Britain refuses to grant immunity to ex-Israeli defense minister Mofaz during Lo

[Ognir]

Britain refuses to grant immunity to ex-Israeli defense minister Mofaz during London visit
Israeli embassy unaware of any arrest warrants for Mofaz, but refusal of immunity makes visit riskier.


The British government has refused an Israeli request to grant immunity from arrest to former Minister of Defense Shaul Mofaz, who arrived in London Saturday night for a conference this week, senior officials in Jerusalem said.

The Israeli embassy in London is not aware of any pending arrest warrant against Mofaz, but the fact that British authorities did not grant him immunity has made this visit a sensitive, riskier one.

However, Mofaz landed in London on Saturday, and faced no problems on arrival.

A senior Israeli official said that Mofaz notified the international affairs department at the Israeli Ministry of Justice ahead of his trip, inquiring about possible risks associated it. He asked whether it was possible to coordinate the trip with the British government and obtain assurances of immunity from prosecution.

The Ministry of Justice and the embassy in London contacted British authorities but received a negative reply. The British argued that Mofaz was a private citizen not holding any formal position, thus precluding his visit from being defined a 'diplomatic mission', for which immunity was possible.

Mofaz was expected to arrive on Saturday night. Foreign Ministry spokesman Immanuel Nachshon said that two diplomats from the Israeli embassy will meet him as he exits the plane at Heathrow airport.

A few years ago the British law was changed, making it difficult to issue arrest warrants for senior foreign officials suspected of war crimes committed outside Great Britain. The new law stipulates that such a warrant must first be approved by the attorney general.

Mofaz served as the IDF chief of staff during the Second Intifada, commanding the army during Operation Defensive Shield in the West Bank. Shortly after he retired from the army in 2002 he was appointed as defense minister by then Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/.premium-1.662195