused of being arrested in the UK while others in China, Sudan, Iran etc merit no such "justice". Who cares what Britain and the Jew Haters on Haaretz think anyway? Israel will survive despite what they want or write.

Stop the usual whining and drone of "poor little Israel gets picked on again"! As another poster pointed out Pinochet, what of Milosevic, Mladic, Charles Taylor? The difference is that those despots and killers would be arrested. With Israel, they level threats of retribution because they are used to bullying their way around the world. No more. Personae non grata.

"UK and Israel do not share common attitudes and values on a range of issues and the wars against Lebanon and Cast Lead illustrated this." What about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? How many innocent civilians were killed and what was the legitimate case for those wars? Any arrests warrants issued?

general pinochet head of chile among many others. think before you post

Sir, Next time you go to Israel you should be arrested for incitememnt against Jewish people. Bur if you are innocent you should not worry. Please come and prove your innocence.

UK and Israel do not share common attitudes and values on a range of issues and the wars against Lebanon and Cast Lead illustrated this.

It's that simple. Why do you think they tried to destroy the reputation and integrity of Richard Goldstone? Why do you thin, they did not even carry out their own investigation? Why did they cover up what they perpetrated in Jenin and in Southern Lebanon? They know they are guilty and that if they open themselves up to greater scrutiny they will be found guilty.

If Israel is not being singled out then please name one foreign dignitary, military personel or government employee from any country in the world that had a UK arrest warrant issued and served against them.....keep thinking

Do you mean like the so called war lawyers who bent over for the Bush Administration's invasion of Iraq - "the war Israel had to have?" The British government today would not dare change laws to allow war criminals to escape justice. Take note of controversy surrounding what the Blair government knew about the absence of WMD in Iraq prior to the invasion of that country.

If you came to the US and filed a false complaint against me, I would go to Court, establish my innocence and seek recovery from you. The British legal system is one of the fairest in the world. If an Israeli officer or official were arrested in the UK, they would be let out on bond, probably with their passport held. They would live comfortably until trial. They could then defend themselves and, if they're innocent, almost certainly be freed. If someone were to claim I had something to do with a crime in the UK or Italy, I would go there to establish my innocence, not hide and whine about accusation. I would not turn myself into the Israelis because of their kangaroo courts. Maybe these officials think all courts are like their own. If one these not-so-brave heroes were to face a court and be found not guilty, future problems for them and others would probably be avoided

It is important that alleged war criminals have nowhere to hide and if Israeli politicians have done nothing wrong then they have nothing to worry about so why all the fuss?

I am ashamed that our government is trying to selfishly undermine the British legal system in order to protect Israelis accused of war crimes from facing prosecution, when if successful it will make it more difficult to bring to justice anyone accused of committing war crimes in the future. Those who are not guilty of crimes do not fear justice, while the guilty hide from the law, so what message are we really sending?

Including Gov't leaders and members from US and UK, most of EU, Russia, all soldiers and vets who were in the field in Iraq, Afghanistan, Eastern Europe, Kosovo, Georgia, Tibet, and I am sure there are many more. That would ba a lawyers dream, and a laymans circus.

There is a simple legal method to resolve this problem. Trouble is that it is unlikely to get sorted by the UK government before the election due this year. The simple step would be to ensure that any arrest under the War Crimes legislation can only be pursued if it is the Attorney General who makes the application to a Judge for a warrant. At the moment anybody can try and get a warrant although getting beyond the arrest stage is virtually impossible as that does require Attorney General involvement. Frankly the position of the UK government in not sorting out the problem is farcical and brings the good name of British justice into disrepute. Israel, regretfully, is being singled out because the activities of the Palestinian lobby are the only grouping making any moves in this area. Nice words from Baroness Scotland are not enough.

IDF officers don't even have the guts to face justice. What a bunch of cowards.

The best way to resolve this matter is for the accused Israelis to turn themselves in and face a trial where they can then prove their innocence. By hiding from justice, the accused only reinforce the impression that they may in fact be guilty, whereas an innocent man would welcome the chance to clear their name. I would suggest that had Israel dealt with these charges properly in its own courts, the matter of having to seek justice in international courts would not have been necessary, but for Israel to demand that Britain change its laws only for Israelis accused of such crimes is outrageous and preposterous.

Israel should institute similar laws and procedures for antisemitism and incitement of genocide against Jewish people - internationally recognized crime against humanity.

The simple solution is not to visit the United Kingdom. Problem solved. To expect a soveriegn country to change it's laws for the sole benefit of Israel is the height of arrogance.

It is called universal jurisdiction. If you are suspected of breaking the law, and there is sufficient evidence to issue an arrest warrant then one will be issued. Regardless of nationality. A lot of people have asked if HAMAS are subject to arrest wartrants? Yes they are, unfortunately they do not visit the United Kingdom so an arrest warrant could be served. Maybe Israel could learn that particular lesson.

"all israeli political leaders from all parties should show up on the next flight to also dare arresrt" A really great idea! They might even get a reduced sentence for handing themselves in!

I'm amazed that anyone should still think that the British government will put a stop to this nonsense.This New Labour clique hates Israel and wishes that it will disappear.Just remember that it was Tony Blair who accused Israel of being the root cause of all the troubles in the Middle East.'Root cause' is a coded way of saying malignant tumour. When Israel deals with the British government,it's dealing with an underhand,hostile government that has its eyes on Arab money to get it out of the economic mess that it caused. THREE CHEERS FOR ISRAEL!!!

I fully agree with you: war crime suspects must be arrested and tried, regardless their nationality. Period.

Stop Occupation and enjoy Peace with your neighbors.

to those who Killed Disproportionately as the genocide against the Jews (Holocaust), what is good for one is good for all. In the meantime , any body commiting WC will be prosecuted. There is no place for BETTER JUSTICE than the British Courts, "World Famous"

Vote UKIP. MV

...the war crime charges are not going away quickly... The world is upset with what happened in Gaza.

All E U wil soon follow the British, and then the rest of the world.

...in Swiss-German with me...??? :)

The wheels of justice grind slowly but they do grind. Expect well deserved increased incidence of war crimes arrest warrants; and not just in the UK.

Insignificant is correct. Third world with nukes that it dare not use if it wishes to avoid extinction. Salaam/Shalom

Maurice how right you are.

live their thats right we are fair people. injustice is for all not just for the unfortunate few

Because it is more likely than not to take place. Not only UK but other nations as well. Until Israel comes to its sense and shows evidence that it wishes to join the international community again. Otherwise, these IDF generals will have to be personae non grata.

"the UK has been taken over by radical Islamists" Funny, I didn't notice that last time I was there, several months ago. Let me put your mind at rest, Jane. London at least is not swarming with radical Islamists looking for Jews to attack. I was there so I can assure you of this.

You have obviously never visited the UK or spoken to British Muslims. They number under 5% of the population here (cf 20% and rising in Israel!). They are by and large very law-abiding, hard working and in a lot of cases prosperous. There are Muslim MPs and Lords in all the main political parties and they are respected. There is no 'Muslim Party' (cf Israel's 3 or 4), they don't see the need for that in our live-and-let-live system. Many of them come from families with long traditions of serving Britain, either in the Indian civil service, the law, administration or the excellent Muslim battalions in the then-British Indian army. We have a problem with an influx of 'relatives' and poorly-educated rural Imams from the Punjab and elsewhere, but no one is working harder than the Muslim community to counter jihadist propaganda and its suborning of young, disaffected and impressionable Muslims boys. That though is a universal problem all nations are wrestling with, East and West.

According to British newspapers, many in England wonder why America continues to blindly and unconditionally support Israel although it is a military, moral and financial liability. England won't make the same mistake. Let Israel bluster away about boycotts and cutting ties and everything else. England won't care; Israel has nothing needed by England.

This law was introduced in - if I remember correctly - 1956, to conform with something in the Geneva Conventions. The purpose was to enable countries to detain, charge and either try or extradite Nazi war criminals, who at that time had legal immunity all over the place. The country that pushed for it was... Israel! It is a good law. War criminals should obviously not be allowed to wonder the globe with impunity. Baroness Scotland can say what she likes, neither Westminster nor the EU define international criminal law. And the decision to grant an arrest warrant is made by a court on thecase put to it, not by politicians. If Israel, the Sudan, Serbia and Rwanda doesn't like it, tough. Simon Wiesenthal was all in favour of it, for good reason, can't see that the reason has changed one iota If Israel objects, it needs to go to the Hague and try to get the laws changed, don't blame the UK.

just see the british generals videotaped testimony at hew UN in front of the whole world..israel's army is the most moral law abiding army in the world. Perhaps next time Israel should not warn in advance of strikes, should not make telephone calls to civilians in advance, should not drop leaflets in advance, should not call off air strikes due to children being placed on the roofs of houses storing weapons etc..etc..maybe then all of you would have something to really complain about. what a farce some of you are..don boston? a naked racist..pure and simple..but hey, he's from texas where they love their jews and blacks eh don? btw don, you weren't in palestine because there is NO country called palestine. in gaza, you have crimes against humanity each day perpetrated by hamas..abuse of women, abuse of children, racist indoctrination, human shields, using civilians to cowardly hide behind to PURPOSEFULLY invite harm to them for the cameras...next time israel should destroy them.

..Ayalon: Arrest warrants harming U.K.-Israel ties ... It sounds more like a threat than a warning..

An IDF general is paid 68,000 thousand shekels a month. This is more than enough for him to take chances in battle but instead he orders our young soldiers to commit war crimes and blames them. Once generals like Sharon & Eitan led our troops in battle and were wounded. Todays generals hide under the HaKiryah desks and none have been wounded in combat. We need to purge the IDF of every general. Hire fighters not non-brave politicians in uniform.

Accused war criminals should instead of running away and seeking to change other countries laws rather stand up to a free and fair trial in a court of law in the UK or any other international court. If accused war criminals have their conscience clean they should clear up their names in court. That is the way it is done in a democracy. The very fact that accused war criminals refuse by all means to clear up their names in a free and fair court of law is at east for me evidence of guilt. So my best suggestion to all accused war criminals is, please clear up your names by defending your case against such allegation in a court of law. Otherwise you should for ever be 'accused war criminals.'

That British law permits special interest groups to secure warrants for anyone they choose makes a mockery of British justice. There is an Int'l Court for war crimes and that is the proper venue. I don't suppose Israel's critics would be so pleased to see Jews in Britain seek warrants for every gov't official from the Arab world who can be blamed for the persecution and deaths of hundreds of thousands of shiites, sunnis, ba'hais, christians, jews, zoroastrians and kurds. No, that would not be so funny now would it?

thousands of Serb civilians were killed in cold blood in Yugoslavia.

Judging from your posting you were not thinking when you sent it. The Idf officers and Israeli politicians have nothing to hide,what they object to is this harassment and waste of time just because some one with a grudge decided to create this problem. If I came to the United states and filed a false complaint against you,just think of the time you would have to waste proving your innocence. Have you understood now? would have to waste

Seems fair enough really. How about we give Israeli politicians and military a Get out of Jail Free card, if Israel removes discriminatory legislation, like the law confiscating property from Arab refugees, or the laws that make it hard for the spouses of Israeli Arabs to get citizenship, or the discriminatory housing planning laws, or the... etc. etc. Is that a deal?

give yourself a breath of fresh air. for what i am concern they can cut ties with my adopted country is well USA and my birth country Italy!

glorifying them ? Civilian infrastructure providing electricity for German schools and hospitals was destroyed and thousands of civilians (many of them Ukrainian slave laborers) drowned !

If these judges were really honest they would first issue arrest warrants for US and British generals and leaders who have killed thousand of civilians in Irak and Afghanistan. But no! They are blind and deaf to that. Only Israel is to be focused on. That is why they gave ZERO credibility.

"UK changing its law only for Israel....???? Honestly, that is pretty hard to understand indeed: Why would a free and independent country change its own law, only because another nation asks them to do so...???" (the Arab "Swiss" guy) It has been quickly found that countless Arabs are using an already strange UK law for Arab anti-Israeli propaganda purposes. And by the way, so does this Arab, use the Switzerland freedom, for his anti-Israeli diatribes.

"Moreover Israel needs to break ALL military and diplomatic ties with the UK" Whoopty-do. Like they would care. Israel is an insignificant little country, most notable for its history, war crimes and barbarity. It's international purchases are small in the larger scheme of things and it produces nothing that cannot be produced elsewhere. The UK hardly needs Israel's help militarily. It fights heavily armed militants, not largely demilitarized civilians, women and children, so IDF tactics like using human shields are irrelevant. Israel should boycott the world. It would be insignificant. But when the world finally gets its act together and sanctions Israel, it will finally realize how small and weak it really is. Then it will realize that it should not have thumbed its nose at the world for so long. By all means, boycott all who criticize you. No one will care.

one set of laws for gooyim and one set of laws for jews....in zio-land jews do whatever they want and want same privaledge in UK

Just goes to show the depth of belief that Israel can no longer act unilaterally against innocent civilians and think the world is going to turn a blind eye. Those days are over, and Israel would have done well, and will do well, to resolve the Palestinian peace deal, engage their Arab neighbors and behave like a responsible country. The days of back door mossad killings, extra-judicial assassinations, and hiding behind 12 year old children while performing military operations, are over. Stop acting like war criminals and you will stop being treated like war criminals.

War criminals have long been hunted down with very little sensitivity to their feelings of rejection or their country's thoughts on the matter. The Simon Wisenthal Center has certainly shown no mercy, nor should it. Why should anyone have sympathy for war criminals? If the IDF and Israeli officials are so certain they have done nothing wrong, what's their problem? The court systems they are likely to face in the EU are among the best in the world, certainly better, fairer and more procedurally diligent than the kangaroo courts in Israel where the outcome is often determined by the litigant's race or religion. When I was in Palestine, peacefully opposing Israeli policy, I was threatened with jail several times and I was never accused or suspected of harming anyone or carrying any kind of weapon. If peaceful guests in Israel are so readily arrested or threatened with arrest, why shoud Israelis expect to travel without such issues?

Mean while in Wootton Bassett British soldiers who come home in coffins draped in the British flag,Muslim extremists want to have a demonstration against British involvement in Afghanistan. Britain is scared stiff of these people,so to show how good they are,they issue arrest warrants for Israeli officers or politicians,claiming they committed war crimes. Wootton Bassett is the town near an RAF base where all Fallen British soldiers arrive and there coffins are paraded through the town so that the locals can pay respect. This has annoyed the islamic community.

Ite seems straightforward: 1 There is prima facie evidence that Israeli officers committed war crimes (cf Goldstone et al). 2 There is international law encouraging states to arrest and charge suspected war criminals. 3 The Israeli officers in question are therefore right to fear arrest. The scandal would be if Britain (as seems likely) cobbles together some get out of jail free card for Israeli suspects. It seems that only Africans and Serbians can be prosecuted for war crimes in another country.

Oh so you so meekly compare the IDF and Israeli ministers to Pinochet and Taylor - hmmmm - is that being reasonable? How is the conduct of US and British troops in Afganistan? Iraq? On the face of it, your logic sucks!

"i am not living by Sharia law and there are no beheaders wandering the streets looking for religious law breakers." Wait!

let's see, the line is long...who's next...there might be lawsuits forthcoming against officials from america(bush and obama), french(chiraq and sarkozy), russians(putin), italians(berlusconi), canada(harper)all of africa, saudi arabia, sudan, iran, turkey, iraq, etc..etc... this stuff is laughable and the best will be when it turns around to bite the hands of the enablers of this slippery slope.

This is a peak of insolence and stupidity to ask one country to change its laws and to going on to say that "we share the same values with UK"It is obviously that "we" not share the same values when Israel starring in every report of human right and in the Goldstone's report.

Honestly, that is pretty hard to understand indeed: Why would a free and independent country change its own law, only because another nation asks them to do so...??? In view of this (rather strange) behaviour by the current British governement, the revelations made by Channel 4 from a couple of weeks ago start making more and more sense: Since they revealed that the Conservative party has been pretty much "bought" by right-wing Zionists in the UK, it is pretty obvious that Gordon Browns Labour party also wants to see some cash from rich Jewish Donors in England, Scotland and Wales. Sorry, but there simply is no other credible explanation for their conduct....

It is totally disingenuous to say :if they are innocent, what do they worry about". Trials take years and cost a fortune. I would like to see the reaction in Britain if brits who served in Iraq or Afghanistan were arrested based on a civilian complaint in Israel and were forced to suffer a democratic process of "proving" their innocence. I'd like to see you brave Brits arresting US citizens for alleged violations in Iraq/Afghanistan. You are just hypocritical and intimidated by your indigenous Islamo-fascist population and its radical allies.

1) If our IDF officers cannot visit Britain, our ambassador has nothing to do there, should be called home immediately. 2) Let amend our judicial system and let us start lawsuits against their officiers who DID commit crimes in Irak and Afganistan!

why should IDF be held to a more permissive standard than every other criminal organization... fear of being called 'anti-Semitic' or...?

why should IDF be held to a more permissive standard than every other criminal organization... fear of being called 'anti-Semitic' or...?

Livni should have called their bluff and shown up to dare them to arrest her. If they did, then all israeli political leaders from all parties should show up on the next flight to also dare arresrt. That would embarrass the Brits and make them change this farce 1 2 3.

Both sides of the Pal conflict must be shunned. Not just the Palestinians. The next thing that needs to be done is freeze Israeli fundraising assets that may go towards settlement building and possible settlers connected with the kahanists. The same way we did to the palestinians must be done to the other party involved in this conflict. They are both guilty of atrocities to humanity. The Israeli government should not be rewarded for breaking the laws. They laugh in all our faces and expose us all to danger. These are not responsible leaders. It seems the arabs are doing a bit of their own War on Terror. Good luck to them and I hope they rightfully succeed. These people have been getting away with murder (literally) for decades.

I think you need to get your head out of the cuckoo land. As far as i know i am not living by Sharia law and there are no beheaders wandering the streets looking for religious law breakers. Get a grip and at least visit the UK before getting fanatical or moaning about it. This is about respecting international law, no more and no less!

Boycott the UK then you'll realise that the UK and the EU will stop buying your goods. Maybe then you'll realise that boycotting everyone as a knee jerk reaction will bring you nothing but ruin. So go ahead, or alternatively learn to respect some international law. Good luck with your boycott!

"a comedy of errors" I didn't find the bombing of innocent Women & children either comical or an error by the Israelis. The average Briton has nothing in common with the average Israeli, least of all the IDF. Nothing will change until after the general election and even then then it will be far from certain. Live with it.

While I concede that the prospect of an warrant against visiting Israeli politicians might be an irritant Israel more so than most nations has used universal jurisdiction to prosecute the Nazis in Israel. One cannot laud the actions of the Nazi hunters and the legal process under which the Nazis were brought to Justice while at the same time contending it shouldnt apply to Israel. Univ Jurisdiction was invoked against Pinochet in UK and Charles Taylor a US citizen in the US who was found guilty in October for crimes committed while he was the head of Liberia's anti-terrorist services during his father's 1997-2003 rule, to suggest that somehow Israeli politicians should be above the law is silly and makes amending it impossible as any amendments would be seen as caving in to a Israeli lobbying. On the face of it is seems that a warrant against Livni might be justified as she was the FM during the Gaza war and questions remain as to the conduct of that war.

Perhaps it's justifiable to leave (all) war crime suspects off the hook from now on. There are too many and much effort and money could be saved. In the end, German war crime suspects were even welcomed in the US after WW2.

"If the British law remains unchanged, this would undermine the good relations between the two countries who share common values and interests" We won't change our laws and we do not necessarily have good relations and share common values and interests. These values and interests are those of the political echelons and may not reflect the view of the people.

Gaza's Operation Cast Lead involved war crimes, hence the military repsonsible must be held accountable and if there are warrants then they must be respected. This is what Briatian should tell Israel. Colonialism and land theft are not, I hope, values Great Britain shares with Israel.

The British law is being abused. A Magistrate even handed out an arrest warrant when the person was not in the country,contrary to the legal requirements. If you were a judge you would know the bag of dirty tricks available to lawyers to delay harass etc etc

Brits give themselves the right to judge the world, as Spanish. When will they recognize that their intervention in Middle East is the one that gave eternal problems? Their double talking, their inventions like Jordan...Stop judging and start paying compensations!!

"If the British law remains unchanged, this would undermine the good relations between the two countries who share common values and interests." Who wants to have good relations with a country that praises war crimes and crimes against humanity. -and- I wasn't aware that the British law allows war crimes and crimes against humanity. Does this law have now to be changed, so that those are accepted?

I thought Benyamin Netanyahoo had ordered a boycott of the United Kingdom by Israeli government officials? The law will not be changed until after the next general election in May. And even then it is only 50-50 if it will be changed. As the fact that a law would be changed to suit a particular country would result in uproar. More likely there will be applications for arrest warrants which will be overseen by the Attorney General as opposed a Magistrate. I suppose the easiest thing to do if you want to come shopping in the UK would not be involved in anything that can be construed as a war crime. But it is a none story in the UK anyway so there is no pressure on UK politicians to change the law anyway so this is just more histrionics by Israelis. Best Israelis don't visit the perfidious albion. Afterall we are to blame anyway.

Moreover Israel needs to break ALL military and diplomatic ties with the UK or at least downgrade relations with the UK to approximately the level of Venezuela or South Africa. I'm sure the UK can survive that. They have Libya they can always rely on. In fact wouldn't it be interesting if the solution to the impasse with Iran is that the UK sells/gives their nukes to Iran instead?

It is not safe for Israelis to travel to the UK, not safe for Jews in the UK and it's all because the UK has been taken over by radical Islamists and their supporters. Wake up London! Until they do wake up Israel should cut diplomatic ties, commerce and travel there.

i dont get it, the UK is a democratic country where the law is respected and justice is as impartial as you can get! why are israelis so afraid of that? do israelis _really_ believe that the justice system in the UK will not work? if i were a israeli that had committed no criminal act i would not be worried of justice in _any_ western democracy. what are these officials really afraid of?

what Parliament can do - Knesset can do. Laws can be passed in Jerusalem. Britons can be arrested for their crimes around the world. Bunch of Irish guys in this town would be more than happy to swear out affidavits against Brits, believe me.

And Livni... but they are innocent of all charges, aren't they?

But Britain? Israel went to war against next door jihadist firing rockets on its civilians. Britain has killed (with the help of other coalition forces) a million people in far away Afghanistan and Iraq, two countries that never fired a single rocket on Britain.

"Britain's attorney general said Tuesday that she was aware of the urgent need to address the slew of arrest warrants being issued in her country against Israeli official over alleged war crimes in the Gaza Strip." Come on Haaretz, don't get excited. She's a lawyer! In lawyer-speak what she has said means very little. It means 'I'm aware that some people are unhappy with the situation and I haven't yet decided what I can do and what I want to do about it'. What it definitely does NOT mean is 'I'm going to change the system today.'

only for war criminals!

They have nothing to worry about. Or, are they hiding something and want to have a blanket immunity and be above the law.

It's pretty clear how the conversation is going. "This is intolerable" say the Israeli authorities. "Yes, indeed, and we must change the law some time soon" say the UK authorities. But they're not talking about the same thing. The Israeli authorities want impunity for all Israeli officials. The UK authorities have not the remotest intention of doing that - Parliament passed the laws on universal jurisdiction just to ensure there would be no impunity. What the UK authorities want is that they should know when someone is asking for an arrest warrant. Now you can wonder whether the UK Parliament will grant them that - my guess is "no way". But even if they get that, it's a long long way from the impunity the Israelis think (or pretend to think) they will get.

Looks like it`s getting a bit tight. But relax, England is a civilized country. Suspects may be arrested, but they are not shot dead on sight. God save the Queen.

Haha - 'alleged' war crimes my ass. The senior IDF officials should be locked up and the key thrown away. And what is the British army thinking inviting those criminals to Britain?? I hope this becomes a regular event - application for warrant every time an Israeli associated with the attacks on Gaza attempts to enter the UK.

(epithet used directly by Alexander S.) just after the WW2 ,where Russian soldiers ,released by Germans from the death camps on condition they'd fight against allies ,instead immediataly marched to the British lines and surrendered ,without firing a shot. Brits INVITED them to a "dinner party " ,where they were surrounded by British troops and forced in lorries transporting them across a river to waiting Stalin's NKWD troops and certain death. Nothing has changed in the sneaky operations of the Brits ,only War Crimes charges and arrests of RAF pilots and RN sailors for their participation in bombing of Belgrade and sinking of Belgrano could put some decency into the Brit lizards

Israel is astonished that the rest of the world is well aware of their war crimes and crimes against humanity. Please be aware that outside Israel the crimes will be persecuted. Israel can no longer hide themselves behind their history. Holocaust is history, but Israel's policy against the Palestinians is present.

Israeli politicians and IDF officers should just get used to the idea that they cannot travel freely without fear of arrest for their actions. The civilized world is growing less tolerant of crimes against humanity.

It is time to go on the offensive against those individuals and organisations who instigate these warrants in the UK. The warrants are not being requested by the British Goverment but rather by lawyers 'sympathetic to the palestinian cause'.

Surely it's not the threat of arrest warrants that "undermines relations" with the UK - it's the actions that caused the threat of the arrest warrants being issued.

They should only be welcomed in the International Court of Justice in the Hague