U.K. seeks to change law on war crimes arrests
The government is now seeking to change the law in such a way that one government department, the Crown Prosecution Service, evaluate the merits of any case brought under international law.
By Danna HarmanThe British government proposed Thursday an amendment to its universal jurisdiction law, which will effectively prevent Israeli leaders from being slapped with war crimes arrest warrants upon arrival in the United Kingdom.
The government is now seeking to change the law so that only the Crown Prosecution Service will now evaluate the merits of any case brought under international law.
 |
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators protest outside the Israel's embassy in Kensington, west London June 1, 2010. |
| Photo by: Reuters |
Such a change would not mean that Israelis could never be prosecuted in Britain for war crimes under universal jurisdiction – but it would make such a process more difficult and rare.
If the proposal is passed - something which parliament will look at in October and may take many months to go through - it would spell a certain victory for the Israelis, who have been pushing for even more dramatic changes.
Israel’s ambassador to the U.K., Ron Prosor, welcomed the initiative and said it was a “step in the right direction" which would “block the misuse of the system for political purposes”.
Prosor added that if Britain “followed through” and passed the resolution, it would “assist in allowing Britain play an important role in the peace process in the Middle East, something which has been prevented at the moment.”
The British Foreign ministry declined to comment on the matter Wednesday, as the proposal had not yet been brought in front parliament. “Addressing issues around universal jurisdiction remains a priority for this government,” an official there said.
Former British prime minister Gordon Brown announced in March the government's initial plans to stop politically-motivated campaign groups from securing arrest warrants for visiting foreign officials.
Under the current system, British magistrates are obliged to consider an arrest warrant case presented by any individual.
This move follows an uproar last December when Kadima party leader Tzipi Livni canceled a trip to London because a pro-Palestinian group secured an arrest warrant for alleged crimes committed in Gaza. Defense Minister Ehud Barak and former public security minister Avi Dichter faced similar threats prior to their trips to the United Kingdom.
Why Facebook Connect?
Comment on Haaretz.com articles with your Facebook login, and share your thoughts on your own wall.
- Latest
- Most Viewed
- Most Rated
- Open all
So the Brits want to arrest Dichter and Livni. Then they should (1) issue arrest warrants for the US secretaries of state and defense and the director of CIA for the years 2001-present and (2) immediately arrest the UK minister of defence and foreign secretary and head of intelligence for the same years, because the US and UK have done the very same things in hunting and killing terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan. There have been hundreds of "collateral" kills. While they're at it, issue arrest warrants for all PA leaders going up to the top for much worse stuff they have done over the decades, including the murder of school children. Then issue warrants for all Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, and the president of Syria and all other ranking officals there. But all this assumes that the Brits are not a bunch of Jew-haters, and not a bunch of Arab-lovers.
good riddance to this silly law. If anything, this law's revision or abolishment will save many hard core islamist murderers the punishment they so richly deserve.
Your racist comment and all racism against Muslims will only give us; Muslims, the strength and insisting for free Palestine.
No one approves of frivolous misuses of the law. Extremists might insist every arrest for a war crime firts into that category. But if a legitimate case exists for arresting an Israeli citizen for a war crime that person needs to be arrested. zapata
It is about time that this was put into practice, since the law was subject to great abuse by those with an agenda to pursue, and could rely on the principle of 'judge shopping' to obtain a ruling in their favour, which is not limited to Israelis, as was the case for the already tried and cleared, Ejup Ganicthe.
So, let me get this straight... In order for Britain to play a role in a seemingly perpetually stalled peace process, Israel requires us to overlook the fact that they commit(ted) war crimes? It was embarrassing for our government when Livni cancelled her visit, but after ordering the shelling/bombing of a densely populated open-air prison, I don't think the arrest warrant was unjustified. Oh, and neither did the judge who issued it.
So let me get this straight: You have no critical words for people like Meshaal and Haniyeh, who order continual missile fired into Israel's population centers from Gaza, and would welcome them in England at any time? It is dupes like you that are truly responsible for the progress of the peace talks.
You may recall that prior to Operation Cast Lead, Sderot was rocketed by up to a 100 Katyusha rockets per day, from that alleged 'open air prison' of Hamas'. Some would argue that the rockets were akin to 'fire crackers'. But each fire cracker carried a high explosive payload of 10-15 Kg, which, by the 100 of, is the equivalent of a Nazi era V1 or V2 rocket with their payloads of 1000 Kg. And unlike Israel which adheres to the law, Hamas has the gun and suicide bomber with which to thwart any arrest warrants.
Britain hasn't invited Hamas's leaders over for a nice cup of tea recently though have we? The fact is that these laws apply equally to ANYONE who visits Britain.
Both of you are talking rubbish! For instant there is no way that a "Hamas" Katuscha rockect is capable of carrying 1000kg bomload. And as far as the British government, well they are paid puppy's of israeli zionist corporate industry. I.E. 80% procent of british MP's are members of the so-called "friends of israel'... So my point is no-one is above the international law, even though it seems israel is.
I will believe it when I see it .And why wait till October? Why not throw he whole tin out into the trash CAN whee it belongs? How about the British soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan? Especially their officers/commanders? Shouldn't tey also be arrested for CRIMES against humanity? Or is it one law for Israelis,and another for the UK,US,and the rest afiliated to the military services?
exactly how is this system currently being abused?
Who the british really think they are?
can you imagine? This law can be used to bring England to justice in the stead of a mass murderer they released.
Stop deflecting the argument, the Lockerbie bomber has nothing to do with universal jurisdiction. But here are some counter arguments just to shut you up: a) it was the devolved Scottish Government who released him, not the English. b) it was on compassionate grounds, and with plenty of evidence showing that Al Megrahi was dying c) Al Megrahi was convicted on some superbly flimsy evidence, and probably shouldn’t have been convicted in the first place.
... Scotland under devolved powers. Pedantic I know but an important distinction. Not sure that the release of al-Megrahi would be covered by the law of universal juristriction as he had already been imprisioned.
Lockerbie bomber was realease as a result of intense pressure by BP to sign contact with Libya. The living are more important than the dead. Nothing related to dying.
because it came to light that the clothes shop owner and the Prosecution's star witness was paid $50,000 by the CIA to give evidence. That fact alone would have made the whole case inadmissable. But hey why let the facts of the case get in the way.
Defence Minister Ehud Barak was perfectly safe to travel to the UK since government ministers have legal immunity It is ridiculous to suggest that Britain’s role in the Middle East peace process is dependent on Tzipi Livni’s travel arrangements. How would Israelis feel if Britain airily demanded changes to Israeli law?
War itself is a crime. But with War comes sad things like people dieing. If the Arabs in Israel don't like being part of this then Hey stop attacking Israelis.. Enough said.
Allow me to tell you that Israel admitted the use of posphoric bomb that is prohibited in populated area. Israel promised to limit its use next time. Stillu are questioning war crimes?
Catch me if u Can? Israeli Power
frivolous lawsuits are not not welcome in england any more. Sore losers who start wars, lose them and file these frivolous lawsuits all over the world are not welcome in england anymore.
Despite the hundreds of thousands of dead in Chad Now you people will have to actually provide more than just a story to get somebody arrested
surpised that this victory for the brutal ethnic cleansing state of israel hasn't happened before. Jack Straw might have detained pinochet, but like so many israelis as the child of jewish emigres from e. europe he's never going to lock up an israeli war criminal. He was foreign minister, succeeded in the role by David Milliband, another son of jewish emigres from e. europe. current foreign minister william hague member of the 'friends of israel' at 5 yrs old. israel is a creation of british imperialism, uk parliament should be renamed 'knesset on the thames'
Instead of seeing things upsidedown,try getting on your feet,the world is much better the right way up. Your anti-semitism sticks out like a sore thumb. I bet your hate for Israel and the Jewish people,gives you a burning sensation.
If Parliament is indeed the "Knesset of the Thames" then arrest warrants would be issued against Syrian leaders, Hamas leaders, Hezbollah leaders, and Iranian leaders. The final two in the list bombed a Jewish (not Israeli) target in Argentina some time back and have never answered for that crime. All in that list have done such heinous deeds that make anything Israel has been accused of look like jaywalking, if you know what that means.
You can't allow the misuse of the law for political gain. If your going to arrest heads of state those decisions must be made by the heads of any given government, not some radical group seeking PR for a questionable and debatable cause. While people have the right to their opinion they shouldn't have the power to enforce their opinion by rule of law that circumvents their own elected officials who are in a better position to judge the picture. Imagine if Arafat was arrested by a Jewish group when he made his first appearance at the UN years ago...wearing a gun BTW...he was a terrorist yet allowed to come to the U.S., make his speech. and leave without incident.
for starters. ALL of them who are rabid anti semitic mass murderers.
If you are calling for the prosecution of terrorists, rightfully so, then ALL terrorists should be prosecuted, whether religiously or politically motivated, be they Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Hindu, secular, white, black, Arab, American, or EVEN ISRAELI POLITICIANS. HAARETZ, please publish!
If you are calling for the prosecution of terrorists, rightfully so, then ALL terrorists should be prosecuted, whether religiously or politically motivated, be they Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Hindu, secular, white, black, Arab, American, or EVEN ISRAELI POLITICIANS. HAARETZ, please publish!
Like Abu Hamza, the Morrocan terrorist preacher, who is currently in prison for inspiring racial hatred? We in Britian, the mother of democracy, practise what we preach. We do not discriminate based on race or nationality. If someone has commited a crime, they get punished accordingly. Islamic fundementalists and Israeli warmongers alike.
like Tony Blair? "If someone has commited a crime, they get punished accordingly. Islamic fundementalists and Israeli warmongers alike. "
Israelis are not warmongers, they just defend themself. If I follow your logic Britain should raise a warrant for all the British generals who are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. Please stop the hypocrisy and the double standards.
The problem is that there are more Arabs in Britain than Anglo Saxons
... going to post something could you at least be either a) factual or b) funny. This is neither.
victory for injustice
If the people conspiring to make these ridiculous arrest warrants put as much effort and energy into freeing Palestinians from Hamas, then we would have already had a peace agreement by now. This new law may also come in handy for Edogan since he can still travel freely to the UK without having to worry about an arrest warrant for enabling and orchestrating marine terrorism
and could get a person arrested on that basis alone.
Unfortunate if it does