PSC, December 15, 2009

According to the Jewish Chronicle today, Israeli opposition leader, Tzipi Livni, cancelled a visit to Britain the day before yesterday (13 December), for fear of being arrested. 

Betty Hunter, Palestine Solidarity Campaign’s General Secretary, said: ‘More and more, Israel’s political and military leaders are coming to realise that their war crimes against Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza will not go unpunished. 

‘Tzipi Livni was Israel’s foreign minister when Israel launched its horrific attack on Gaza last year, resulting in the deaths of more than 1400 Palestinians, including hundreds of women and children. Over 5000 were wounded, and essential infrastructure, including schools, hospitals and sewage facities were destroyed. Livni held a senior position in a government responsible for horrific war crimes. Justice Goldstone made clear in his report to the UN that Israel had serious charges to answer over its massacre in Gaza . We’re committed to bringing those responsible for these war crimes to justice.’ 

Over 100 protested yesterday in Hendon, London, where Livni was due to speak at the Jewish National Fund’s Vision 2010 conference, and had been expected to meet Gordon Brown for private talks. The Israeli historian Ilan Pappe has described the Jewish National Fund as Israel’s main agency of ethnic cleansing.

on October 2009, Moshe Ya’alon, Israel’s vice-premier, pulled out of a visit to London to attend a charity event following advice that he may be arrested on war crimes charges.

In September 2009, Ehud Barak, Israel’s defence minister, who ordered the attack on Gaza, avoided arrest when he entered Britain after the Foreign Office upgraded his visit status from ‘private’ to ‘special status’. Barak was in the UK to attend a Labour Friends of Israel reception at the Labour Party conference.

On 27 December 2009, human rights campaigners will attend a vigil outside the Israeli embassy in London to mark the first anniversary of the beginning of Israel’s air and land assault on Gaza - from 3pm outside the Israeli embassy - calling for an end to the siege on Gaza, and for Israeli war criminals to be brought to justice. 

Media contact: Sarah Colborne 07971 424 296 or 020 7700 6192 

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign is the UK’s largest organisation campaigning for solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Israel, UK confirm Livni arrest warrant

Published yesterday (updated) 15/12/2009 19:51

 Bethlehem – Ma’an –

Israel and the UK confirmed on Tuesday that a British court issued an arrest warrant against its former Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni for charges related to Israel’s winter war on Gaza.

The incident marks the first time an Israeli official faced arrest in the UK in connection with the Gaza conflict.

The British daily The Guardian reported late on Monday that the Westminster magistrates' court issued the warrant at the request of lawyers acting on behalf some of the Palestinian victims of the Gaza war.

The warrant was later dropped when it was ascertained that Livni, who served as foreign minister during the three-week attack which left more than 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis dead, was not in the country.

In the first government statement on the subject the Israeli Foreign Ministry said the warrant would harm relations between the two countries.

"Israel rejects the cynical legal move made in the British court against the Head of the Opposition, MK Tzipi Livni, at the behest of radical elements," the government document read.

"The absence of immediate, determined action to correct this abuse harms relations between Britain and Israel," the statement added.

“If Israeli leaders cannot visit Britain in proper, dignified fashion, this will, quite naturally, seriously compromise Britain’s ability to play the active role in the Middle East peace process that it desires,” the Israeli Foreign Ministry added.

Fadi Adeeb, a spokesman for Britain’s Consulate General in Jerusalem, also confirmed on Tuesday that the warrant had been issued.

“The UK is determined to promote peace and Israel needs to be able to enter into dialogue. The British government is urgently looking into the repercussions of the arrest warrant,” he told Ma’an over the phone.

Senior Israeli officials told the Israeli newspaper Haaretz that the warrant had indeed been issued.

According to multiple reports, Livni was due to speak at the Jewish National Fund's 2010 conference in London on Sunday, but canceled her visit because of the warrant.

Palestinian human rights attorney Shawqi Issa, told Ma’an on Monday that the type of order supposedly issued in London would only apply if Livni were in the UK.

"Legally, the British court couldn't have issued an arrest warrant except in the event that it confirmed her presence on British soil," he said in an interview.

A UK court two months ago deferred until further notice an appeal to issue an arrest warrant against Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who was visiting the country at the time.