Palestinian: Settlers are war criminals
Palestinian Center for Human Rights Director Raji Sourani says arrest warrant issued by British authorities against former Southern Command Chief Doron Almog similar to arrest of Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet; adds that his organization plans to file similar complaints against the settlers, as ‘the settlements are a war crime, and the settlers are criminals of war. This is not a Palestinian definition; this is what international law states
We followed former Israeli Southern Command Chief Maj. Gen. Doron Almog’s moves prior to his flight to London and then turned to the British ant-terror unit to have him arrested, Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) Director Raji Sourani said Friday in an interview with Arab-Israeli newspaper Kul el-Arab.
Sourani said the arrest warrant constitutes a major achievement, as “it marks the second legal precedent following the arrest of (Chilean dictator Augusto) Pinochet.”
He added that the British authorities were hesitant to issue the arrest warrant for technical, not legal, reasons.
“Following a thorough examination we decided last Friday to turn to the British court, where we filed the complaint and documents,” Sourani said.
“The hearing was postponed until Saturday, at which point an arrest warrant against Almog was distributed at all the airports and harbors.”
Last Sunday Almog was forced to abandon plans to visit Britain at the last minute, after Muslim groups charged him with crimes against humanity for "his military role against the Palestinian people."
Israel's ambassador in London, Tzvi Hefetz, spoke with Almog during the flight, advised him not to get off the plane, and said if he entered Britain he would be served with the claim.
Immediately upon landing in London, Almog returned to Israel.
'Settlements were set up on confiscated lands'
However, the PCHR claims Almog received word of his expected arrest from sources within the British police. Sourani said this was a dangerous act that hurt the credibility of the British police, adding that a complaint has been filed with the police in a bid to launch an investigation into the leak.
He said his organization would demand that the diplomatic immunity of Hefetz and his military attache would be revoked and that they be expelled from the U.K.
According to Sourani, the PCHR is gathering evidence regarding the alleged war crimes the IDF had committed over the years. The complaint against Almog was only a “small example” of the crimes the IDF had committed during the intifada and the occupation, he said.
Sourani said his organization plans to file similar complaints against the settlers.
“The settlements are a war crime, and the settlers are criminals of war. This is not a Palestinian definition; this is what international law states,” he said.
“The settlements were set up on confiscated lands; the natural resources of these lands were exploited and Palestinian homes were destroyed. We must remain loyal to the pain and tortures our nation has suffered from and we will track down each and every settler war criminal.”
On Thursday it was reported that the PCHR plans to file indictments against senior Jerusalem Municipality officials under the claim they had committed war crimes when the authorized the destruction of Palestinian homes in east Jerusalem.
