BRITAIN is desperate to avoid a
diplomatic row with Israel after Ariel Sharon apparently snubbed an
invitation from Tony Blair to visit London, claiming that he feared
arrest.
The Israeli Prime Minister is understood to have cited the case
of a senior general who narrowly escaped detention at Heathrow on
war crimes charges last week. Doran Almog remained on an El Al
Boeing 747 rather than risk falling into the hands of Scotland Yard
after a human rights group lodged charges that cannot be brought in
Israel.
Mr Blair suggested that Mr Sharon could
visit Britain when the pair met for talks on the sidelines of the
United Nations 60th anniversary summit in New York. The Israeli
premier shot back that because of his years of army service he could
also find himself facing arrest.
I would really like to visit Britain, Mr Sharon was said to
have told Mr Blair. The trouble is that I, like Major-General
Almog, also served in the (Israeli Defence Force) for many years. I
too am a general. I have heard that the prisons in Britain are very
tough. I wouldnt like to find myself in one.
The growing legal threat to Israeli officers also forced the
former Chief of the Army Staff, Moshe Yaalon, to cancel a
fund-raising visit to London because of fears that he might be
arrested on war crimes charges relating to attacks on Palestinian
civilians and property.
Israeli authorities have also warned the serving chief of staff,
Major-General Dan Halutz, against travelling to Britain because of
the war crimes complaints filed against him by the left-wing army
refusenik group, Yesh Gvul.
Silvan Shalom, the Israeli Foreign Minister, said the attempted
arrest of Major General Almog and the risk to others as an
outrage, saying he would press British authorities for a change in
the law.
Mr Shalom said: The fact that Israeli soldiers and high-ranking
officials are prevented from entering European countries is an
outrage. We take a grave view of this. Dont forget that Britain has
troops in Iraq. What will it do if other countries decide that
British soldiers and officers committed war crimes in Iraq? Will it
consent to having them arrested in other countries? I think it
should change at once.
Israeli Army radio quoted aides of Mr Sharon yesterday saying
that Mr Blair was clearly embarrassed by the exchange at the UN
meeting and promised to take care of the matter.
Downing Street played down the incidents. It said that Mr Blair
had pointed out to Mr Sharon that, just like Israel, Britain had a
court system independent of government.
A spokesman refused to comment further, saying that the meeting
between the two was private. Scotland Yard had been waiting at
Heathrow for Mr Almog with an arrest warrant issued 24 hours earlier
at Bow Street Magistrates Court. Judge Timothy Workman had
authorised the generals arrest for questioning about the
destruction by troops under his command of 59 Palestinian homes in
Gaza in 2002. The message that reached Mr Almog came from Israels
military attache in London at that moment hurrying along the M4
towards the airport. Mr Almog said: The chief steward said the
attache was on his way and wanted to speak to me. I phoned him and
he told me not to get off the plane.
The call preserved the generals liberty and prevented a
diplomatic incident. But a political and legal storm has followed.
The opposing factions in the Israel-Palestine conflict are both
crying foul. One side wants an explanation of how the former general
came to be tipped off and why police did not board the aircraft to
arrest him.
The other is demanding to know what business it is of the British
courts what the Israeli army does in fighting what it sees as its
war on terror.
Although it is tempting to see the General Pinochet case as the
origin of such actions, they are based on the 1957 Act that
enshrined the 4th Geneva Convention in English law.
Article 146 obliges Britain to search for persons alleged to have
committed war crimes and bring them before our courts regardless of
their nationality. One explanation for not arresting Mr Almog on
the aircraft lies in the quasi-legal doctrine of comity, the concept
of maintaining good relations with friendly states.
MILITARY HISTORY
Born Ariel Sheinermann in 1928. Also known as Arik to close
friends
Joined the Haganah Jewish underground at the age of 14 in 1942.
Led infantry brigade in Israel War of independence
Twice widowed. His first wife, Margalit, was killed in a road
accident. His second wife, Lily, died of lung cancer in 2000. Has
two surviving sons, Omri and Gilad. A third son, Gur, died in 1967
Recalled to army in 1953, founded and led the 101 special
commando unit which carried out retaliatory operations. They were
responsible for a raid in Qibieh in which 69 civilians died
Recalled to military service in 1973 Yom Kippur War to command
an armored division. Led the crossing of the Suez Canal
