Deputy PM Meridor cancels London visit following lawsuit threat
Intelligence and Atomic Energy Minister reportedly faced charges linked to his role in the IDF raid on the Gaza-bound flotilla.
By Barak Ravid Tags: Israel news Gaza flotilla Dan Meridor Britain Mavi MarmaraIntelligence and Atomic Energy Minister Dan Meridor cancelled on Monday a planned visit to London, England, after receiving information that he might be facing a lawsuit or an arrest warrant upon arrival.
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Cabinet Minister Dan Meridor during his tour of the West Bank settlement of Efrat. |
| Photo by: Haggai Offen |
The Foreign Ministry and the Justice Ministry notified Meridor that he may face charges connected to his alleged role in the IDF raid on the Gaza-bound ship Mavi Marmara on May 31, 2010. The Israeli raid resulted in the deaths of 9 Turkish activists. Meridor refused to comment on the cancellation.
Meridor is member of a forum of seven ministers that advises Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The forum discussed the arrival of the Gaza-bound flotilla in a meeting that took place on May 26, according to Netanyahu's testimony before a committee investigating the raid.
However, Netanyahu denied in his testimony that the forum had discussed the details of the military operation.
This is not the first case of Israeli politicians facing legal charges in Britain. In 2009, a British court issued an arrest warrant for Livni over war crimes allegedly committed in Gaza while she served as foreign minister. Livni canceled her trip to London as a result of information of the warrant issued against her.
Livni served as foreign minister alongside Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Ehud Barak during the Israel Defense Forces offensive in Gaza. The three figures comprised the "troika" of top decision-makers who charted the course of the war.
In 2005, a retired Israeli general, Doron Almog, returned to Israel immediately after landing in London because he was tipped off that British police planned to arrest him. The warrant against Almog - who oversaw the bombing of a Gaza home in which 14 people were killed - was later canceled.
Other Israeli leaders, including former military chief Moshe Ya'alon and ex-internal security chief Avi Dichter, have also canceled trips to Britain in recent years for the same reason
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would have the threat of arrest if they came to the UK Hague was in Israel this week. Why was his promise, and lack of its implementation not brought up? Politicians say one thing one week, and forget about it the next. Hague is a member of a pro Israeli group. Well as a former UK PM Harold Wilson said "A week in politics is along time". Israeli politicians, former generals, stay home. Here you can only get arrested for embezzlement, lying, but not for war crimes.
As a previous poster suggested, deport this rep of an enemy state upon arrival at Ben Gurion. (Not so great) britain is hostile to Israel and our elected leadership, while supporting our enemies financially, politically, and legally. They have nothing to offer Israel. In addition, downgrade Britain's diplomatic mission status in Israel....if they don't like it, then they are welcome to withdraw completely. We have enough homebred facilitators of terror.
How dare him visiting the country that: Stole the Malvinas from Argentina (Israel never fought wars over stolen islands in other hemispheres, other contients), Gibraltar from friendly, EU member Spain, attacked and invaded far away Iraq twice over the last 20 years without ever being threatened by that country. Attacked and invaded far, far away Afghanistan, another country that never declared war, never threatened them. Killed so many civilians in Northern Ireland. Such hypocrisy...
in Britain for defending my country.
while Ahmadinejad posed with his wax statue at Madame Tassaud's. WHO is isolated?
The incident with Doron taken place in 2006 and not in 2005
'if you can't do the time, don't do the crime'. There are no actions without consequences. Perhaps we shold consider this next time we bomb the crap out of civilians, use children as human shields, steal other people's land (and lives).
this warrant will be revoked like the rest. The Brits are a reasonable people and their leaders realize this is ridiculous
WHERE YOU FEAR OF ARREST AND YOUR FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT IS TAKEN AWAY
None of these criminals have shot a bullet, Israel is run by judges and lawyers the real criminals are in Gaza and are called Hamas and friends. Let the Israelis come to UK so we can hear their side of the story. Dening them entry by treatening them is tantamount to dictatorship through the back door.
if they haven't figured out how the IDF operates by now, then they're guilty of criminal neglect - at the very LEAST!
Bravo for the UK. Israeli officials must be held accountable for war crimes and crimes against humanity (Gaza 1957/2007, Lebanon 1982/2000, Sabra and Chatilly, Mavi Marmara,) and the murders of innocents (Corrie, Thurnbul, etc.)
Israel does not benefit from either of them setting foot on Israeli soil.
are like cocroaches in the light. They scurry to hide.
Isreal should ban UK officals from Isreal
I think that is refreshing that citizens and non governmental organizations can speak up for human rights and oppose war crimes and have some small impact at least sometimes - we all have to keep trying.
Under blackmail of terrorism by its Islamic minority Britain is gradually changing its laws and form of democracy to cater to their demands. This would make Chamberlain proud, a spineless Brit who almost caused the Brits to adopt German as its language. Now they will be speaking Arabic and say ya illah illah la five times a day. Incidentally, that prayer is hijacked from Judaism. We call it the Shemah.
The new department K at Mossad headquarters is in charge of warning politicians who might face lawsuits abroad. Now watch the Mossad budget grow.
Same old stuff...the dogs are chasing their tails.
It is actually condemning without judging, and without any respect for authorities, even British ones, who may feel embarrased. Sad, the Empire cannot wake up and stop judging the world...and Islamization is eating it
assad, amhedinejad, meshaal, haniyeh, or so many others...this highjinks is a result of UK antisemitism and being led around by the noses by upstart muslim immigrants who slowly but surely are snuffing out the british way of life, culture and history. All in all, a real disgrace. Israel can defend tsheir practices and defensive measures in any fair court. I doubt the same could be said for the arab leaders.
the list would be long, so if there are to be lawsuits, then let everyone to play this game. No one will be immune.
Good for England!
stop this perversion of the law you will have to find something else to crow about.
Haven't you read about Wikileaks ?
they are under review just for that reason
Silviene, 1. If you think by arresting Dan Meridor in the UK that this will bring about the demise of Israel you are wrong, the only thing it will achieve is preventing pals and Israelis from sitting around a table. I am assuming you realise that half of the over seas meetings are ways of allowing govt ministers from informally meeting with counterparts without altering press attention. 2. By arresting Dan Merridor , it only goes to prove that this is an attempt to destroy the state of israel and not anything to do with justice. Merridor is a moderate center right, well known for his thoughtful and balanced decsions if you look at it on a rational level or being a scaredy cat if you want to take the macho israeli annalysis either way, accusing him of war crimes is a bit like accusing Mother theresa of being a pedofile because some of her works have been done in childrens hospitals.
Great Britain allows Hamas to operate openly and freely in London, yet Israeli leaders who are protecting Israeli civilians from Hamas' racist and antisemitic terrorism have to face "charges." Furthermore, will Britain's leaders ever face charges for the civilian deaths they caused in Iraq and Afghanistan? Don't hold your breath. I would say the inmates have gained control of the asylum in the UK.
We don't want any war criminals in the Uk which would include any person who has served in the Israeli Army of Occupation.
and squeaky
Defending Israel is a war crime. Heh. I bet you're a hypocrite enough not to support charges sent against your PM and NATO generals for their war crimes, nor the numerous Palestinian terrorist leaders in Gaza and WB? And the Iranian Parliament? Glass houses, son. You're living in them.
The British soldiers are professional and would kill anyone as long as they are paid. Argentinians, Iraquis, Afghans, Egyptians (1956), Irish... Anyone from any far away country that never threatened theirs.
Well, I hope that Israel take notice of exemplary action UK have done against their own war criminals, such as charging them with their crimes as soon as they became known.
At last some European countries show that they intend to uphold international law. One can only ask for more of the same.
if they were REALLY intent on upholding the law... then why I ask you, were the warrants dropped.. and please dont reply "Jews control this and that" junk ... give a good legal reason that the accused are no longer accused. I agree that international law should be upheld, and am NOT commenting on this particular warrant.. moreso the other ones described in the article that were dropped. if law was really broken.. wouldnt the charges and warrants stay?
that the UK government, having seen how the law has been completelly abused by Palistinian groups, is working to change it.
Because Israel's lobby groups forced all the main parties to introduce a law where certain people can not be prosecuted. So basically the law was changed so normal people could not get an arrest warrant as has been going on for years.
The current policy of Israel in regard to the Palestinians , settlements and occupation is no longer blindly accepted. To avoid repercussions in their respective countries Politicians in Europe now have to be seen to adhere to international Law. The more travel restrictions are starting to affect Israeli current and previous politicians and officials the more difficult it will be for them to maintain personal relationships and influence with foreign decisionmakers. Israel is at risk of finding itself moving in ever decreasing diplomatic circles.
This supported by the British government, and that's a lie as they're changing the law and warning Israeli leaders.
Good news. When the lawsuits against the Israeli govt (currently being compiled from many countries) for kidnapping, torture, and murder are completed by the flotilla passengers and the murdered victims' families, hopefully the same will apply to the whole Israeli govt.
those who do terrible things in the name of Zionism.
for your support (or is it more?) of terrorists and genocide. BTW, reasonable self defense against terror is not a war crime. People like you define ANY defense as a war crime, a definiton that will lead to a wrold where Isalmofascists can slaughter people at will and are untouchable. By doing this, you are deliberately aiding and abetting the comission of actual war crimes and should and will be held accountable.
is not pre-emptive counterstrikes. It's not preemptive strikes. It's not forward defense. It's not settlements. It's not occupation. It's not apartheid. It's not many, many things. Cast Lead was not self-defense. Invasion is not self-defense. Mavi Marmara was not self-defense. You cannot attack, and then claim self-defense, no matter the circumstances. If you shoot first, you are not defending yourself.
You do have evidence...Yes?
Just tell the British they are only here to serve the Jews and by extension the will of the Knesset. Explain to them what the truth is, you know the one I mean, the one were you say Netanyahu stile 'these are the fact on the ground, I am a Jew an Israeli ergo I am right!' On the other hand you could just stay home, because you are in fact shitting yourself at the prospect of being questioned by people that don't buy into the fantasy that you peddle.
but uses street gutter aspersions against Israel and the Jews.
unless it is in the dock at the hague with his many many fellow criminals --Livni/Bark/Olmert to name but a few.
Refuse William Hague entry into Israel when he arrives. Turn him round and send him back. Maybe the British will finally do what they have already agreed to do ages ago if one of their Ministers is embarrassed publicly!
most Brits would be happy if their MPs never visited Israel.
what good would that do you?
Now that would be something good to watch!
We're defending ourselves, they're the terrorists. Case dismissed. Next case: Every Palestinian leader and terrorist, followed by all NATO generals and their respected prime ministers.
Can't remember the mans name, but anyway, there is a man in the UK that has made several attempts to execute a citizens arrest on their ex PM Tony Blair for war crimes in Iraq. So far each time the man has tried he ends up getting roughed up be Blair's henchmen, try googling for the mans name. This is why the UK government want to change their laws. Fraught with difficulties though, they are signed up to the European charter on human rights.
Much better for Meridor's health that he goes to Turkey.
Here is a sample of UK soldie's atrocities in Iraq: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/oct/23/iraq-war-logs-britain-to-book So now will they arrest themselves?
Any wrongdoing that is taking place in the world right now does not excuse Israel's wrongdoing...
Don't be perplexed. These British atrocities in Iraq were committed at the service of Israel. You shoud thank them for that
Why aren't the perpetrators of those UK attrocities not being served arrest warrants?
You are correct, but accusing someone of war crimes when you do it yourself is rather hypocritical.
What happened with Iraq was and still is what Israel wanted to happen.Many Jewish pundits (Charles Krauthammer,for instance) think that American soldiers were not enough "determined"in Iraq
Every army from every country has done things....war is ugly and always will be...but the fly in the ointment is that Israel has to pay dearly for surviving because Israel is a country comprised of Jews.Therefore the microscope is directed soly at Israel.
Israel doesn't need more bad press, nor an international crisis.
of those Israeli government officials who can be charged with war crimes.
and "Marwan", I would have no problem entering GB on my Israeli passport. I'm not a criminal accused of war crimes and subject to arrest. How unfortunate for mr. Meridor and crew to be placed in the same category as Karadzic and Mladic.
Keep up the pressure!
There is a justice after all.
Any Israeli politician or military officer who had anything to do with the war-crimes carried out in the occupied territories should feel very worried about setting foot in Europe. The mills of God grind slowly but they grind exceeding small. Justice and retribution is coming.
"World problems are because of England" BS. You silly person, the problems in the world are of our making, humans that is, I take it you are one of us? I'm just curious.
washed out of Brit history books. Saddam Hussein ,yet nother example how Brit detachment of an oil rich province and making it into a separate state ,Kuwait ,had provoked the Gulf1 and Gulf2. Mao ,a chain reaction to Opium Wars ,British forcing of China to buy opium (forcing by invading a country defended by cross-bow equipped Army) grown in British colony ,India ,earning money for the Empire and destroying Chinese population. Genghis Khan and Atilla lasted shorter and done less harm than British Empire ,nonexistent at their times.
But then many of his fellow zio travellers share the same problem.
Still trying your old tactic of taking the heat off Israel by pointing at someone - anyone! - else! That particular piece of hasbara is worn out...
was giving in to Zionist terrorism after WW2.
plus many other crimes in the name of empire !
but none of them were Jews..the english have been responsible for destruction and death and colonization all over the world. for hundreds of years.Israel has been the brunt of abuse from millions of arabs and has not had a single day of peace since she became a state. From day one she was attacked and shock of all shocks she has won every battle. If you can't stand it, tough. Look in your own house before throwing stones across the Mediterrenean at a country who is trying to survive against great odds and massive enemies.
"Saddam Hussein ,yet nother example how Brit detachment of an oil rich province and making it into a separate state ,Kuwait ,had provoked the Gulf1 and Gulf2."